Meet Garnet Terri | Owner, Operator | Terri’s Cakes Detroit

We had the good fortune of connecting with Garnet Terri and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Garnet Terri, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?

Life is always happening around us. We have the unique opportunity to choose whether life will happen to us or for us. In the past three years, I, along with a lot of the world, have been living through some very unique trauma.

When COVID hit, we took a break to gather ourselves. We put together a plan to operate in the new world that was being created around us. We kept going and had the best revenue generating year in our history.

During COVID, my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer. As the founder of the company, I asked her what she wanted to see happen with the business. She said “well, nothing is wrong with your brain, keep going.” And, I did just that.

One year after that, my husband was diagnosed with head and neck cancer. I went to my mother again and asked “what should I do?”. She responded in a reasonable manner, “we own a family business and charity begins at home. If we don’t take care of our family, the business doesn’t survive.” We paused operations, regrouped and made a new plan that would allow me to be a daughter and wife first.

Having experienced such challenging hardships, I realized my resilience. I realized I have always been able to recover from toughness pretty quickly. I realized my adaptability. The more tumultuous the environment became, the more I noticed how effectively I was shifting.

What should our readers know about your business?

Terri’s Cakes Detroit was the brainchild of my mother, Terri. She began baking and selling cakes in her early 20’s (back in the 1970’s). She baked mostly for her friends and loved ones. After marrying my father, who she’d met when he accompanied a mutual friend to pick up their birthday cake from my mom, she stepped down from her role as a Human Resources professional to be a stay at home mom raising my brother and I for the first decade of our lives. While home, she expanded to become a wedding professional – baking, decorating and setting up the cakes, servings as a wedding planner and wedding coordinator. She returned to work, still in Human Resources, but did not allow the business to close. Thirty years later, she decided it was time to hand the business down to me as she believed I could see her vision through to become what she always envisioned – a kitchen that people can hang out in while someone is decorating the cakes… just like at home.

In 2014, in my spare time, I baked cupcakes and started to learn cakes. I sold to friends and loved ones before branching out to pop-ups, stores and eventually our own private kitchen and now flagship storefront. It was absolutely NOT easy. Thankfully, business comes second nature to me. My mother realized at an early age that I was a great negotiator and could plan a business in my sleep. However, planning for business and operating a business are not remotely similar. I realized I didn’t know how to run a bakery because I never worked in the food industry. After stepping away from my career and taking advantage of Detroit’s booming entrepreneurship development courses, I applied for a job in a bakery to learn how to run one. My mentor-boss was absolutely amazing. We talked through strategies and goals. After leaving that role, I moved into a kitchen of my own. The transition was challenging but, as we grew, my chef husband assisted me in running the kitchen and then designing our next space.

While moving through all of the seasons and chapters of business ownership, I learned more than anything else something my mom tried to teach me at a young age “asking for help does not make you weak, if anything, it makes you strong.” As the challenges come, we can run from them or run towards them. To grow, to become, to excel, we need to run towards them, head on, and overcome them. Doing the hard things and being uncomfortable is truly what makes us great.

When you think of Terri’s, think of love. When you think of Terri’s, think of family. When you think of Terri’s, think of legacy. When you think of Terri’s, think of determination. When you think of Terri’s, think of consistency. When you think of Terri’s, think of home.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Detroit is all about the culture. We would go to the DIA and the science center. We would visit the Charles H. Wright Museum for a talk or exhibition. We would walk the Dequindre Cut and the Riverwalk. We would eat our way through the Eastern Market. We would go roller skating at Northland. We would hangout at Campus Martius, depending on the season would determine the activities we would choose to do (ice skating in the winter, and shops at Cadillac Square, for example). As for restaurants… the list is LONG. Baobab Fare is always going to be a stop. Supinos for a quick slice, isn’t a bad choice. Hopping over to See You Tomorrow for a quick brunch makes my heart happy. And, Lafayette Coney Island for a late night combo of chili cheese fries and a loose burger, everything – don’t forget the Vernors.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To my mother: I am because you are. Thank you for seeing me as the legacy of your vision and your dream. Thank you for loving me unconditional and intentionally. Thank you for giving me the tools I needed an at early age to manifest and pursue the future that God had for me. I will love you forever, and even after that.

Website: www.terriscakesdetroit.com

Instagram: @terriscakes

Facebook: Terri’s Cakes Detroit

Image Credits
William L. Watson