Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Mathews.
Hi Stephanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My name is Stephanie Mathews and I’m the owner of Carousel Sweets Bakery. I’m a native of Chattanooga, TN, but have called Memphis my home for 16 years now.
I’ve never been a stranger in the kitchen. I grew up watching my mother cook southern dishes and I just LOVE food. I did not realize my love for baking until about 5 years ago. I was always amazed at how bakers could turn a cake into a work of art. I was always the guest at the party scraping off all the icing on the cake or cupcakes before eating it. I did not like frosting that was extremely sweet, so I worked at perfecting my frosting recipe for about a year. Today, our frosting is what we’re known for.
My passion for baking became stronger when the COVID pandemic started. At the time, I was working at a local hospital as a Respiratory Therapist and it was a very stressful time in my career. Baking became my therapy. The hobby quickly became a business as the orders started rolling in. With my husband and parents by my side, they encouraged me to step out on faith and follow my dreams.
We opened the storefront doors of Carousel Sweets Bakery on October 2, 2021. Although I’m the baker, my husband Derrick, our 3 children, and my parents help with the day-to-day operations. We offer a variety of sweet treats including cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cheesecake jars, and custom cakes. The menu is continually growing and our goal is to provide something sweet for everyone.
They are located at 8034 Giacosa Place Suite 103, Memphis, TN 38133.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With this being our first business, every step in the process was new to us. Getting all the permits required by the state was pretty stressful. Our biggest challenge would be converting recipes over to commercial equipment (ovens) for cooking. It’s definitely a learning curve.
As you know, we’re big fans of Carousel Sweets Bakery. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Carousel Sweets Bakery is truly a mom-and-pop shop. We are locally owned and part of our community. We specialize in custom cakes and can provide anything from simple cupcakes to an extravagant wedding cake and everything in between.
We are known for our delicious frosting and customer service. Our customer service is truly what sets us apart. Many of our loyal/repeat customers have become like family and friends to us.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I think a lot of people are surprised that just a year ago I was working as a Respiratory Therapist and was on the front lines fighting the COVID pandemic.
Contact Info:
- Email: Stephanie@carouselsweetsbakery.com
- Website: www.carouselsweetsbakery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/csbakery901/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carouselsweets901/
Image Credits
Henry Chapman
