Today we’d like to introduce you to Jazzlynn Hickman
Jazzlynn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi, my name is Jazzlynn Hickman. I am 34 years old. I learned how to bake by my mom. She would let me help her by mixing a Betty crocker cake mix at the age of six. My favorite cake was the classic yellow flavor with chocolate frosting. The best part about helping out was licking the bowl and spatula. Once we mixed everything together and put the cakes in the flour-butter pans, I would watch it bake. In the 90’s, we didn’t know about pan release sprays, so I learned how to make some using either oil or butter with flour to make a thin paste around the pan. I never knew watching or assisting my mom out in the kitchen would result in me starting my own baking business. I started out baking for friends and family in 2019 as a hobby. I found baking to be a stress relief for me and it made me want to invest in buying tools to start practicing. The guy I was dating at the time loved desserts and I remember baking him a cake every Friday with a homemade pizza or his favorite dish. He would always request a vanilla,reese or oreo creme cake. At that time, I was working as a dietary aid/ personal assistant at The Blake in Oxford, Mississippi. I worked there for two years and my co workers discovered I could bake so that’s when my journey started. I was nervous at first because I felt like people wouldn’t like my work. While working in the Healthcare industry, I taught myself different techniques and skills to improve my baking /creative side. I took alot of criticism and feedback to get where I am today. Without the clients I’ve gained over the years, I don’t think I would’ve experienced this much exposure nor gained such loving support behind my vision and dreams. Social media and word of mouth helped me gain alot of support and wisdom over the years. I relocated to Memphis and was very impressed of how fast I gained clientele. I wasn’t expecting to get any business when I decided to move from my hometown, but it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
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?
This journey definitely had its ups and downs. I experienced alot while building my business. In 2020- I did partner with a company in Panama City, Florida and gain a investor who helped me open a shop in one of his restaurants. My shop was located in Callaway, Florida. It took about four months to paint, organize, and plan for the grand opening. I was currently living in Water Valley, Mississippi when I started talking with the investor and his board members about relocation and opening a bakery. I definitely was nervous and had no clue on how to run a business outside of my home. The team I had was amazing in training me of how to keep my books, ordering products in bulk, scheduling, time management skills, marketing, promoting, and professionalism. I only wanted to bake, but I knew being an owner of my brand, i needed to know how to run the business side as well. It was difficult trying to adjust to my new life. I was a newlywed and a mother as well. Trying to balance home life and business was a bit overwhelming. Moving to another state was also stressful and I didn’t have a support team to help me with my daughter. It was times, I would open my shop at 6:45am to prep and bake everything and I would have to lock the shop after the lunch hour so I could be in the pick -up line at the school 15 mins away. This became a issue because I would lose two hours of business, but when it came down to motherhood,I did what I could for my daughter. Ja’Myia was eleven at the time and she would help me at the front counter assisting customers while I was in the kitchen baking more products to fill up the cases. Many times, I would close the shop late around 10pm or we would still be there when the restaurant was closing. Eventually, I started meeting people and they helped me with Myia so I wouldn’t have her out so late on school nights. Being a new wife, my marriage struggled while trying to build the business. My ex husband wanted to be apart of the growth, but Jazzie Treats wasn’t generating enough money for both of us to work in the shop. The cost of living in Florida was very expensive and it was many times we struggled financially. We had to move back home to Mississippi after being in Florida for 9 month…in the process of losing our partnership and shop– i had to work as a secretary at the local State Farm in Lynnhaven, Florida and he worked at Sonic with our former investor. I was so embarrassed about the events yhat happen behind getting shut down but i was determined to keep pushing forward. I continued to bake from home but it had gotten out of hand. The clients i gained preferred for me to be in a shop which i completely understood and i eventually stopped taking orders.
During all the chaos, my ex husband lost his job and i became responsible for everything. I went into deep depression and anxiety while trying to maintain everything. The happy beginning turned into a nightmare for me. Things weren’t changing and due to us not able to reconcile our differences, we ended up parting ways in 2022. It was a difficult decision, but things took a turn for us both and it wasn’t anyway we could mend our relationship. It was back to the drawing board. Moving back to my hometown wasn’t a setback but I did have to regain clients.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now, I am currently a Material Handler for Fedex Express. I work on night shift. I work in the non-con matrix area pulling packages and loading planes. I’m also apart of the safety team (QDST) I enjoy working with my co workers and learning more about the postal industry. I’m known for my kind and loving spirit. Everyone I’ve encountered said that I am sweet and always so helpful. I’m most proud of achieving my education as a single mother. I have my Associates, Bachelors of Science, and Master of Science Degree. It took alot of long nights and missing out on social events in my early 20’s. I’m set apart from others by being different. I don’t believe in being a follower and I find myself to be unique in all aspects of my life.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I’ve has many people that helped me along this journey. My high school teachers, god- family members, my daughters family, friends, many mentors and people I didn’t know but met them while building my business. One of my mentors is Tammy Herod out of Oxford, Mississippi. She is a real estate agent and also owns her own hair salon. I’ve been knowing her since I was a kid in church. We both used to be members of His Harvest Ministry of Oxford, Mississippi. She had many clients in our church and community. One day, I was scrolling on Facebook and she had an event to help vendors promote their business. I contacted her via email and became apart of her mentorship program. –The non profit organization she has is named Woman of Excellence. I joined her mentorship program in 2022 and became one of her vendors for community events. I’m also listed as one of her bakers when she is hosting events. Another supporter is my former hair stylist name Tammy Lloyd. She is from Grenada, Mississippi. When I lived in Oxford, she was one of the first people to shop with me. I remember making Easter treats for her family gathering. She asked me to make cupcakes, cake pops, a cheesecake, chocolate covered strawberries and cookies. That was the first time I had a large order and she loved my work. She is still one of my clients today. I also have had alot of support from my classmates of Water Valley High School. Class of 2009 is always supporting me rather it’s sharing my post online, shopping with me, attending pop shops or asking me to bake for our class events. My former boyfriend family “The Millers” of Oxford and Pontotoc, Mississippi were the ones that pushed me the most from the years of 2014-2019. I enjoyed baking for them and they gave me great advice over the years. I still talk to them and they still support me today. They were so honest and enjoyed testing my products out before I stared baking for the public.
I’am very blessed to have each and every person that played a major role in my baking journey and life in general. It’s been a great experience.
