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Meet Dericka King

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Dericka King.

Hi Dericka, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
As a kid, I had a very vivid imagination and I enjoyed playing restaurants as much as I enjoyed drawing blueprints of owning one. I love food and my grandma; Estella Cooper was known to be a great chef.

I would ask her questions while taking mental notes and I was always the first one to taste, lol! At 9 years old though, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. Shortly after graduating from Christian Brothers University, I realized that “being an attorney” may not be my calling. I applied to 4 law schools and got rejected from all of them.

That was a slap in my face and I found myself in a dark or “lost” phase for over a year and a half. I found hope again after getting a call in Fall 2016 to work at an employment law firm, which was a blessing being that two days after that call I found out I was pregnant with my son. While I was pregnant, I would ask my grandma to make me a pan of banana pudding or a peach cobbler. Those two are my favorite desserts. I eventually asked her for the recipes and have been making them since 2017. I had started a toddler boy clothing line because something was telling me to start a business.

After all, I grew up in a family business literally so it’s in my blood both maternally and paternally. My grandma Estella transitioned in March 2018 and for me making my two favorites was my way of connecting with her. I’d post my food on social media here and there, but something happened in 2020. An old classmate of mine saw my banana pudding and asked if he could pay me to make him one, of course, I was shocked yet delighted and took him up on the offer. He raved about how good it was and then another Facebook friend inboxed me for one.

Last April, I had a dream of my grandma and basically, I dreamed I missed church, specifically Easter Sunday as I had to drive from Memphis to Marianna, AR and by the time I arrived at my grandma’s house she was fully dressed and heading out for church. She told me to “turn the stove off and to take the chocolate cupcakes out and ice them.” I woke up and called my mom and told her and asked her for grandma’s chocolate cake recipe. I tried and that was an epic fail, but I was determined.

My mom explained that baking was science and to take my time. I love sweets, so I was like okay this time I’ll try some brownies. Those brownies were the best brownies ever! I called my mom and my best friend and boasted about those brownies. My friend tried them and she boasted about it on Facebook. Every day after that, I would take my grandma’s picture set it up, and the kitchen, and just bake and post.

I officially established Estella’s Bakery and Creamery on April 20, 2020.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all, I probably cry once or twice or week. Being a black-owned business is hard because most of us have to fund our business with our own money and not to mention, I started this business with 1 year left of law school plus as a mom of a toddler. I had to learn about taxes, yearly registration fees, insurance policies, implement risk management, learn how to market, draft a business proposal, etc.

Thankfully, I was attending Loyola University Chicago School of Law to get my Master’s in Business Law so a lot of the information was either available via research or I’d simply call my mom or dad. My dad has owned his own trucking company for over 20 years. I know the importance of having and maintaining good credit, but I had to learn how to open a business banking account and build business credit, which is key! I also had to learn algorithms and how to scale recipes.

People see the grits and glams that come from successful businesses and do not realize that entrepreneurs have to sacrifice and work really hard. It takes a lot of self-discipline and dedication. You have to be prepared for a lot of “No’s” too and my mom and dad would always be a call away every single “no” I was told.

I’d cry to them and complain and they’d push me to keep going and help me with whatever, so I can say I am blessed, but they do allow me to make mistakes because that’s the only way you truly learn. There is no handbook that comes with this life and nothing will be handed to you, you have to earn your spot. Grit and Grind!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Estella’s is a bakery specializing in Southern Desserts from scratch using Grandma’s recipe. We offer soy-free vegan and sugar-free desserts also. The mission is to bring families together with warm hearts, smiles, and satisfied bellies. Grandmothers’ are considered the “Silver Back” of families and if no one could pull all of the family members together, Grandma sure could.

We make a variety of dessert options and even whip up some good ole’ Vanilla Ice Cream too, but our cheesecakes and cakes have gotten us a name. We are known for having something sweet for all, as we understand the importance of health. We offer vegan options being that I am transitioning and keto “sugar-free” options because diabetes runs in my family. I do not want anyone to ever feel like they can’t eat something for fear of spiking their blood sugar, and so with our sugar-free desserts, we use Monk Fruit and Date Sugar, which is 100% safe for diabetics and will not spike their blood sugar, as the sugars are derived from the actual fruits.

I personally have been transitioning to the plant-based lifestyle and noticed many bakeries here do not decorate vegan cakes. Estella’s stands out because we create custom vegan cakes and have been told many times we are making a change. I honestly enjoy meeting people and interacting with my customers.

I love seeing people happy and I absolutely love to share and gain knowledge. Estella’s thriving off great customer service, knowledge, and creativity. No job is too big or small, whatever you want, we make it happen!

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a bookworm. I literally read the dictionary, but I also loved to play outside. I grew up in the country so we’d race outside barefoot. I really loved playing with barbie dolls, playing dough, playing restaurant (I was always the manager), my easy bake oven, which I made some killer brownies back then, and painting and drawing.

I was very outspoken and I have always been very intuitive. I love to support and motivate others. I always told my grandma that I wanted to make the world a better place, and she always told me I could. My mom and dad worked a lot, and so I stayed with my grandma almost all the time. I was a grandma’s girl literally spoiled rotten! I was always asking my grandparents and parents questions about politics, religion, etc.

I was very curious! I took my education very seriously because my grandma actually did not have the luxury to attend school being that she had to pick cotton, yes “pick cotton!” We are from Marianna, Arkansas, it’s very small and rural. My parents and I moved to Memphis in 2008. I am thankful that my grandma lived to see me graduate from high school with Honors and college. She motivated me and always pushed me to believe in my dreams.

Pricing:

  • Half Dozen of Cookies $18+
  • Regular Homemade Cakes $44+
  • Cheesecakes $40+
  • Pies $25
  • Custom Cakes (i.e. Birthday etc.) $55+

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Clouded Visuals and Jacorri Washington

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