Community Highlights: Meet Latoria Eason of iSlay Cakes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Latoria Eason.

Hi Latoria, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Cleveland. I graduated from Collinwood High School and was the first in my family to attend college; earning a bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University. After working in education for several years, I decided to get a master’s s degree, which I earned at the University of Pennsylvania.

In 2016, I ventured into entrepreneurship. I started iSlay Cakes, a home bakery specializing in custom cakes and cupcakes. I’ve always baked but strayed away from it as I became busy working and being a mom. While on maternity leave with my second son, I found the joy in baking again. I was never much of a cake decorator but I started trying it between feedings and diaper changes. My oldest son wanted a Spider-Man cake for his 3rd birthday and I attempted it. I did a 3 tier fondant cake without any skills or training in cake decorating. Looking back now, I cringe when I see it, but back then I was so very proud of it. From there, iSlay Cakes was in born in a tiny two-bedroom apartment to a mom trying to relieve stress during maternity leave. It has since become an unexpected passion. I began to vigorously pursue perfecting my craft. I watched tons and tons of YouTube videos, lived on Pinterest, and burned out my little apartment oven constantly baking. I had no clue how to run a business. I was totally lost. But I figured things out and quite honestly, I’m still figuring things out.

I recently renovated my home to include a second kitchen and cake studio, which I’m very proud of. I’m also starting a three-month course to teach others with a love of baking, how to decorate. That way I can combine my love of education with my passion for cake artistry. I’m also planning an educational conference for black women owned businesses in Northeast Ohio, which will be on October 2nd at Red Space. I’m still working out all of the details. Hopefully, it’s the first of many.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I had two small children when I started iSlay Cakes so time management was a struggle. I also, still worked a full time job. I was always tired which caused me to be late with orders, not to produce my best work, and feel like I was falling short being a mom. Work/life balance was the biggest struggle. I felt like I wasn’t showing up 100% for any of my responsibilities.

Also, feeling inferior about my work. Looking at top cake artist, I felt discouraged. I had no formal training and learned via trial and error. I also took a year off of the business to get my master’s degree so it was difficult getting back into the swing of things and getting clientele to pick up. However, I stayed the course and things went well. I still struggle with work/life balance. I’m doing a better job of knowing when to take some time off and feel like it’s okay to take some time off to focus on my family.

Now that I’ve resigned from my full time job, it’s been a struggle to just lean on my business, financially. I’m doing well but it’s very scary to take that leap. In this country, we are trained to be workers and secure a steady check. Well, entrepreneurship isn’t like that. Things slow down during the holiday season for me and I almost got a job! Being solely an entrepreneur is a new chapter for me that’s still being written.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about iSlay Cakes?
iSlay Cakes is a premier home bakery that specializes in custom cakes and cupcakes. We provide deliciously unique cakes that are personalized to each clients’ desires. We take pride in getting to know our clients to prepare a cake that speaks to their personality and interests. We do our best work when creating designs that are totally freestyled while incorporating the client’s theme and color scheme. The surprised, joyful, and sometimes tearful reaction from clients warms the heart and makes all the ups and downs of the business worth it! Weddings and baby showers are our favorite. To be a part of such a significant day and have our creation be the talk of the event humbles us and makes us endeavor to give every single order, from the smallest cake/cupcakes to massive 4 tier cakes, the same attention to detail and creativity.

We strive to provide more than a scrumptiously beautiful cake; we strive to provide our clients with an exclusive experience that will have them returning for all of the special events in their lives. Many clients become friends for this very reason. After all, our mission statement is: “We provide client service so sweet that the cake is just the cherry on top!”

We offer a host of cake decorating classes. I have a master’s degree in education and that passion still burns deep. Teaching cake decorating fulfills my passion for education with my love for cake artistry. We are currently preparing for our first complete course in cake decorating. This will be a three-month course that will take students on a journey of everything cake decorating. We are extremely excited about this endeavor.

We also provide a host of cake supplies for other bakers. This year we launched iSlay Cakes After Hours, where we provide cake supplies during the hours that most retail cake supply shops are closed. Many of them close early and we’ve been there where we needed something at 7pm and have nowhere to get it. We have seen a need and we are trying to address it.

Custom cake toppers are also available to order. We make our own custom acrylic and Cardstock toppers in house and can pretty much make any topper a client or baker desires!

We aim to be a community brand that not only supplies cakes, but embeds ourselves into the very fabric of the community. We will be sponsoring an educational conference for black women business owners on October 2nd. We will continue to give back in a meaningful and necessary way that addresses the needs of the community.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Integrity is the most important quality that any business owner can have. I want to be known as a person who does what she says, who can be trusted, leads by example, and has a product that I proudly and firmly stand on. Continuing to operate in that manner will allow me to be successful through building business and community relationships, continuing to build a loyal client base, and growing my brand to be a household name.

Contact Info:

• Email: Bake@islaycakes.com
• Website: islaycakes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islaycakes/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ISlaycakes/
• TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdM2dChe/