News
Entertainment
ENLARGE
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Chocolate-covered strawberries, caramel apples, and wedding cakes, are just a few of the “Sweet Treats by Danielle” — a new business belonging to 28-year-old Danielle Versluis.
For Valentine's Day Versluis posted on Facebook that she would have chocolate-covered strawberries available. The next morning a man from Denver responded with an order for a friend in Grand Junction. Versluis didn't know the Denver man but she knew his friend, coincidentally.
“It's a small world,” she said.
“Facebook is a large storefront anyone can have these days.”
She also picks up orders by word-of-mouth and through her website: sweettreatsbydanielle.weebly.com.
There's generally no minimum order whether it's for an individual's sweet tooth craving or an event, although some items come in two-dozen increments, Versluis said.
Last Friday, Versluis was busy in the commercial kitchen she leases from the Business Incubator Center, making both caramel and chocolate-covered granny smith apples.
Versluis said she was always the “cool” aunt that made the birthday cakes for the family. One day her niece asked, “Why don't you do this as a business?”
She knew she enjoyed baking and making candy, but wasn't so sure about running a business.
“That's where the Incubator came in,” Versluis said. “They said, ‘Follow your dream, and we'll help you with the business side of it.'”
The Grand Valley's Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, is a nonprofit organization providing business counseling, workshops and affordable office and kitchen space for new and expanding businesses.
Versluis signed up for the Incubator's one-day “Pumping up the Dream” class and learned about licensing, employee options, and sales tax.
“I went right home and looked up on the website to get my LLC, and within a week I was up and running,” Versluis said.
She also met with Incubator kitchen manager Annalisa Pearson to help her get organized.
“She was a big help,” Versluis said.
Versluis officially opened her sweet treats business a couple of months ago and already has orders through June to supply treats for birthdays, a wedding and baby showers.
“My favorite thing is peanut clusters — everybody in town loves those,” Versluis said.
Versluis watches television's “Cupcake Wars” and “Cake Boss” to gain ideas and inspiration, and she experiments at home to come up with different creations.
“My 4-year-old is an amazing critic,” Versluis said.
Cecilia Quintana of Fruita recently ordered 96 cupcakes for an event at her church that 30 people attended. There were only a few cupcakes leftover, however.
“Danielle has really creative flavors,” Quintana said. “My favorite one so far is the gingersnap — it's absolutely amazing.”
People who want to order “Sweet Treats” can pick them up at the Incubator campus, or for an extra fee Versluis is willing to deliver the goodies.
For a price list or more information check out the website (above) or facebook.com/sweettreatsbydaniellellc.
For Valentine's Day Versluis posted on Facebook that she would have chocolate-covered strawberries available. The next morning a man from Denver responded with an order for a friend in Grand Junction. Versluis didn't know the Denver man but she knew his friend, coincidentally.
“It's a small world,” she said.
“Facebook is a large storefront anyone can have these days.”
She also picks up orders by word-of-mouth and through her website: sweettreatsbydanielle.weebly.com.
There's generally no minimum order whether it's for an individual's sweet tooth craving or an event, although some items come in two-dozen increments, Versluis said.
Last Friday, Versluis was busy in the commercial kitchen she leases from the Business Incubator Center, making both caramel and chocolate-covered granny smith apples.
Versluis said she was always the “cool” aunt that made the birthday cakes for the family. One day her niece asked, “Why don't you do this as a business?”
She knew she enjoyed baking and making candy, but wasn't so sure about running a business.
“That's where the Incubator came in,” Versluis said. “They said, ‘Follow your dream, and we'll help you with the business side of it.'”
The Grand Valley's Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, is a nonprofit organization providing business counseling, workshops and affordable office and kitchen space for new and expanding businesses.
Versluis signed up for the Incubator's one-day “Pumping up the Dream” class and learned about licensing, employee options, and sales tax.
“I went right home and looked up on the website to get my LLC, and within a week I was up and running,” Versluis said.
She also met with Incubator kitchen manager Annalisa Pearson to help her get organized.
“She was a big help,” Versluis said.
Versluis officially opened her sweet treats business a couple of months ago and already has orders through June to supply treats for birthdays, a wedding and baby showers.
“My favorite thing is peanut clusters — everybody in town loves those,” Versluis said.
Versluis watches television's “Cupcake Wars” and “Cake Boss” to gain ideas and inspiration, and she experiments at home to come up with different creations.
“My 4-year-old is an amazing critic,” Versluis said.
Cecilia Quintana of Fruita recently ordered 96 cupcakes for an event at her church that 30 people attended. There were only a few cupcakes leftover, however.
“Danielle has really creative flavors,” Quintana said. “My favorite one so far is the gingersnap — it's absolutely amazing.”
People who want to order “Sweet Treats” can pick them up at the Incubator campus, or for an extra fee Versluis is willing to deliver the goodies.
For a price list or more information check out the website (above) or facebook.com/sweettreatsbydaniellellc.
