Time flies when you’re having fun. That is how Stacy Grams, owner at Stacy’s Sweetstuff, feels about her first year in business at her bakery which is celebrating its one year anniversary Tuesday.
“I’ve learned a lot of about myself and about opening a business, about things you don’t think about until you open,” Grams said. “Making too much or not enough is kind of hard when you don’t have anything to compare to from the year before.”
Grams opened her shop after baking cakes and cookies at home at the request of friends and family. With a little nudge, she opened her own business, located at 208 1/2 First Ave. W., behind Moo’s BBQ.
“Certainly being connected to Moo’s BBQ helps, it brings in some of their customers. Being able to have my regular customers that refer me also helps,” Grams said.
In her year in business, Grams has evolved to serve the wants and needs of the community, including an apparent love of all things chocolate. From Oreo Reese’s to smoked chocolate dipped bacon she’s found if it has chocolate, it is gold.
“I’ve found that people like anything dipped in chocolate, so I try to get creative with that,” Grams said.
She has also found that holiday treats are popular all year round. A collection of candies, truffles and chocolate covered cherries are now a staple in the bakery, drawing in customers who want a taste of the season.
Having her own shop has also helped her stretch her creativity, getting new ideas for flavors from customer suggestions.
“People are really going for different flavors for the cupcakes,” Grams said.
New favorites include Fireball whiskey, champagne and bacon maple with smoked bacon on top.
“People like cupcakes with alcohol in them,” Grams laughed. “I’m always up for trying new things, experimenting, especially with cupcakes.”
She has also tried grape soda and root beer floats among others during her cupcake Wednesday promotion, where cupcakes are $1 each.
Grams has also kept her shop open later on Thursdays and Fridays after an increase in traffic from Moo’s and those traveling home from work. She is not changing her official hours, but if she is staying busy, she’ll stay open.
“Some days I’ll have so many customers in here that we can’t move around and other days we have a quiet day. You live and you learn and take the good days with the bad,” Grams said.
The efforts of the City of Newton and its stakeholders has also helped to boost her business.
“During Newton Fest, I was really, really busy. Definitely when there are events going on downtown, it’s nice because I am just right off the square,” Grams said.
Grams enters her second year excited for new opportunities while continuing the work that got her going. She is still available for birthday and wedding cakes or cupcakes as well as cookies and candies for any event.
First anniversary celebration plans are not yet finalized during the busy Valentine’s Day season, but Grams said she hopes to have an open house mid-month.
Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com