Meet Melissa Granados | Cake & Cookie Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Granados and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
During my high school years, I discovered my love for the art of baking and decorating those baked goods. From then on, it was a thing I always included in my daily life. During that time, I would only bake for my family and friends.

There came a time in 2018-2019 that I went back to college, with the intention to go down a different career path. After completing two semesters, I decided to take a year off because I was pregnant with my second child. My school courses were about to become more intense and I didn’t want to overload myself with all the work that was coming.

I looked at my time off as the opportunity to see if a baking business had potential. I was always afraid to take that first, big step to officially launch a legitimate baking business. And with the push and encouragement of my husband; I told myself, it’s now or never.

I thought, if I try this business out and it doesn’t work, school will always be there for me to go back. However, when I finally launched with a Valentine’s Day sale in 2020, I really saw the door of possibility swing wide open, and I’ve continued with my business since.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My Little Oven Bakery officially launched during a Valentine’s Day sale in 2020. That was a a month before Covid changed the world. The first few months of a new business is already difficult as it is, but throw a global pandemic into the mix, and it seems almost impossible. The month of March 2020 was so incredibly difficult, that I, along with my business, froze still. I was filled with anxiety in all aspects of my life, and I felt like this is where it all ends.

I know that sounds super dramatic, but it truly felt that way in the moment. Come April, I was able to snap myself out of the trance of doom, and realized, this is out of my control and all I can do is keep trying.

And so, I continued with my plans of growing with my business, and even though it was slow and steady, I’m glad I stuck with it. I incredibly grateful that I gained such a beautiful community of both clients and other small business allies.

I am a first generation Mexican-American, born to immigrants, so that has always made me feel like I’m further behind others who have had there families here for generations. Making something of myself, with no external help, generational wealth, or even knowledge of how to, has always been a driving force in everything I’ve done in my life. As a latina, I display that label proudly, because I know it can be a beacon of hope for other latinx out there who are also dreaming of something bigger for themselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I currently live in Longmont, and it sometimes can feel like there’s nothing to do here, so you have to get creative or go to surrounding cities to see the good stuff.

However, since becoming a small business, I’ve discovered and have become more aware of other small businesses, and there are definitely a handful of amazing ones out here.

Downtown Main Street in Longmont is the place to go.
There’s lovely doughnut place with great coffee that just opened up called Landline Doughnuts.

Another local coffee shop I would recommend would be MeCo Coffee Collective.

For food, Rosalee’s Pizzeria or the Pumphouse Brewery are my favorite.

To have some fun; I’ve enjoyed Crackpots where you can paint pottery and there are also a handfull of bars to visit like Quarters Bar and Arcade.

And before leaving the ice cream from Scrumptious is delicious and making a stop at Brick’s Retail where you purchase a lot of amazing items, from food to jewelry to other hand crafted items from local people and businesses.

Now if you have extra time, to order in advance, there’s also a lot of other amazing from-home small businesses, like myself, that have amazing goods and treats: Bibi’s Chamoy y Dulces with delicious candy, De Leon Queens Cakes another baker known for her spring fling cakes, Heavens Sweets for floral arrangements for all occasions, Inkvitation who can custom make just about anything for an event, and the list goes on and on.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Heber. It is because of him, that I am where I am today. I’ve always underestimated myself and doubted that I could ever run a business of my own, but his words are what pushed me to take the first step in believing that I could truly do this.

He has always been was so encouraging, especially in those first few months when progress is slow. He never let me give up even when I felt like I was failing and wanted to walk away. He truly is my strength and the person I lean on when I need advice.

Website: https://www.mycustombakes.com/mylittleovenbakery

Instagram: @mylittleovenbakery

Facebook: @mylittleovenbakery