Meet Savanna Olivas | Baker and Owner

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

Hi Savanna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting my own side baking business initially started as me having a tasty, creative outlet and hobby. The thought continued to grow and expand during graduate school where I studied Strategic Communication and had to create my own creative content for classes. As a school project I thought to myself, “I love to bake, so why not create a fictional baking business that I could create marketing materials and a communication plan for.” After creating my own delicious baked goods to photograph and to make marketing materials for class, I’d often post pictures of my creations to my own social media pages. Eventually, friends and family began asking me if I could make custom cookies or cakes for birthdays and special events for them. From then on, I became the family member that was always in charge of taking desserts to holiday gatherings and my creativity and love for baking continued to grow. Then one day, a friend of mine reached out as my first paying customer and asked if I could make her a set of custom decorated cookies with her wedding colors and for her wedding party as gifts. From then on, friends and family continued to show their support by ordering goodies from me and eventually I had my first order from someone I didn’t know and eventually decided to start a side business. The foundation, business name, logo and other materials had already been created thanks to school, so I went with it and now here I am four years later!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the things I’d like to think that sets me apart from others and one of the things I’m most proud of is the fact that all of my baking creations are made from scratch and in small batches to allow for quality control and utmost attention to detail. Because I offer custom creations, 99% of the time, every creation I make is decorated differently and is unique in it’s own way. I spend lots of time in the kitchen testing and perfecting recipes from scratch or adding my own unique spins to them. I have lots of fun being creative in the kitchen and acting like a baking scientist when testing new recipes, techniques, textural elements, or flavor combinations. It’s not always easy and not all recipes or decorating techniques come out the way I want them too, but luckily the beauty of baking is trying something different next time, until you get the desired outcome. One of the things I’ve learned along the way is beauty takes time. To some, they might just see a pretty cake or fancy cookies that are devoured within minutes and reduced to a pile of crumbs or slices, but to me, every custom order I make is a work of art that I pride myself in taking the time to create and I make sure I’m proud of it before it leaves my kitchen. I want the world and my customers to know that I put my heart, soul, and love into everything that leaves my kitchen and it’s all because I want to make sure the product I give them brings added joy or happiness to any event my goodies are present at.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would definitely need to plan a trip and tour out to the Good Life Refuge in Longmont and founded by sanctuary owner, Nicole Brecht to visit their over 65 rescued farm animals. Afterwards we would catch lunch at Rosalee’s Pizzeria on Main St. and then head down to Quarters Bar+Arcade also on Main St. for arcade games and local drinks. Another day we would have breakfast at Good Eats Grill for their casual eats that are always made in house and from scratch by Owner and Chef, Donald Reed. After breakfast and to walk off the homemade biscuits and gravy, head into Lyons to stroll around town and look at all the little shops. The evening might end at a nicer restaurant like Martinis Bistro for one-of-a-kind martinis and cocktails with a great locally sourced menu. For a super unique and fun and always unique shopping experience, we’d be headed to Sugar Mill Antiques and Vintage Depot in Mead, CO owned by Sarah Morgan and her family for lots of great local shopping from over 80+ different local vendors. Their inventory changes all the time and hopefully we’d go on a day that Tommy Boy Donuts food truck is there, so we could get some fresh homemade mini donuts and walk around the store while indulging on a bucket of warm donuts! Lunch or dinner to follow at Longmont Public House for great drinks and fantastic food!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Special shoutout to all of my friends and family for their support and encouragement of my baking endeavors, creative outlet, and for pushing me to keep learning new recipes and new techniques that have allowed me to expand and grow my offerings.

Website: www.thelittleovenllc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelittleovenllc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelittleovenllc

Image Credits
Benjamin Olivas and Savanna Olivas