Meet Latoya Ledesma | Lala Sweets Bakery Owner

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

Hi Latoya, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve always been a creative soul who loved art, especially painting but right after high school I decided to go straight into the workforce; I spent almost ten years behind a desk. After years of working my way up the business ladder I grew weary and exhausted from my mundane career path. I needed a change and I needed to find happiness again. On my days off as a stress reliever I started to bake. I baked everything from cookies to pies, anything to feed my creative side. I soon realized I need to shift my energy into my new found passion. I started learning my trait, taking classes and even an apprenticeship. Pursuing this creative career ignited my soul again and I’ve been doing it ever since.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Art is in the eye of the beholder. One thing that sets me apart is the time I take with each of my customers, making sure I deliver on all the aspects the customer wants in their cake, achieving this has helped me grow substantially. Taking the time to communicate the artistry in each cake has helped my business with 80% of my orders from repeat customers. It wasn’t easy getting to this point in my career, it took a lot of time away from my family and demanded many hours of work. I spent tireless weekends working on cake orders, while still learning my craft during the week at school. When you find something you love, time is irrelevant and all the hours you put in to honing your craft is worth it. One thing I learned along the way is that you don’t always have all the answers to succeed, having a business mentor can really help you navigate your business especially in the early stages.

If I would want the world to know anything about my brand is that my brand is about celebrating you! Getting to be apart of someone’s special day whether a wedding, birthday or milestone with a quirky cake that’s all about you is what makes Lala Sweets thrive.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love spending my time around art so if my friend was here for the week I would start off at some of my favorite museums like the Broad museum or the Corey Helford Gallery. If it was a nice sunny day I would take her to the Getty Villa in Malibu. Its the best place to soak up the Cali sun and see some great art and architecture following that with a lobster roll for lunch at Broad Street Oyster Company makes for a great day. Another place I’d have to take her would be the Los Angeles Arboretum, its the perfect place to take a lunch and go for a relaxing stroll. During the week I’d also have to go to one of two of my favorite Italian restaurants, either Maccheroni Republic in Downtown or Union in Pasadena. Both have excellent pasta and wine selections. The last place I would take my friend would be to a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, its one of the best places to see your favorite artist at.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One person who deserves a little credit for my growth is my dear friend and owner of Baby Pastries, Wendy. She was the first person to give me an apprenticeship and helped me realize a small business in baking is very obtainable. She helped spark my interest in custom cakes and encouraged me to go back to school. For all of the reason mentioned above, she will always have a special place in my heart.

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

Image Credits
Photos by Lala Sweets