The smell of freshly baked cookies floods the air as junior Raelynn Green carries her bag of sweet treats. Green’s small baking business, Rae’s Sweet Treats, sells a multitude of dessert options to people in the community.
“My favorite thing about my business is being able to do what I love for profit,” Green said. “Freshman and sophomore year I would just bring what I made and give it out for free, but several peers and teachers suggested that I sell what I make, and I’m glad I did.”
Making sales allows Green to experience the happiness from her baked goods while expanding her audience. She takes pictures of her customers and uploads them to her instagram account, Raes Sweet Treats, as a form of advertisement.
“When I make successful sales, I often get very excited to see [customers] reactions and to gain new customers,” Green said. “I take pictures of the people I sell to, so I can post them and they are always very happy to see themselves on a post.”
Sophomore Lia Fenton frequently buys cookies from Green.
“I decided to start buying because I wanted to support her. And it seemed fun, so I did,” Fenton said. “Every single time that she sells, me and my friends will always go and get something from her because it’s cheap and it’s easy.”
Green’s business ranges from having macaroons to cookies, providing a variety of desserts that customers can choose to purchase. On the weekends, Green bakes, and on the weekdays she focuses on her school work and selling her desserts to interested customers.
“She does her treats in her baking in a timely manner, and she always has a lot of variation on what she sells,” Fenton said. “I like her cookies, the smores ones.”
At the start of the year, Fenton and Green became friends which led to a growing friendship that allowed Fenton to support her friend’s endeavor.
“Raelynn and I have been friends since this year, and I think we just instantly clicked because she has humor and she’s really sweet and helpful and she’s really funny,” Fenton said. “I think it’s cool that she puts in the time and the effort to make stuff for people at the school.”
Green’s close friends and family support her small business growth by buying from her. Baking also offers her the opportunity to escape from overwhelming schoolwork and provide freshly baked goods to her community.
“I use baking as a stress relief, and I feel like it just calms me when I get overwhelmed from life and school work,” Green said. “I also take comfort that I have people supporting me like my aunt, parents and close friends.”
