‘I love being able to call something my own,’ Graham says.
Young Entrepreneur Spotlight: Destiny Graham
When Destiny Graham, of Richmond,
Virginia, was 12 years old, she told her mom that she wanted to have her own
cake business. Her mom enrolled her in baking classes, and then it wasn’t long
before Graham was taking paid baking orders from family and friends.
Graham’s business, Destiny’s Pops,
specializes in providing customized cake pops for any occasion, along with
chocolate-dipped treats and other baked goods. Her customer base includes high
schools, churches, individuals, and local organizations across the Richmond
area. In addition to selling sweet treats through an online store, Destiny’s
Pops also caters bridal showers, proms, and birthday parties.
Although Destiny’s Pops has
experienced growth, it wasn’t always a steady climb.
“One challenge I faced while running
a business was having dry seasons, which caused my orders to suffer,” said
Graham, who won the NFIB/Virginia Leadership Council Young Entrepreneur Award
for her business. “I was not getting the multiple orders as rapidly as I had
become accustomed to. However, I learned through those challenges to never give
up and to continue to find ways to keep my business new and fresh to my
clientele.”
Graham plans to attend George Mason
University in the fall and to continue her business while in school. She also
hopes to someday open a café that specializes in homemade baked goods, coffee,
and gourmet sandwiches.
“I love being able to call something
my own,” Graham said. “I enjoy being able to control how my business is
running. But most importantly, I love to see the look on my clients’ faces once
they taste my pops and being a part of their special day.”
