Donyale Hill, owner of D. Sweets, sold customized cookie cut-outs for 17 years from her home before opening a storefront.
She said it started as a way to make extra money around Christmas time, but then her business started to grow. In 2016, she left her full-time job and made the decision to move to Main St. and bake full-time.
“It just became something I was interested in,” Hill said. “I always wanted to have my own business.”
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Having the storefront has given Hill a bigger work space and the ability to leave her work at work.
In the past few years, Hill has attracted several corporate clients like Mercy Health, Madison Health, Gordon Foods, and Cascade. Cedarville University and Wittenburg University order customized cookies as well.
“God has really blessed us to be able to meet expenses and thrive a little bit,” Hill said. “It’s a growing thing - we are learning.”
Hill’s family has played a big role in her success. Her daughter, Lailah, decided to leave her job and become the bakery’s other full-time employee.
Right now it is just Hill and her daughter, but they are thinking about hiring someone to help during the holidays.
“I want to continue to make a great product that people like and reach more people by having more availability and staff,” Hill said.
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By having a storefront, Hill has expanded her business to new customers and old friends.
“What I really enjoy about the space is having availability for people - relatives I haven’t seen in years, grade school classmates,” Hill said. “All of them have been so supportive.”
D. Sweets offers a case of gourmet sliced cookies, cupcakes, brownies, seasonal cut-out cookies, and seasonal baked goods during operating hours.
They are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. D. Sweets is closed Sunday and Monday.
“We are happy to be D. Sweets and customizing orders - making people’s events special,” Hill said.
Most recently, D. Sweets designed specialty cupcakes for Ron Stephen’s (John Legend’s father) launch of new hat designs for his company, Popz Topz.
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