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

Hi Stephanie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting The Butter Stick Bakery was kind of a no brainer for me. I always loved the idea of being able to work for myself and not have a specific schedule I have to stick to. It makes it a little easier to be able to balance work life and personal life when you have the luxury of making your own hours. I have also always been very creative so being able to implement my own ideas without having to run it through several other people first has definitely been an advantage I’ve been able to use to grow my business throughout the years. More than anything however, just the having the satisfaction of building something from the ground up and going through all the trials and tribulations that it takes to get where I am today has been rewarding and definitely would have never happened without the help from my family and loved ones. It truly does take a village.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My family has always carried the creative gene. My grandmother was an amazing painter, she was very talented and her paintings hang in my home. My mother could draw as well which then passed down to my sister who is a talented artist in California. Both my sister and I were both voted “Most Creative” in our senior classes in high school. I was never much of a painter or any good at drawing, i had more of the “crafty” gene. I can figure out how to make just about anything. So when it comes to my bakery, the decorating part definitely beats out the love for baking. I did however win a “Most Creative” title for one of my cakes in an Austin Monthly contest in 2012 which was an achievement I’m quite proud of. There are SO MANY people these days that run bakeries out of their home and their brick and mortars so you have to find ways to stick out among the others and not get lost in the crowd. I try to do so by having unique things to offer and make sure that taste is on point. There is a very large amount of people that can make beautiful cookies and cakes but its the ones that taste amazing as well that are going to get you your repeat customers.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Houston is a very diverse city, it has a little bit of something to do for everyone. I’ve always been pretty big on being outdoors so I would definitely show them surrounding areas as well. I would probably take them on a bike ride around buffalo bayou and have a picnic at discovery green and enjoy some of the live music. One day we would venture down to Galveston and charter an offshore fishing trip. Spend a day exploring Galveston, walking up and down the seawall, spend some time on the beach… check out downtown Galveston and all the shops. Take a trip down to Kemah. One day would have to be spent downtown Houston, catch a ball game at minute maid or NRG depending on the time of year, a night out at Pete’s Piano Bar and checking out one of the amazing restaurants downtown. I’m a country girl so I would definitely have to show them a good time at Dosey Doe in the Woodlands for an up close and personal acoustic show or twirl around the dance floor at Big Texas, catch a good show at Main Street Crossing over in Tomball or The Rustic over in Midtown. Houston has an abundance of good breweries to check out as well which can make for a great Saturday afternoon. Lake Conroe isn’t far either to sit on the lake and have some crawfish at Papas on the Lake and spend the day boating or fishing for some bass or catfish. There are just so many options of things to do in the area to show an out of towner a good time!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would definitely not be where I am today without the help of important people in my life. My parents first and foremost are hands down the back bone to my business. They help me whenever it is needed, without question.. and it is truly appreciated. Various friends as well that have helped me with deliveries, working events and just being there for me when i get overwhelmed has also been such a blessing. A particular organization I was apart of also had a big role in me wanting to continue to do what I do, because like every small business owner, there are times when you’re just not sure if you’re doing the right thing or not. Bake-A-Wish in Austin, Texas was a big part of my life for a while and changed my perspective on a lot of things. As a part of Bake-A-Wish we provided free cakes for kids in orphanages who otherwise, might not have ever received a birthday cake. One particular case, that i will never ever forget, was a cake that I did for a 17 year old.. he was so appreciative that I received a note after the fact saying that he had never before had a birthday cake, and that completely broke my heart. There is absolutely no reason that a kid should ever have that feeling. It made me realize how something as little as a birthday cake can impact someones life and that being just a small part of someones special occasion can leave a lasting impression on them.

Website: https://the-butter-stick-bakery.myshopify.com/
Instagram: @thebutterstickbakerytx
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thebutterstickbakery

Image Credits
Image credit: The Butter Stick Bakery