Daily Inspiration: Meet Hollye Morales

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hollye Morales

Hi Hollye, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My mom loves to tell me that growing up I hated two things: school and baking. I was not the kid who liked to get their hands dirty and sticky. So, naturally, it makes sense that I grew up to become an educator and a baker.

I worked in education for 13 years, starting out as a preschool teacher, I found my passion for “the littles.” After moving to Arizona in 2016, I moved into administration where I worked on the leadership team for the preschool program before moving into a marketing role at our local school district. In December 2023, I left my career in education and took the leap into being a full-time business owner. It has proven to be my greatest adventure yet. Everything about Wildflour Sugar has truly fallen into place in the most magical way. Every opportunity has led to the next opportunity, our growth has been very organic. Wildflour Sugar was a “side hustle” until it got too big to be one.

I fell in love with sugar cookies after taking a cookie decorating class for fun in early 2021. After doing cookies for family and friends for the next few months just to have an excuse to decorate cookies, by late 2021, everyone around me was trying to convince me to make my sugar cookies an official business. Wildflour Sugar was officially born in October of 2021.

Wildflour Sugar has now expanded from custom orders and local markets to wholesale accounts, cookie decorating classes, and more.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although our road has been one of organic growth, there has been nothing easy about it. During the days of working full-time while running a business, I did more all-nighters than I didn’t do. I was constantly burning the candle at both ends while juggling corporate responsibilities with everyday business challenges that would pop up. Even something as simple as a client wanting to pick up an order early would be a juggling act to make that happen in between work responsibilities during the week.

Now, being a full-time business owner, the struggles are almost daily; especially navigating our current economy and inflation on the ingredients I need to make product. Business owners need to have an innate ability to pivot constantly to adapt and shift to the changing needs of our clients.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Wildflour Sugar is known for being highly detailed sugar cookies with a curated business model behind them. I’ve worked hard to establish my brand as a “business” rather than an “at-home, casual” experience. The entire process of working with a client is of the highest level of professionalism and customer service. Whether a client is placing a custom order, or picking up a cookie at a market, I strive to give them the best experience possible.

I am known for my friendly and approachable style, never judging or questioning the ideas a client has for their set. I bring the same openness to my cookie decorating classes. Everyone is welcome and we will always have a fun time, guaranteed.

What I am most proud of is what I have built Wildflour Sugar to be. When clients tell me that they knew a cookie in a retail setting was mine because of the way it was decorated and packaged, I know I’ve done my job.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Wildflour Sugar is a true one-woman show, and it always has been. From ingredients, to packaging, to the one at the market setting up/tearing down/selling the cookies all day, it’s me. When a business chooses to partner with me on wholesale, I am the one delivering that order each week. I do not say this to “toot my own horn,” I say this to illustrate what is the norm for many small business owners. We would all love to have a team to help us, but the reality is, most don’t have the revenue to support that. During “market season,” my sweet husband will donate his time to help me package when he can on his days off…and I am eternally grateful for that support.

Pricing:

• Custom Dozen: starting at $62/doz
• Single Sugar Cookie at Retail: $6
• 4-pack of Mini Sugar Cookies at retail: $12

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wildfloursugar.com
• Instagram: @wildflour_sugar