Hidden Gems: Meet Jessica Niebel of Kreativ Delights

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Niebel. 

Hi Jessica, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I first started baking when I was 5. I would be in the kitchen making pancakes and French toast while my mother watched from afar. Later on, in my teenage years, I started helping my mother bake family desserts and even helped her on a wedding cake at the age of 13. It honestly took me a while before I decided to get back into baking after the age of 16 since I started doing other hobbies like Art and Theater. I ended up joining the Marine Corps at the age of 20 for four years but did not start baking until I went to Japan during my last year in service. When stationed at Camp Fuji in Japan, I decided to help run the Single Marines Program there which allowed me to hold events and fundraisers in which allowed me to bake deserts. With the small kitchen we had on the first floor of the barracks, I kept getting praises for the desserts I had made over time. When my service had ended, I went back to Texas and returned to college after so many years. I was able to catchup with old friends I had not seen in so long. A little over a year later, I decided to move to Arizona and start a new chapter. I slowly got back into baking over time of living here in Arizona. While living in Arizona, I decided to volunteer for a non-profit organization called For Goodness Cakes, which allowed me to get back into baking goodies. At home I kept playing the, “what do I want to do in life that will make me happy” game. Things started to turn around when I had set up a business on Etsy in late 2019 and it officially kicked off in early 2020. Even with the whole covid-19 issue slowing business down a bit, I still had customers here and there during the 2020 year. In Fall 2020, business picked up which led to a huge hit for desserts, not only for Fall but for Winter as well. I decided to take things up a notch in early 2021 to get my business license and that is exactly what I did. I was very excited to see how far I had come to get my own small home business up and running. Kreativ Delights is a Veteran owned and operated small business that caters to everyone to make their day a little bit sweeter. It has been a long journey towards making the decision I did earlier this year and I wouldn’t take it back for a second.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Nothing is ever a smooth road, whether it’s a long and bumpy one or a short one with long repercussions at the end. I took the long and bumpy road where you learn from your mistakes over time, you run into multiple issues, you have good and bad days, but at the end of the tunnel there is plenty of open road to enjoy with all the hard work you put in.

Some of the struggles I have had to face were financial ones, issues with customers, a home setup, family, and two fur babies passing away last year, both 3 months apart from each other. Earlier this year in 2021 while doing business, I found out that my dad had a heart attack and surgery on two hernias. Life didn’t seem to get any easier with running a business at home and living roughly 2300 miles away from family. Some things are still a struggle to this day, but I just keep pushing forward. I was told by my dad that if you want to make a little money, you have to spend a little money. Investing in a small business will wear on you when you are a one-woman show, driving to different cities in the county just to make sure you have the proper ingredients, packaging, and equipment for the desserts you are making. Working with big-time organizations, companies, and/or universities is no walk-in-the-park all by yourself either. The bumpy road takes a lot out of you and if you don’t put in the effort can you really say you worked for anything at all?

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Kreativ Delights?
Kreativ Delights is a small home owned business in Scottsdale, Arizona that is ran by a Marine Veteran. The word Kreativ is of German origin meaning creative in English. I chose the name of the business based off of being creative with a variety of desserts I make. I have learned to improvise and it is what I am good at. I have learned everything with a bit of help from my mother and by watching professionals on YouTube or in person. I always enjoyed being artistic in different ways, such as drawing, painting, and the theatrics.

I specialize in chocolates, breads, cookies, chocolates, cakes, and even sauces. I am known for the intriguing cakes I make, the seasonal items like my pumpkin rolls, homemade marshmallow fondant, chocolate candied bacon, and blueberry lemon bread.

What sets me apart from everyone else is that I can customize the majority of desserts upon my customers’ request. Some items might cost a bit more with customization, but that is what running a business is all about. The brands I am most proud of is King Arthur, McCormick, Wheat Montana, Clabber Girl, and quite a few others. These brands have helped my products stabilize, stay fresh, and taste great afterwards.

I want readers to know that trying my product won’t be a letdown. I guarantee customer satisfaction if their product is damaged, but like any other shop, I do have a policy to uphold too. I do offer bulk prices for larger quantity products, I can deliver locally with a fair delivery price, and can always do custom orders outside of Etsy.

Contact Info:

• Email: kreativdelights@outlook.com
• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/KreativDelights
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreativdelights/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KreativDelights/