Inspiring Conversations with Lauren Caple of La Dolce Dharma

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Caple.

Hi Lauren, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Lauren. I am a wife, step-mom to two amazing girls and small business owner. My background is in the restaurant industry. I was furloughed when COVID hit and decided to use the time to learn a new skill. I started La Dolce Dharma in February of 2020 after making desserts for my best friend’s baby shower. I received so many compliments from her guests and that encouraged me to turn this into something more. (Thanks Britt!) I got to work right away and decided that a portion of every order would benefit non-profit organizations. I chose organizations who are on the frontline providing humanitarian aid to people in need. At the time, Australia was battling wildfires. I sold chocolate-covered strawberries to my friends and coworkers and immediately donated to Direct Relief to help in the best way I could.

My mom has been my biggest inspiration when it comes to paying it forward. She taught me early on that if your cup is full, you pour for others. I’ve always admired the work she did. Her career has been in social work. I would meet her clients and they would tell me the ways my mom changed their life, saying how much of an angel she is. I’m lucky to have such a great role model. I try to continue these blessings by following my business’ mantra, “Paying it forward is sweet.” Every order benefits charity, all you have to do is order some sweets! The concept behind Dharma is anything that upholds or sustains positive order. It is a Sanskrit word that loosely translates to righteous living. Add some sweetness and you have La Dolce Dharma! Every month I select a non-profit organization who is providing aid to those in need and I donate a portion of profits to them. It can be challenging to select just one cause to donate to because there is so much suffering happening in the world and so many are in need. It’s important for me to serve my community. Whether that’s through making desserts, donating, picking up trash on my favorite hiking trail or teaming up with a bunch of awesome people to host a charity yoga event. I am excited to continue this journey, making life sweeter for my customers and contributing to charities working to make the world a better place.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
In the beginning, I struggled with finding a good work/life balance. I had to learn how to juggle both family and a business schedule. I had to make desserts, order supplies, photograph my desserts, create invoices, track sales, donate, establish my brand and maintain an online presence. It is easy to have tunnel vision when so much work goes into running a small business. I constantly remind myself to be present and disconnect when it’s time for family and friends. I also struggle with charging appropriately for my creations. Many hours go into every order and at the end of the day, I still feel the need to offer discounts or lower pricing. That’s where my husband comes in. He’s the one I go to for all things numbers-related. He reminds me that I need to know my worth and charge accordingly. You have to get paid for the work you do. My biggest takeaway is that boundaries must be established and maintained to preserve your sanity.

We’ve been impressed with La Dolce Dharma, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
La Dolce Dharma is a pay-it-forward dessert shop. I offer cake pops, macarons, cupcakes, sugar cookies and a range of chocolate-covered treats. I am a self-taught home baker. When I’m not creating desserts, I’m thinking about them. I enjoy challenging myself to learn and create new recipes, there is so much to come.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My biggest surprise has been the amazing connections I’ve made. These relationships have blossomed into friendships. The universe has a magical way of placing like-minded people in the right place at the right time. It’s powerful when you have a group of people that share the desire, compassion and ability to actualize their intention and create positive change. I’ve met so many amazing people on this journey and they inspire me in so many ways.

Contact Info:

• Email: ladolcedharma@gmail.com
• Website: www.ladolcedharma.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladolcedharma/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladolcedharma
• Twitter: twitter.com/ladolcedharma