Baked & Sold With Love

Planning for a birthday or a graduation party or maybe even a baptism, one thing that you need for all three events is a cake no doubt. A cake is what literally brings people closer together during events like those. But finding a baker that has an affordable price and obviously delicious cakes is what most of the times is hard to find.

Granted most of us latinos go to Porto’s and buy one from there but clearly they don’t specialize in custom cakes. Specifically in the popular vintage cakes that has been trending non stop on social media. The cakes give such an elegant & special feeling to any special day with all the details that are piped on. Even though they are a popular cake style, not all bakers can & will do it and if they do they might charge a lot more than you were expecting and wanting.

Fortunately enough, there’s one baker in Montebello, CA that not only does exceptional work on her cakes but she makes them at such an affordable price. Most people even tell her that she should charge more for her cakes but she just refuses—for a good reason. Let’s get to know Diana and her business Is.a.treat_. on instagram.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Diana,I am a 29 year old, first generation Latina and I am the owner of is.a.treat_.!

I was born and raised in the city of Montebello CA. After graduating high school, since I was a teen mom, I wanted a fast track career, which is why I decided to go to school to become a medical assistant. I currently work full time for a family practice, and although I love patient care, my passion and heart is in running my small business.

What do you do & what is your business?

I specialize in making affordable custom cakes, in particular the trendy vintage style cakes. The motto I’ve instilled for my business is “ We don’t make money but we do make people happy”.

Why did you decide to start the business? What got you into it/to start?

I started making treats for my nephews birthday parties 10 years ago. My family and I have always been the kind to DIY our parties, and to stay on budget. In February of 2023 I decided to put myself out there and created my business page. This only consisted of chocolate dipped treats at the time. In the beginning of 2024, I took the leap to start making cakes after one of my cousins wanted a heart shaped cake for her 15th birthday. So I looked and researched recipes and tutorials on how to pipe and frost cakes. Once I made my first couple of cakes, I found it, my spark. I loved it, so much more than making treats.

Was it easy to start your business? Why or why not?

It was not easy finding new customers and potential clients who were not family or friends. It took me quite a while to get people who I had never met before to place an order. I would advertise my business to family friends, and events, such as local mom groups. I also started doing pop-up markets and met some amazing people along the way.

What’s your favorite part about your business?

My favorite part about my business is getting to see people’s reactions to their cakes. I love giving back and being able to share my talent with others. Which is something I never thought that I would do. Hearing and seeing the messages such as “ I was finally able to get myself the cake ive been wanting for my birthday but couldn’t afford it” or “ You made my kids’ birthday so special”. That’s what puts a smile on my face.

What’s the hardest part about it?

I will say it does get hard to run a business on the side, while working full time, and being a momma of two. Sometimes I struggle with feeling like I’m not giving my family the amount of time I should be because Monday-Friday consists of work and Saturdays and Sundays are when I fulfill my cake orders. Having a great support system is key. My parents, siblings, my partner and in laws all help out so much.

I’ve seen your reasoning for your prices but for the people that don’t know, why do you price your cakes at a low price while other bakers are charging at a higher price for the same work?

I come from a humble family who struggled financially growing up. From living in a studio apartment, to a one bedroom, as a family of 6. Both parents were always working, I saw the struggle first hand, but yet we never had anything missing. Sure we didn’t have the “cool” shoes or the best of clothing, but we grew up happy, fed and clean.

My parents have always been the type to give to others, even when they didn’t have much. Up to this day, I constantly see the generosity and the kindness that they spread to others. My dad is the type of person who will give you his last remaining dollar if you need it. Being that we didn’t have much growing up, we didn’t get customized cakes, we would bake our own or simply buy a traditional tres leches cake from Superior market and decorate it with our toys. I am here to help those who cannot afford getting expensive customized cakes. To help them celebrate their kids, or parents, friends and family with a beautiful cake. As someone who has fought through depression and anxiety for years since middle school, I always felt like I didn’t fit in, was always the “shy” and quiet girl in the room. Which quite frankly I still am.

My business has become my creative outlet, helping me keep my mind busy. I also use my platform to spread awareness about mental health. I’ve been at a point in my life where I didn’t want to be here anymore, where I felt helpless, and couldn’t stop crying day to day. I’m here to show you that it gets better. Even when all roads seem to lead nowhere, it isn’t the end. There is so much more waiting for you. I never thought that I would amount to anything, but look where I am now. I’ve had lines of people waiting just to be able to get a cake from me.

Has this all been supported by yourself or you had support through others?

I support my small business through my full time job as a medical assistant. Others such as my parents, my sisters, and my partner have helped me with getting supplies that I’ve needed. I have also created a wishlist which consists of supplies that people can give/donate to support my journey.

What are the pros & cons to your type of business?

My business helps me, with keeping me busy and not being alone with my thoughts. The cons are that the demand is high, there’s a lot of people who would like to get a cake made by me, but because I am only one person and because my availability is extremely limited it does create frustration within my followers because they aren’t able to book in an order. Also, social media is quite hard to navigate. With the negative comments or questioning on why my cakes are priced the way they are.

What are some difficulties in owning a business like yours that others may not understand?

People don’t understand that the supplies, such as cake boxes, boards, sprinkles, decor, all come out of my pocket. Many people don’t understand the concept of selling cakes at the price i do, they say i don’t value myself or my work, which is quite the opposite.

Is there anything your would change about your business? Why or why not?

If there was one thing I would change about my business is that I would like to change my availability, to be more open too take in more orders, but i also do not want to overwhelm myself because again, this is a creative outlet for me, its a place for me to heal and not stress myself.

Who is your dream client and why?

My dream is just to make people happy. To make a cake for someone who has never been able to order a cake for themselves. To heal someone’s childhood by making them a cake they’ve always dreamed of

Any tips for people/small businesses that want to follow in your footsteps?

Patience patience patience!! The orders will come, the followers will come. Invest in yourself and some good quality supplies because they will make all the difference. And do what makes you happy, never compare yourself to others. You do as you please. Not to anyone else’s satisfaction.

Do you know those times when you eat something so delicious and the person who made claims to have made it with love? There is no doubt about it over here with Diana. She carefully makes sure all cakes are made & cared for as if she was making it for her own family. The smiles & raving reviews of her customers is all that she needs to feel satisfied and that to me is true genuine passion.

Although it’s totally okay if your goal for your business is to make money, rightfully so, her main reasoning is not for herself but to help others. To bring a smile to peoples faces. To help those who can’t always afford to buy their dream cake. Diana has not only carried on what she learned from her parents and used it for herself but she’s also using it to teach others about how to make life a little sweeter not only for yourself but for the people around you.

If you are ever in the Montebello area and need a delicious beautiful cake, follow Diana and her business with the link down below. If there’s anything Diana has taught me it’s to keep going/working towards your goal and as long as you have genuine love for what you’re doing everything will work out how it’s supposed to. Have you ever had one of her masterpieces? Will you be ordering? Let me know in the comments down below!