St. Thomas Baker Turns Hobby into Thriving Business

Among the promising entrepreneurs who participated in the most recent staging of the St. Thomas Economic Village, organised by the Social Development Commission (SDC), was 33 year old baker, Jody Ann Patterson Adams.

A resident of Soho in the parish, she brought a sweet touch to the quarterly event with her customised cakes and party treats business – SoSo Sweetz N Treatz.

The mother of two tells JIS News that baking began as a hobby she shared with family and friends.

However, during the COVID 19 pandemic, she decided to transform the skill into a business.

Mrs. Patterson Adams, a certified chef who previously worked at a fast food restaurant in Morant Bay, noted that, ironically, baking was never her major during her studies.

“I don’t know how cake baking came along. But I found a passion in baking and decorating cakes, and I just decided that I was going to take this on full force and just do a business out of it,” she explains.

Mrs. Patterson Adams reveals that the name SoSo Sweetz and Treatz was a childhood moniker that stayed with her throughout her life.

“My mother gave me that name when I was a baby. She said that when I was just learning to talk, the only words that I used to say were ‘So So’. That name stuck. Everybody in the parish who knows me… know that name,” she says.

“SoSo Sweetz N Treatz specialises in cakes for all occasions, as well as cupcakes, puddings, and party treats.

While the registered business operates primarily online, some of Mrs. Patterson Adams’ products are also showcased in her father’s storefront in the Soho community.

She explains that being surrounded by entrepreneurs in her immediate family made it easier to take the leap from structured employment to full time entrepreneurship.

“I just used that as a form of motivation for me to know that I can create my own business; I can generate my own cash,” Mrs. Patterson Adams shares.

Naturally, the early days of business came with their share of challenges, including the need for capital, energy, and time.

Still, she persevered, all while balancing the demands of motherhood and marriage.

“What I like the most is that this is a passion… this is something that I love; it’s not just for the money. When you’re doing something from the heart… even on slow days you won’t feel bad and you won’t feel down. You’re just encouraging yourself because it’s something that you love,” Mrs. Patterson-Adams says.

She further points out that the ability to make time for her family was another factor that cemented her decision to venture into entrepreneurship.

“I get to do what I want on my own time, and that was something that I struggled with. When you’re working for somebody, you’re just so restricted. You have a very hard time, especially when you are married and when you have a family… . It is very difficult,” she explains.

Mrs. Patterson Adams praises the support of her husband, Biseon Adams, who has played a vital role in growing and maintaining the business by handling deliveries, assisting with marketing, and supporting day to day operations.

“As somebody that does not have any culinary or baking experience, he’s doing an extremely good job. He’s my number-one supporter and I’m so happy for the support,” she beams.

With family support in hand, the entrepreneur has also turned to social media as a major catalyst for business growth.

She remains active on platforms such as Instagram and Tik-Tok (@soso_sweetzja), where she showcases her creations and behind the scenes content, hosts giveaways, and engages with trends.

Mrs. Patterson Adams’ advice to fellow small business owners is straightforward: visibility is key.

“Don’t be shy. Go out and promote. Go in the streets, tell a friend to tell a friend… share with your family. You have to go above and beyond,” she says.

Thanks to her determination, Mrs. Patterson Adams’ business has been gaining popularity at a rapid pace.

Recently, she was invited by St. Thomas Hillview Kinder Preparatory School and Cedar Valley Infant and Primary School to deliver presentations on entrepreneurship during their career day events.

Looking ahead to the next staging of the St. Thomas Economic Village, the dedicated entrepreneur shared that preparations are already under way.

“It was definitely a great experience because that’s something that they use to promote small businesses. It was definitely a great feeling to be out there for the first time, and I was also engaging with other persons who are small business owners. I will definitely be back,” Mrs. Patterson-Adams says.

The Village is typically hosted at the SDC’s Springfield Complex in St. Thomas, bringing together small businesses from across the parish in a quarterly marketplace.

Government agencies also participate, providing local entrepreneurs and other stakeholders with access to resources that can help them develop and grow their businesses.