Small Business Spotlight

Megan Reardon

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Posted by: MReardon
[email protected]
Date: May 29 2023 2:14 PM

The month of May is Small Business Month, and RSN is spotlighting those who deserve recognition during this special time.

One local small business that deserves recognition is Sweet Monkeys located in New Brockton.

Owner Jenna Adair started her bakery business in 2011; she specializes in cakes (wedding, special occasions, birthday, etc.), and a variety of other baked goods such as cake pops, cupcakes, decorated sugar cookies, and chocolate-dipped strawberries among other sweet treats.

Adair worked in a bakery for a while after she graduated from high school, and it was then she realized she had a talent and passion for baking and dessert decorating. She is also an artist, so she discovered this was a great way to use those artistic abilities.

Over the next few years, she bought bakery supplies all along to build up bakeware inventory; she also studied cake decorating and baking through TV shows and YouTube videos.  Additionally, she attended cake decorating classes.

Adair started out by offering cakes and other sweets to friends and family, and her business started and grew from there. Eventually, she decided to give her business its name.

She came up with the name because when she was growing up, her dad used to call her “monkey” often, and it is something that carried over to him calling his granddaughter as well. When she was trying to decide on a business name, she said for some reason that memory kept coming back to her, possibly because her dad was always such a big supporter of her starting a bakery.

“He passed away from cancer in 2016, so unfortunately, he didn’t get to see just how much by business has grown and evolved, but I think he would be proud, and I’m so happy I decided on that name because even though my dad isn’t here, I feel like he’s still a part of it.”

Some advice Adair would give to those interested in starting a small business would be to become as educated as possible in the field of business they are going in and to make sure it is something that is 100% enjoyable to them. She also said persistence is key.

“I’m really grateful and blessed to have found a career that I truly love doing,” Adair said. “I’d also like to say that I am fortunate to have had some recognition over the years for cake decorating and baking such as Best in Show for both the 2018 and 2022 National Peanut Festival Cake Decorating Contest.”

She also won first place at the 2021 National Peanut Festival Cake Decorating contest and Best Dessert Winner for the Dothan Eagle’s Best of the Wiregrass in 2018. One can see why after seeing and tasting her delicious treats.

Adair said custom cakes are her most-sold item, and she has baked and decorated hundreds over the years.  She has learned a variety of techniques and styles for cake decorating.

She said, “I have lots of experience in working with fondant such as making edible flowers or animals. I also offer edible image printing, so I can put photos on cakes or even your favorite sports logos.”

Adair believes taste is a very important aspect to custom cakes, and her cakes are absolutely delicious. She believes flavor is just as important as the cake’s decorations and has worked hard over the years to get her recipes just right.

For anyone interested in ordering cakes or other goodies from Jenna Adair, they can message her business on Facebook or Instagram by searching for @sweetmonkeysbakery.

Next time you need a cake for a special occasion, or your sweet tooth kicks in, contact Adair and place an order.  Her chocolate-dipped strawberries and macaroons make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays like Valentine’s Day. Her cakes are unique and beautifully decorated.  You will be pleased!

And…as always—support local small businesses!  

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