Treats by Mar is a dessert-selling business run by sophomore Marley Lara, who specializes in various chocolate desserts.
Lara became interested in baking and selling desserts when she found out that her friend would be taking her to prom, and she realized how much tickets cost for the event, she said.
“I was like, ‘Okay, how can I make money fast? I could start selling cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, chocolate-covered pretzels,” Lara said. “Then I did a bake sale on opening day for Milpitas travel softball, and I made $400 to $500.”
At a young age, Lara learned how to cook and bake from her family members, she said.
“I’ve always watched my grandma and mom bake in the kitchen,” Lara said. “Baking is one of my favorite things to do, even when I’m stressed.”
I plan on expanding the desserts that I make, Lara said.
“I want to make different flavors of cookies or even brownies,” Lara said. “I want to try making a lot of different flavors, especially cake batter cookies, instead of just regular cookies.”
My mom helped support me the most in this business, Lara said.
“My mom’s my biggest supporter in everything when it comes to school, sports, and even my own business,” Lara said. “My grandmother also helps a lot – getting the stuff I need or the ingredients I need. They’re always telling me what I could do or what I could charge.”
It’s a big struggle to get everything together when I have a bunch of orders for the same day, Lara said.
“For Valentine’s Day, I actually did a box combo of two pretzels, two brownies, two chocolate-covered strawberries, and two cookies, and they were all going to be handed out on Valentine’s Day,” Lara said. “I had to box it right, and make sure it didn’t fall, so that was a big struggle.”
This is something to do in high school, but it’s not what I want to go to school for, Lara said.
“I still want to make more different desserts,” Lara said. “Maybe at the end of junior year, I could have a menu with different things, and it could make me a lot more money.”
Junior Jaye Huddson first heard about Marley’s business on Instagram, she said.
“She had posted her account, treatsbymar, and posted that she was selling desserts,” Huddson said.
The thing that I enjoy most about Marley’s business is that she has great customer service, Huddson said.
“When you text her, she replies very fast. Her prices are convenient and very adequate, and she makes good food,” Huddson said.
Her treats are better because she makes the items herself, Huddson said.
“She puts her time and her effort into it, and I think that I also like that I’m supporting a friend,” Huddson said. “I like supporting small businesses and knowing that the money is going to a good cause.”
Lara also communicates very well, Huddson added.
“She answers texts fast and she’s very descriptive on what she’s selling and what you’re ordering,” Huddson said. “She has a good business and makes good snacks.”
My advice for someone who wants to start their own business would be that you really need to spread the word, Lara said.
“Have people spread the word for you and get yourself out there,” Lara said. “You really need to get yourself out there since nobody will know who you are until you get your name out there. If they don’t know who you are, you’re not going to get anything.”