Baking For Business Podcast, Episode #98

"From Side Hustle To $8k Brand Orders: One On One With Linda Renee Sweets"

Host: Chef Amanda Schonberg
Guest: My’Asia (Owner, Linda Renee Sweets)
Release Date: June 23, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a detailed, inspiring conversation between host Chef Amanda Schonberg and My’Asia, owner of Texas cottage bakery Linda Renee Sweets. Together, they explore My’Asia’s journey from pandemic side hustle to building a thriving home-based baking business that now specializes in large corporate orders. The discussion dives into how My’Asia broke away from relying on social media for growth, pivoted to target corporate clients, embraced mindset shifts, and achieved five-figure months. This episode is packed with actionable insights for bakers wanting to expand beyond traditional customer bases, especially into B2B (business-to-business) markets.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. My’Asia’s Baking Journey

• Beginnings & Inspiration

  • My’Asia’s love for baking started as a child, helping her mom in the kitchen ([01:55]).
  • The passing of her mother during the pandemic reignited her passion and led her to officially launch her business in Texas.
  • "My business [is] actually named after my mom and my cousin who passed away. That’s where Linda Renee comes from." (My’Asia, [03:06])

• Naming the Business

  • "Linda is my cousin and Renee is my mom." (My’Asia, [03:34])
  • The business is a tribute to both women, carrying their legacy forward.

2. Evolving the Menu

• My’Asia offers breakfast items (croissants, muffins, pastries, danishes, croissant-based lunches) alongside traditional desserts (cupcakes, cakes, cookies) ([03:52]).
• The inclusion of grab-and-go options was inspired by Amanda’s teachings ([04:20]).

3. Growth Without Social Media Reliance ([04:28])

• My’Asia is proof that social media is not the only path for bakery growth:
  • Investing in Amanda’s courses and networking outside of social platforms radically shifted her business ([04:52]).
  • "Sometimes the people on social media… they might enjoy it, but it doesn’t necessarily mean revenue. And I wanted the revenue." (My’Asia, [05:27])

4. Corporate Client Focus & Business Transformation

• After joining Amanda’s More DOE program—a six-week intensive on working with corporate clients—My’Asia pivoted to focus exclusively on B2B work ([08:24]).

  • "After your course, I completely went to corporate clients… it was one of the hardest decisions I had to make." (My’Asia, [08:24])
  • Gave up regular consumer and wholesale orders to manage larger, more profitable orders.

• Emotional Challenge of Saying No

  • Struggled with turning away regular clients due to loyalty and relationships ([11:18]).

• Clarifying B2B vs. Wholesale

  • Amanda explains: "Corporate client is any brand or entity that wants to be your client… business to business, as opposed to business to consumer." ([10:06])

5. Corporate Client Examples & Community Impact

• Named prominent organizations as clients:

  • Dallas Mavericks, Gateway Church, local law offices, hospitals, Dallas ISD, Plano ISD ([13:27]).
  • "I tell God, enlarge my territory. That’s what I do…" (My’Asia, [13:52])

• Gratitude & Humility in Working with Major Clients

  • Describes a full-circle moment supplying Duke Energy:
    • "I just remember crying when I got the order because this was the same people who turned off our lights one time…" (My’Asia, [15:34])

6. Menu Strategy for Corporate Clients

• Amanda advocates for “dual menus”—breakfast and dessert options ([18:12]).

• My’Asia’s first $1,000 order came via a new platform, validating Amanda’s advice on menu expansion ([19:13]).

• Top-Selling Items

  • Muffins and “continental breakfast platters” are most in demand for corporate orders ([20:12]).

7. Impact of Corporate Focus

• Sales Growth & Work-Life Balance

  • Larger orders reduced the need for constant content creation and allowed My’Asia to focus on work she enjoys ([21:07]).
  • "I have decreased posting content because I’m able to now focus on working, baking, and being in the community." (My’Asia, [21:12])

• Relationship Building

  • Success is credited not just to platforms but to professional presence, networking, and always being prepared with samples and business cards ([22:30]).
  • "If you stay ready, you don’t gotta get ready." (Amanda, quoting show’s teaching, [22:57])

8. Results from Investing in Education

• Return on Investment

  • Recouped course costs within a month, multiplied returns several times over ([06:45], [23:38]).
  • "The small seed of investment in your course turned into well over what I paid for the course." (My’Asia, [24:40])

• Major Wins

  • $1,000 initial order → $5,000 order → $8,000 order—a single church order that required quick turnaround ([23:52]-[24:00]).
  • Achieved a $10,000 month in December 2024, working on large-scale church orders ([25:58]).

• Mindset Shift

  • Overcame scarcity mindset; now embraces investment and abundance ([25:18]).

9. Dealing with Large Orders & Scaling Up

• My’Asia now confidently takes on large, bulk orders; success is a matter of planning and, if need be, calling for help ([31:02]).
• "There is no too big of an order. I might need to plan better or…phone a friend, but we’re going to get this done." (My’Asia, [32:07])

10. Future Goals & Reflections

• Plans to continue focusing on B2B; has no current desire for a storefront ([33:47]).
• Open to exploring digital products with Amanda’s guidance in the future ([36:23]).
• Amanda affirms: "You have had a 1k order, a 5k order, 8k order without getting a storefront…there are other ways…” ([35:02])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On business purpose:
  • "My business actually named after my mom and my cousin who passed away. That’s where Linda Renee comes from." – My’Asia ([03:06])
• On stepping away from social:
  • "Sometimes the people on social media… they don’t necessarily correlate to actual paying clients…I wanted the revenue." – My’Asia ([05:27])
• On the challenge of pivoting:
  • "It was really hard having to say no…because they have came to me and trusted me with an experience…But you have to look at the bigger picture." – My’Asia ([12:36])
• On success with corporate work:
  • "I have did the Mavericks…I’ve worked with schools, hospitals, basketball teams. Nobody is off limits." – My’Asia ([13:27-14:59])
• On gratitude:
  • "I remember crying when I got the order…because this was the same people who turned off our lights one time…" – My’Asia ([15:34])
• On mindset:
  • "If you are limited in your mindset, you’re going to be limited in your output. If you expand, that’s what it’s going to be." – My’Asia ([25:59])
• On investing in education:
  • "I took away so much from the course that the money that I spent, I seen the increase within a month, I’ve received it double back." – My’Asia ([06:45])
• On advice for others:
  • "Invest in yourself and don’t be limited in your mindset because the unthinkable or things can happen that you never expected could happen." – My’Asia ([27:54])
• On presentation:
  • "When I go into them office buildings, look put together…because I want to be somebody they’re like, OK, I can trust her." – My’Asia ([22:57])

Important Timestamps

• My’Asia’s beginnings, naming of business: 01:55 – 03:34
• Menu evolution, catering to corporate: 03:52 – 04:28
• Growth without social media: 04:28 – 05:52
• Impact of the More DOE course: 06:07 – 07:57
• Switching to corporate focus: 08:24 – 09:36
• Navigating fear of turning away regulars: 11:18 – 12:36
• Describing key corporate clients: 13:27 – 14:59
• Humility, full-circle wins: 15:34 – 16:50
• Menu change & first $1k order: 18:12 – 19:13
• Top breakfast sellers: 20:12 – 20:43
• Sales, work-life improvements: 21:07 – 23:09
• Big order wins ($1k, $5k, $8k): 23:38 – 24:40
• Mindset shift & $10k month: 25:18 – 25:58
• Scaling, confidence in bulk: 31:02 – 32:07
• Future vision: 33:47 – 35:02
• Lightning round (fun Q&A): 37:29 – 39:08

Episode Tone & Speaker Dynamics

• Uplifting, practical, and community-focused.
• My’Asia is humble, energetic, and candid about both fears and triumphs.
• Amanda is encouraging, inquisitive, and teaches throughout; both create an atmosphere of authentic mentorship and peer support.

For Listeners: Actionable Takeaways

• Growth is possible outside social media—focus on networking, platforms, and real-world relationships.
• Investment in education and mentorship can unlock new levels of business potential.
• Corporate and B2B sales can bring higher volume orders and financial stability—sometimes at the cost of saying no to regulars.
• Your menu should serve multiple dayparts (breakfast and dessert) for corporate appeal.
• Visibility in your community and presentation matter—be ready with samples and always look professional for drop-offs.
• You don’t need a storefront to reach financial goals—maximize what you can do from home, first.
• Mindset shifts away from scarcity are crucial to business growth.

Memorable Advice

"Conversations turn into conversions."
– Chef Amanda Schonberg ([32:53])

"If you stay ready, you don’t gotta get ready."
– Chef Amanda Schonberg ([22:57])

"Invest in yourself and don’t be limited in your mindset because the unthinkable…can happen."
– My’Asia ([27:54])

For more on the programs mentioned or to learn how to elevate your bakery business, visit Baking for Business