Welcome to "Morgan Entrepreneur Spotlight," our monthly-ish showcase where we shine a light on Northeast Ohio's entrepreneurial superstars. Each feature delves into the journeys of individuals who have participated in our programs and are harnessing their learnings to fuel impressive growth and innovation.
Raegan Sanders is a senior at Gilmour Academy and the owner of RaesSweetz, a home-based business that creates custom cookies, cake pops, cupcakes and other treats. She launched the business several years ago as Beyond the Universe Desserts and rebranded it as RaesSweetz in 2024. Raegan received a Morgan Startup Grant from Tri-C Center for Entrepreneurs, and she is the first high school student to be profiled in the Morgan Entrepreneur Spotlight series.
Please tell us a little about your business.
“RaesSweetz is a home-based business that strives to create custom, high-quality treats. We offer cookies, cake pops, cupcakes, and so much more! I came up with this idea from my love of baking and the need for custom treats to fit any theme you can imagine.”
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
“My love of baking was a major part of what pushed me to become an entrepreneur.”
How long have you been working on your business, and how did you get started?
“I’ve been working on my business for about 4-5 years. RaesSweetz first started as Beyond the Universe Desserts; I rebranded it as RaesSweetz about two years ago.
We started from a pure love of baking; ever since I was little, I loved baking with my grandma and mom. Growing up, my mother, grandma, and I would always bake for birthdays, holidays, and any major event. And now that I am older, I am passing that passion on to my little sister and brother. People would always suggest that we turn it into a business, and that’s when RaesSweetz was born.”
Tell us about your experience with the Morgan Startup Grant. What have you learned through the program, and what was most helpful to you?
“I learned vital things through the Morgan Startup Grant; most importantly, I’d say, is knowing my worth and paying myself right. I used to just pay myself to barely cover material costs, not even considering that I should be paying myself to make a decent profit. I also learned that when it comes to discounts, there is a very thin line, which you don’t want to cross if you don’t know if you can still profit from it.”
How are you using - or how do you plan to use - your Morgan Startup Grant?
“I plan to use the Morgan Startup Grant to expand RaesSweetz by having a mobile unit - a cake cart - which will be available to be booked for events.”
What has been one of the biggest challenges you've faced while starting or running your business? How have you worked through it?
“One of the biggest challenges I have faced is balancing school and sports with my business. I have worked through this problem by planning ahead and not taking last-minute orders without charging a fee and only if I have time.
Another challenge I have faced is getting my name out there. I am trying to work through this problem by being more social, and getting into events where I’m able to hand out my business cards and flyers.”
What are you most proud of accomplishing with your business so far?
“I recently was contacted by Foodstrong, a nonprofit that deals with food insecurity, and was able to not only create cookies for the event, but was also able to speak in front of the crowd of around 300 people about my entrepreneurial background and goals.”
What is something you've learned about entrepreneurship that surprised you?
“Something I’ve learned that surprised me was the struggle it’d be to set and stand by my prices as my skills and experience advance.”
What are one to three goals you have for your business over the next year?
“My top three goals are:
- Increase the amount of recurring orders per month
- Gain more traction both on and off social media
- Maintain personal connections with my clients”
Where would you like to see your business go in the future?
“In the future, I’d like to see my cookies in local stores, or even big chain stores, as well as possibly opening an immersive dessert shop.”
How do you balance school, your business and your other activities?
“I balance school, my business, and my other activities with a busy color-coded planner and with discipline. I’ve found that it’s essential for me to plan ahead so that I can fit everything in, while also making time for activities that help me decompress, even if it’s such a simple thing like coloring.”
Who has encouraged or helped you along the way?
“My grandma, mom, and aunts have helped me along the way, as they help me with orders, decorating, and keeping me on track. My friends have also helped, whether it’s running errands with me, handing out flyers/business cards, spending their free time to help me sell at vendor events, or being some of my biggest cheerleaders. When it comes to encouragement, the list goes on and on. I look to my brothers and sister, who are some of my most loyal customers. Meanwhile, my younger siblings, Jordyn and Jameson, are often my inspiration to keep going. I also receive encouragement from my mom, grandma, grandpa, aunts, and uncle.”
What advice would you give another young person who has an idea for a business?
“Don’t be so in your head that you refuse to even start.
Make sure to start small and test out your ideas.
Also don’t get stuck with your own ideas -- what you want may not be what your customers want. Focus on what the customers want or are looking for.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help; asking for help doesn’t mean you’re weak.
Make sure to track your expenses because if you don’t, you could easily overspend.
Most importantly, believe in yourself. Sometimes you may fail, but it’s all about trial and error, and you will get better over time, so don’t be so quick to give up.”
How do you define success?
“Being a known, beloved local business, and a business that is known in households and preferred over other businesses.”
What is your favorite quote, saying or piece of advice?
“Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.”
Is there anything else you'd like people to know about you or your business?
“I would also like people to know that RaesSweetz is more than just me. What started with my mom, grandma, and me baking together has grown into something where my siblings, aunts, friends, and other family members have all played a part. It has become something that brings a lot of people I care about together, and I think that is one of the most special parts of having this business. There are definitely challenges that come with being a young entrepreneur, but I think being young also allows me to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them early, with the support of the people around me.”
To learn more about Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and opportunities for startups, contact Angela Evans.
If you have participated in Morgan Foundation sponsored programs and are interested in being featured in the Spotlight, contact Gina Dotson.