Check Out Megan O’Neil’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan O’Neil.

Hi Megan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’ve always had a baking background, working for a company that specializes in fresh bread and pastries–but never my own business. I have a magnitude of management experience under my belt in that kind of business and wanted to spread my wings creatively but wasn’t sure how.

I stumbled upon videos online of beautiful sugar cookies being made and thought “I could do this”. It was never something that had popped into my mind as a full-time job. I only wanted to test the waters and see if I could possibly do it as a hobby. Fast forward to my first few batches selling out extremely fast. It took lots of practice, learning techniques for frosting, and learning what worked and what didn’t. I’m not taught by any means, nor do I have any education on what I have learned to do. It is all self-taught through trial and error.

I wanted to do something that I could work from home, where I felt most comfortable in a creative environment. Thus, Eire Sweets was born. I make all of my cookies and cupcakes from scratch, along with the icing for both. Each cookie and cupcake is hand-made from start to finish. I design each cookie and cupcake before they’re made and each set is custom made and intricately decorated with high-quality food color pigments, metallic finishes, and edible glitters. Every order is unique. I can replicate pictures, logos–you name it. The most fun I have; however, is when I’m given creative freedom to design something for my customers.

Over the course of one month of honing my craft, it turned into a full-time job. It started as a creative outlet, that continues to be, but is now a full-fledged business that I run out of my home. I’m very grateful for that opportunity every day.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not a smooth road in the beginning. I have a perfectionist side to me, and when I couldn’t master a certain technique, like most humans, I would get frustrated or think maybe this wasn’t what I should be doing. This job takes an incredible amount of time and patience. Both of which I have, thankfully.

The attention to detail can be difficult when you’re under pressure–but that makes it that much more rewarding when you’ve finished an exceptionally difficult or large order.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in making custom sugar cookies and cupcakes. I create intricately designed and detailed little works of art in each and every cookie or cupcake. Each one is designed from scratch, hand-iced, or hand-painted with high-quality food coloring pigments, edible metallics, or edible glitters.

The sky is the limit for what designs I can make. My customers have told me that what sets me apart from others is the quality, attention to detail, and unique design of each one. Ranging from succulent/floral cupcakes that look like the real thing, all the way to custom hand-painted portraits of loved ones on a cookie.

I’ve even had customers refuse to eat their cookies and preserve them as ornaments for their Christmas tree before!

How do you think about luck?
I’ve been fortunate to have had luck in living in the most supportive neighborhood. Rockford has a community that is absolutely devoted to promoting and supporting small businesses. Without that, I’m not sure how the word would’ve gotten out so quickly about Eire Sweets. I’m incredibly lucky in that regard.

Word of mouth from people all over the country, in general, has been a huge contributor as well.

Pricing:

• $60 per dozen custom cookies
• $70 per dozen custom cupcakes
• $25 per 16 mini cookies (seasonal designs change every season).

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.eiresweets.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eiresweets/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eiresweets/