Community Highlights: Meet Attallah King of Unique Treats

Today we’d like to introduce you to Attallah King.

Hi Attallah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
How I started is a unique story. Have you ever had an idea of what you wanted, but the idea of your desires seemed so farfetched with your current circumstances at that particular time? Well, that’s how I would say my beginning started.

I’ve always loved unique cupcakes, and I knew I wanted to be the owner of a gourmet cupcakery shop one day. My father who’s now deceased was a chef and known for his delicious cakes. Prior to the death of my father, I discussed with him one of my dreams, which was to open a bakery in the Orlando area and to have my father bake all the delicious cupcakes I created. Of course, like any father would, he encouraged me to follow my dreams, he asked was I ready to start the journey at that moment or did I want to focus on finishing my degree at UCF and maybe come back to this idea after completing dental school? I thought long and hard about the amount of schoolwork I had at the time, and I decided to focus on completing my degree.

A year later, my father passed away and I dropped my classes at UCF. I didn’t return until the next two semesters. I was experiencing so many changes in my life, from feeling as if I lose my best friend, feeling alone, not knowing who I could turn to, while at the same time going through a deep depression. With the passing of my mother at the age of 17 and now the passing of my father at the age of 22. I began to question… What was my purpose in life? I started working two jobs to cover my expenses and to at least try to save money to begin the upcoming semester. One day I was asked to bake cupcakes for a co-workers baby shower at work to be honest, I was so nervous to bake the cupcakes because I’ve never baked without the help of my father so I wasn’t quite sure how the cupcakes would turn out. The day of the baby shower I made a dozen of my birthday cake cupcakes. I was extremely nervous because I wasn’t sure how everyone would enjoy them. Within seconds I went from being nervous to the feeling of joy and amazement from the feedback I received. “Attallah these cupcakes are amazing”, and another “Wow, Attallah did you make those birthday cake cupcakes, they’re delicious, wow”! This feeling of everyone enjoying something I created, something that I put my all into, and for me to receive so much positive feedback, I immediately told myself I must focus on my dreams.

A week later, I had an emotional breakdown feeling as if I was stuck. At the time not realizing this was really my breakthrough. I was no longer in school, working two jobs, barely making enough to pay all my bills, and I no longer had a social life. I didn’t know who I was and who I was becoming at this time, but I was so uncomfortable in my current situation that I knew something had to change. I knew there was more for me. I just didn’t know at the time what that thing was, well so I thought until something popped in my mind… “Start baking”. At first, I ignored the thought because as I said before I’ve only baked once without my father. Yes, it was a success, but the thought of doing it alone scared me. The next day I called my aunt Pauline with excitement and said “Hi Auntie, I want to start a cupcake business and I want to name my business Unique Treats”. My aunt responded with excitement saying “Wow really? You can most definitely do it, but why the name Unique Treats? What exactly will be Unique about your cupcakes compared to other cupcake shops? I most definitely see this as a million-dollar business for you, I believe you can do it”. I quickly responded to each question as if I was on “Shark Tank” speaking to Daymond John. I was overjoyed with excitement and the eager to start baking the most unique cupcake flavors ever. I officially started my baking business Unique Treats, LLC November 2015, I would practice every cupcake flavor I thought of. I created “Oreo Blast” which is now one of our most popular flavors. It took me weeks of practice to master this cupcake from icing down to the cupcake. From learning how to frost each cupcake like I envisioned in my mind took time, but daily I worked hard. My cousin Dionte was so excited about my cupcakes that he posted them on Facebook. That day changed drastically for me. People from my hometown Palatka, FL to Port Saint Lucie, FL were raving about how amazing my cupcakes looked. I begin to receive countless orders for thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, and baby showers. Within two months, my business began to grow. I decided to quit my second job and work more on my business. I began to sign up for vendor events and women conferences.

Within two months, I went from being depressed to feeling a sense of fulfillment. I went from worrying about how I would pay my rent and being able to afford gas to make it work to receiving countless orders. I begin to feel as if I was now walking in my purpose. While baking, I never felt as if I was working honestly. From the countless days of getting only 2 hours of sleep because of the influx of orders. I still felt fulfilled, I love that something I loved to do was bringing joy to a plethora of people. As time went on, I continued to get back in school to complete my degree as I promised both myself and my father I would, I work my business and working a 9-5. In 2019, after the birth of my child I began to start creating more unique cupcakes. I opened a cupcake kiosk at the Orlando Premium Outlets. I was in business for almost three months, but I will say not having the proper planning and a team with the amount of responsibilities that was on my plate was a lot on me and played a major part in my business. After closing the kiosk, I felt like a failure. I felt as if I failed myself, I failed my business, I failed my brand. At this time, I didn’t realize that It’s okay to RESTART AGAIN. Well COVID happened, during this time I began to feel lost. Feel as if everything I was working so hard for was diminishing from me. Until one day, I cried out to God saying “Lord please guide me to what you have in store for me change my environment, change my thoughts, please allow me to be the best mother, woman, and business owner I can be. God please I want more”. Little did I know at the time what God was about to do in my life. At this time, I had lost well what I thought was everything, was really God removing the things that was only going to get me to my next level that he had for me. I began blogging my weight loss journey and started a second business in health and wellness. Shortly after, I began to motivate others to walk in their purpose. While baking more and creating new treats beyond just cupcakes. I created my business website www.Uniquetreatscollection.com. I begin to PIVOT and walking more in my purpose. I started doing the necessary things to make myself happy and creating more positive thoughts that has created such positive impact over my life.

As any other business owner, I’m sure I’ve experienced many ups and downs from losing and gaining, but the most important thing is I didn’t give up and I’m still growing as a business and a business owner. I no longer dwell on what I don’t have but instead focus on being grateful for the things I do have. I focus more on enjoying the journey and working towards my dreams and desires that I’ve created such a positive outcome. I’m still growing, I still have bad days, but I decide to find gratitude in all things so bad days no longer really feel like bad days for me.

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?
Oh my no! this has not been a smooth road for me at all. From dealing with depression, dealing with the death of both of my parents, and feeling as if I’m alone in this world has been honestly my biggest challenge. Feeling as if you have no guidance. Having to make those tough decisions on continue to pursue your dreams but looking at your bank account in the negative. Being a single mother raising a baby without knowing how to be a parent. Was another challenge for me. At the verge of losing everything, feeling as if you’re receiving one heartbreak after the next. Having to stop and start school again because of finances, and so many other reason. This has not been a smooth road at all but I now realize this is all a part of my story and sometimes you have to grow through to get to.

We’ve been impressed with Unique Treats, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m the CEO & Founder of Unique Treats, LLC. Unique Treats is a gourmet cupcakery where everything is made with love. We specialize in gourmet cupcakes while serving unique treats as well as chocolate covered strawberries, brownies, mini bundt cakes, cake sickles, chocolate pretzels, and much more.

What sets Unique Treats apart from others is everything is created in a unique way from the name of cupcakes, the flavors, the added unique toppings, to the quality of taste, and the time and preparation we put into each unique treat is what sets our cupcakes apart.

I’m proud of the growth of my business of my brand and the joy my brand brings to customers and people around the world who’ve enjoyed our cupcakes and more. The plethora of customers we’ve had the opportunity to make gourmet cupcakes for is another proud moment for me. We’ve had the honor of creating cupcakes for customers who’s from Florida, New York, Georgia, Chicago, Texas, and Virginia just to name a few.

Unique Treats is now shipping cupcakes all over the U.S. We enjoy creating gourmet cupcakes and sweets and adding more sweetness to your next celebration. You may follow us on Instagram @Uniquetreats and our website is www.uniquetreatscollection.com.

We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising that most people know about me is that I love Oral Health. As a teenager, I discovered I was really intrigued with oral health after having braces for which seemed like forever! I wanted to become a dentist that was my goal as well. My dream was to open a chain of bakeries while practicing as a dentist. Friends, family, and people I’ve met over the years are always surprised to hear me say that I’m completing my degree to apply for a career in dentistry knowing that I’m such a cupcake lover and sweet treat lover. Everyone gets amazed and most say to me… Wow Attallah, what a way to get customers on both aspects. Honestly, for me I never looked at it that way. I just love cupcakes and I also love oral health and the many things proper oral health can do to your entire body as a whole.

Contact Info:

• Email: attallahking@gmail.com
• Website: www.uniquetreatscollection.com
• Instagram: @uniquetreats; my personal and motivating page is @_Attallah.k
• Facebook: @treatsbyattallah
• Other: Unique Treats, LLC