Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniela Armendariz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I remember helping my mom in the kitchen growing up, but I was always more inclined towards sweets. I started buying a few recipe books and started baking for my family for fun and I loved it! That’s how my passion for baking started. Since then, I’ve dreamed of having my own little bakeshop. Life took me on a different path when I started working for Disney. Having a degree in Restaurant Management and my passion for customer service and leadership kept me there for almost ten years as a restaurant manager. When the pandemic started, I was placed on furlough. Having so much time in my hands motivated me to start baking again. Little did I know, I was not coming back and a few months later, I was laid off since my position with the company was eliminated. That’s when I decided I was going to turn my passion into a business and that’s how D’s Cakesicles was born.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was difficult at first. Starting a business during a pandemic when a lot of people have been affected financially was a scary thought. Finding customers was not easy at the beginning, but with the help of social media groups supporting impacted Disney cast members and friends spreading the love, I was able to get the word out there about D’s Cakesicles. I am also a wife and a mom of a 4 and 6 year old girls who keep me pretty busy. I was not sure if I was going to be able to handle the business while helping my six-year-old navigate through virtual school and trying to keep my little one occupied. With my husband gone almost all day for work, I was mainly on my own. I, however, was ready to take on the challenge. With the support of my husband and family, we have made it work, and so far, have been successful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have a degree in Restaurant Management and worked for Disney for almost ten years. I started on the college program at a quick-service restaurant and worked my way up to restaurant manager at Epcot and then at the Polynesian resort where I was proud to lead and run ‘Ohana, one of the most popular and busiest restaurants in Disney. I feel that leadership has been my calling as I really enjoy and love leading others with confidence and purpose. I love being able to inspire and motivate a team to come together and produce positive results. I am most proud of being able to accomplish my dream of working for one of the greatest and well-known companies in the world. I have always been told I am someone that can be counted on to get things done. I welcome a challenge and enjoy problem-solving and analyzing a situation to figure out how to create a plan to execute positive results. I enjoy the fantastic feeling of teaching others to grow professionally and personally. Now that I started D’s Cakesicles, I have applied all the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years to make it a successful business.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in a very close family environment where family always came first. We often had family gatherings, whether it was a major holiday, a birthday or just the pleasure of being together we were always enjoying ourselves and of course, I almost all the time found myself cooking and baking for everyone. Growing up, I always enjoyed traveling and learning about different cultures and cuisines. My parents being the same way, always exposed me to new things and encouraged me to try different ideas and think outside the box. That’s how my interest in baking and new flavors started and was always curious to learn something different.
Contact Info:
- Email: dscakesicles@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ds_cakesicles/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ds-Cakesicles-102090838243889
Image Credits
DaisyValadezPhotography
