Our next local business spotlight features one of Gilmer’s sweetest businesses: Ladyfingers Cakes and Catering.

Ladyfingers Cakes and Catering

The small building is bare but inviting, due to the owner’s warm personality. Lisa Sneed invites me in and begins icing a cake as we visit.

“What made you open up a catering office?”

“I like food made the way I enjoy it. I’ve worked on cakes for 30 years, but I only opened Ladyfingers in Gilmer last year. I was born and raised in Gilmer, so I want to see Gilmer thrive. Since there’s nothing like this in our area, I started it.”

“What do you enjoy about this business?”

Lisa smiles as she swirls icing from a pouch onto the cake. “Making people happy. It’s nice to always add to people’s celebrations. It’s like cooking for my friends.”

“What do you want potential customers to know about your business?”

“Here, you can have a good cake, one unlike anything else you’ll find in East Texas, at an affordable price. That, and cake doesn’t have to be what you’ve always had. All my ingredients are fresh and organic. I often raise them myself! I cook from scratch unless it can’t be avoided. This, my special cake, is 100% from scratch.  I believe in good food, not just food that tastes good.”

“What does a typical day look like?”

Lisa grabs a cardboard box and folds it into shape before sliding the cake inside. “When I ran a shop in Dallas, I was making a hundred cakes a week. But that was with employees. Last week I made 30 cakes, which is a lot. A typical week includes one wedding cake, 8-10 normal cakes, and 2-3 special occasion desserts. Of course, it all depends on the volume of requests.”

“Do you have any stories to share?”

“While in Rockwall, I got to make a cake for Anita Perry, the former governor’s wife. It was a replica of Rockwall’s downtown square, and people loved it. Anita actually went from being a pastry chef to a nurse, where I’ve gone from being a nurse to a pastry chef, so we have a lot in common. Anyway, whenever Rick was in town, he’d stop by and pick up some of my cupcakes for his wife.”

“What are some of your future goals?”

Lisa paused for a moment. “I would like to do this for a few years and then find someone to hand the business down to. Gilmer needs and enjoys this service – it’s unique. For a mom wanting a career or someone who enjoys baking, it’d be a great opportunity.”

“Where do you get your ideas for foods and designs?”

“The food mostly comes from what I like. Though sometimes I wake in the middle of the night, or in the morning, and remember a flavor I was dreaming about. Then I try to make that. As far as designs go, I find certain cloths and ribbons inspirational for textures and decoration on cakes.”

“What does it take to be a pastry chef?”

“After I retired from nursing in 2007, I went back and got my degree as a pastry chef. I’ve since been to France and got to talk to merchants and chefs there. The culture is so different there – they want food to look good, not just taste good. They want to eat art.”

A little French skill in a small East Texas town – Gilmer never ceases to amaze!

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

Be sure to check out Ladyfinger’s Facebook Page for photos of her amazing work, or her website. A basic three layer cake starts at $25 and will serve 25-30 people. Don’t miss out on such a delicious deal!

The Gilmer Doghouse

Randy Lynn, owner of the Gilmer Doghouse, is a middle-aged man of average build with glasses and a gentle air about him. I notice this as he shakes my hand and takes me to a place where we can visit.

Walking past the dog pens, it’s what is absent that matters most: odor. The place smells fresh and clean, and as we begin to visit, Randy explains why.

“See that red floor? It’s a poly-concrete mix that prevents urine from penetrating the surface and making it smell like most shelters.” He grins, adding with pride, “It’s a state-of-the-art facility.”[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”#dd1f1f” class=”” size=””]“It’s a state-of-the-art facility.”[/perfectpullquote]

“I can see that. So what made you decide to build a dog house?”

“My wife and I have five dogs, and when we looked to board them, we weren’t happy with our choices. We decided to offer services we needed for our own pets at the quality we wanted.”

We are sitting at a small round table in a kitchen alcove between the kennels and the grooming benches. I lean back in my chair.

“What’s something you enjoy about this business?”

“I’m a dog person. That old saying, ‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,’ is what I get to live every day. I also love teaching people about how to best care for their dogs.” His phone rings, and I make notes as he answers.

[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”#dd1f1f” class=”” size=””]“‘Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,’ is what I get to live every day.”[/perfectpullquote]

The call is short, and we resume. “What do you want potential customers to know about your business?”

“They don’t need to have a second thought about leaving their furry loved ones here. They’ll be safe, cool, and cared for.”

“What does that look like on a typical day of daycare or boarding?”

“I give them 4 bathroom breaks a day, feed them according to my customer’s request, and also let them play in the afternoon.” He gestures to the rectangular playground wrapped in chain link. Inside are bright red, blue, and yellow shapes connected like chicken-foot dominoes. I get excited like a little child just looking at it.

Playtime

“Can we try it out?” We release the two dogs he’s boarding, swinging outside the building first so they can have a potty break.

We enter a fenced astroturf square with what looks like a trash can lid set into the ground.

“That’s waste disposal. It flushes straight to the septic like a toilet.” He smiled and shrugged. “They’re standard in Dallas.”

We return to the AC and enter the play pen. Buddy and Sadie rush about, rotating between jumping on Randy and running laps around the equipment.

“Do you have any funny stories?”

“The funniest moments are when I get 6 to 8 little dogs in here and they start chasing each other. I watch them to make sure sniffing introductions go smoothly, of course, just in case someone can’t socialize. But those are very few – most of my boarders aren’t yard dogs.”

I decide to join Buddy and Sadie in their enjoyment of the equipment. Running along the blocks and sliding beneath them, I feel a twinge of jealousy: the best life is a dog’s life.

We put the dogs back in their kennel and wrap up our visit. For a niche business less than a year old, the Doghouse sports a good variety of services, from daycare and boarding to grooming. I ask Randy his future plans.

“My main concern is whatever the customers want or need. I have thought about adding a splashpad outside for the dogs to play in, but that’s a bit down the road.”

Conclusion

If your dogs need a place to stay, consider the Gilmer Doghouse. You will be hard-pressed to find anything better.
Randy is also very responsive on Facebook, and more than happy to visit with anyone about anything dog related.
If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out our other Local Business Spotlights!

Salon de Le Soleil

Jim Tennison is not your average gym buff. He’s got the standard bulging biceps and quadriceps, but he’s concerned about more than pumping iron. While chatting with him on a cloudy Monday, I learned the drive behind the design of Salon de Le Soleil, a combined salon/spa/gym here in Gilmer.

“We encompass everything. The salon promotes beauty from the outside in, while the gym does from the inside out.[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”#dd1f1f” class=”” size=””]In a world where everything seems so unhealthy, we offer products and services that grow wellness in the person as a whole.[/perfectpullquote]
“In a world where everything seems so unhealthy, we offer products and services that grow wellness in the person as a whole.”

I nodded. “Tell me about your background.”

“My wife is a third-generation hairdresser. She grew up in a salon, and this is what she loves.” Jim shrugged. “My path winds a bit more. I did seven years in the airforce before some nursing school. I also spent time in business management for chains like Hollywood Cinemas and Hastings before ending up with my own gym.”

“When was that?”

“We started in 2005 in downtown Gilmer, and moved here towards the end of 2007.”

“So do you have a mission statement?”

Jim laughed. “In a brochure somewhere.” He scratched his arm. “Off the top of my head, it’d be something about pursuing health for the body, mind, and spirit. I get that nobody wants to workout: it’s a necessary evil. We do it for the looks and benefits. [perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”#dd1f1f” class=”” size=””]I get that nobody wants to workout: it’s a necessary evil.[/perfectpullquote]

“I think we’re born Ferraris, and over a lifetime of bad fuel and inconsistent tuneups, we get rundown. Exercise and relaxation help people reach their healthiest potential.”

“I agree.” I leaned back in my chair and shifted in my seat. “So what makes Salon de Le Soleil different?”

“All our services are high quality, of course, but being an Aveda spa means you get more for your money. Everything works together for that balance of body, mind, and soul. The way we wash your hair is driven by ancient Indian practices, the scent we put on your palm correlates to deficiencies in your body, and our products are all-natural. Aside from the metroplex, there’s only one other place nearby where you’ll find a similar experience.”

He put his hands together. “Our goal is for you to leave looking and feeling better. We focus on healing the inside of you. Also, this is more of a gym than you will usually see in a small town. This building is 9,000 sq. ft.”

“What’s one thing you most enjoy about this work?” [perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”#dd1f1f” class=”” size=””]Everyone leaves with a smile on their face.[/perfectpullquote]

“We’re doing something that really matters to people. We are a quiet place to gain a new perspective.” He grinned. “Everyone leaves with a smile on their face.”

“What would you say to someone considering Salon de le Soleil for a haircut or gym membership?”

“I would say I’ve got something that can help you succeed in your fitness or beauty goals. That, and seeing is believing. I can tell you how great we are all day, but so will everyone else. Walk-in and see for yourself.”[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#dd1f1f” class=”” size=””]I can tell you how great we are all day, but so will everyone else. Walk-in and see for yourself.[/perfectpullquote]

“What exciting developments can we anticipate in the future?”

“We are opening a new location in Longview, and Aveda continues to develop new products, including a men’s line. We also constantly create new fitness classes, like Kangoo.”

With that, we shook hands and wrapped up. I found myself smiling as I left.

If you need a haircut, massage, or a place to workout, try Salon de Le Soleil  for a holistic approach to wellness.