Meet Frana Colon | Home Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Frana Colon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

1) We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.
Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Fraña Colón, owner and baker of Wud’n Spoon. I get to let my imagination go wild and without limits while creating yummy carb filled treats! Me being in the Lab, aka my kitchen, is one of my favorite activities. It’s where I can sit, look at ingredients, and let the magic happen! Whether I choose to make a cake, bread, cinnamon rolls, pie, etc. I love taking the time to research flavor profiles while experimenting until whatever idea I had in my head is on a plate. But it must taste amazing.
I won’t admit how many tests runs I may have had before my experiments were successful. But I’ll happily share that I never gave up. *chuckles*
My cinnamon rolls set me apart now. I only planned on creating 3 flavors to have on my menu. Then move on to other breads and desserts. Welp! 2 ½ years later, I have 6 with more on the way.
My current flavors are: Sweet Potato Pie, Apple & Spice, Cherry Pie, Blueberry Pie, Blueberry Lemon, Cinna-Spice.
I have found a true enjoyment in the whole process of creating each dough according to what I envisioned in my mind.  Balancing out the different layers of flavors so they don’t  overpower one another. Yet all make sense with every bite.

2) How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

Honestly, by feeding people since I was a kid. As silly as that sounds, the more people I got to feed from a place of love and/or gratitude; the more I tapped into the internal joy it gave me.
Was creating Wud’n Spoon easy? Ha, oh no no no. I had to get through years of self-doubt in being a business owner. Just because my family and friends liked my food doesn’t mean the masses would. I didn’t believe that I could do this.
I started small, making delicious treats and meals for my people which turned into co-workers and more. That led to them sharing with their families. I had a friend sit me down to discuss my “small” group of people who loved my food one day. I sat there in disbelief when I realized how many people I fed on a routine basis. He looked me dead in the eyes and said, “That’s your customer base! I need you to start taking our money instead of feeding us for free!” He was saying what others were telling me, but it wasn’t until that conversation that I saw I needed to get out of my own way. Take a step on faith and just do it.

I reached out to fellow cooks and bakers, both professional and home. I decided to start a business and just do it. I am still learning. I am not an expert by any means! But I am finding local community programs/organizations like Local First Arizona, The Whole CEO, and Rehoboth Community Development Corporation, just to name a few, with actual programs for “lost” entrepreneurs like me. Now I feel like I am learning how to be a business owner and a happy baker. It’s not a walk in the park, by any means. But it’s all worth it because I am learning key components in becoming efficient and successful.

3) What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

Keep your receipts and stay on top of your bookkeeping!

Your business account is NOT to be used like your private account. LEAVE IT ALONE!

Find reliable marketing, tax reporting, and other service companies vs trying to do it all on your own! They have training and knowledge I do not know. So, I happily save my money in my BUSINESS account for their services.

Stop adding so much to your plate without having a plan. Also, have a business plan that is authentic to your vision vs what your support system envisions for you. Remember, this is YOUR business/dream. Stay true to it.

And MY FAVORITE… If you don’t know, ask., There are so many people who have knowledge and want to share it with fellow entrepreneurs.

What do I want the world to know about my story/brand? Eeesh, that’s a good question.
Wud’n Spoon started in my heart when I was a child. I had the opportunity to sit in many kitchens with elders, other amazing chefs, cooks, and bakers. I like to call them all culinary geniuses, but I’m biased… *smirk* For them, cooking was an act of love. They nourished people with good intentions, love, good food, and technique. From prepping, to cooking, and even plating; everything was like a dance. I would ask questions and learn all I could just to hopefully be able to make something as delicious as them.
I love to create treats and food that invokes an experience just like those before me did. I also must remind myself that I too have something to add to that feeling. Yes, I have been inspired by them, but I have a little magic in me too. Now I am enthusiastically sharing my energy and yummy treats with the Valley.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I’m more of a home body, but I do like to enjoy the outside world from time to time.

One of my spots to always hang out at is The Social House in Mesa, AZ. They have Karaoke Wednesdays, R&B Thursdays, and other fun themed nights. Rod and the Crew always make great food and drinks. The music is always popping! I love going here to chill and have a great time!

I’m definitely making them breakfast most of the time they are visiting. BUT I would most definitely treat them to my favorite breakfast/brunch spots: Broken Yolk & Crackers & Co. Both have delicious food and the caramel apple mimosa at Broken Yolk is DELISH!

Latha in Downtown Phoenix is one of my favorite spots to enjoy delicious food, drinks, and!!! The Collective Diaspora is a shop with African clothing, accessories, and so much more inside Latha too!

Cafe Lalibela would be on the agenda for some solid Ethiopian food. Oh goodness, that place has been my addiction for years now!

I love noodles. If they liked noodles too, we’re going to Khai Hoan for pho OR Tampopo for ramen. Both are in Tempe.

I love nature so much. So, hiking would be a must, Papago and Dreamy Draw are my favorite trails to visit. Outside of Sedona, of course! I refuse to have a favorite trail in Sedona, all are life changing!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

My Mom, Wanda Owens, & Husband, Maurice Colón

I have been told I should get out of my own way to do what I love by many people. But the ones who helped me learn my self-worth and finding the bravery to make this real were my mom and husband. They encouraged me to just do it without seeking validation from anyone else but myself. And know their support is endless. And boy oh boy is it endless!
My mom refuses to let me make her anything for free. She is big on making sure I get what I am worth, even from my Her!
My husband helps me EVERY TIME I need help. To have a partner stop what he is doing to be present for me and my dreams means so much to me.
I don’t think I’ll be able to thank them enough.

Website: www.wudnspoon.shop

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wudn.spoon/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WudnSpoon/

Image Credits
Pictures taken by Anneke Marie of 1216photo Logo created by Earl Tubbs of Contrast Photography