Today we’d like to introduce you to Ihyisha Simms.
Hi Ihyisha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Lady G’s Creations started from something I’ve always loved—baking and creating things that bring people joy. What began as something I did for family and friends gradually grew through word of mouth, social media and customers continuing to come back and support me. The business is named after my mother, Gladys, who passed away in 2018, so the name and everything I’ve built around it has always had a special meaning to me.
For a long time, I built Lady G’s while also working a full-time corporate career. I spent 18 years in corporate America, so entrepreneurship wasn’t originally the path I imagined for myself. In January 2025, I was laid off, and that unexpected change became a turning point. Instead of immediately going back into another corporate position, I decided to see what could happen if I really gave Lady G’s Creations my time and attention.
Since then, the business has grown in ways I probably wouldn’t have imagined when I first started. I’ve expanded beyond custom cakes into gourmet cookies, banana pudding, cheesecakes and other rotating desserts, while vending at markets, festivals and community events throughout the area. In January 2026, I reached another major milestone when Lady G’s Creations became a licensed bakery and I transitioned into working from a commercial kitchen.
Today, Lady G’s Creations is still a one-woman business, which means I wear just about every hat—from baking and decorating to shopping, packaging, marketing, bookkeeping and meeting customers at events. It has definitely been a learning experience, but I’m proud that something that started so simply has grown into a business that supports me and has developed such a loyal customer base.
I’m still figuring out what the next version of Lady G’s looks like, and I think that’s part of the beauty of the journey. I’ve learned that growth doesn’t always mean doing more—it can also mean becoming more intentional about what you offer, where you spend your time and what you want your business to become.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not! One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to transition from having the stability and structure of a corporate career to being completely responsible for my own income and success. After working for the same company for 18 years, being laid off forced me into a season of uncertainty. Choosing to give entrepreneurship a real chance meant learning to trust myself in a completely different way.
I also learned very quickly that owning a baking business involves so much more than baking. As a one-woman business, I am the baker, decorator, shopper, marketer, customer service representative, accountant, delivery person and cleanup crew. Learning how to balance all of those roles while still producing a quality product has probably been one of my biggest ongoing challenges.
Another lesson has been understanding that every opportunity isn’t necessarily the right opportunity. In the beginning, it’s easy to feel like you have to say yes to every order, event or request because you want the business and the exposure. Over time, I’ve had to learn my numbers, value my time, set boundaries and become more intentional about what makes sense for my business.
There have absolutely been moments when I’ve questioned whether I was making the right decisions, especially when sales were unpredictable or something didn’t go according to plan. But those experiences have also taught me the most. I’m learning that success as an entrepreneur isn’t about everything going perfectly. It’s about being willing to adjust, learn from what didn’t work and keep moving forward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Lady G’s Creations is a Scranton-based, licensed bakery serving Northeastern Pennsylvania through local markets, pop-ups, festivals and custom orders. I specialize in gourmet cookies and a rotating variety of specialty desserts, including banana pudding, cheesecakes, cake slices and other seasonal creations.
I love taking familiar flavors and desserts and putting my own spin on them. My menu is constantly evolving, so customers can find longtime favorites alongside seasonal flavors and new creations. That creativity is one of my favorite parts of what I do—I’m always thinking about what flavor or dessert I can create next.
What sets Lady G’s apart is the attention I give to quality and flavor. I use premium ingredients, make my products in small batches and put a lot of thought into what I serve. I want my desserts to look good, of course, but flavor always comes first.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the loyal customer base I’ve built. Some of my customers have supported me for years, and seeing them come back, bring friends and family, recommend my business or seek me out at different events means a lot to me. As a one-woman business, those relationships have been a huge part of Lady G’s growth.
Because I don’t operate a traditional storefront, you’ll often find Lady G’s out in the community at markets, festivals and pop-up events throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Customers can also order directly from me, and I offer limited shipping on select items.
Ultimately, I want people to know that Lady G’s Creations is a small business built with a lot of heart. My goal isn’t just to make something that looks good—I want you to take that first bite and immediately want another one.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was shy and pretty reserved, but also very independent and strong-willed. I’ve always been someone who feeds off the energy around me, so I wasn’t necessarily the overly friendly or outgoing kid unless I really knew you and felt comfortable. Because of that, people who didn’t know me sometimes thought I was mean, when really I was just quiet and observant.
I was also very school-focused and responsible. As the oldest sister, I naturally took on that role and was usually the one trying to do what I was supposed to do. At the same time, I’ve always liked figuring things out for myself. Once I decide I want to do something, I tend to find a way to make it happen—even if that sometimes comes with a little stubbornness.
Creativity has always been a part of who I am, although it didn’t necessarily start with baking. I loved puzzles and putting things together, even assembling furniture. I enjoyed figuring out how all the pieces worked and seeing something come together from beginning to end. Looking back, I can see how being independent, resourceful, creative and detail-oriented prepared me for entrepreneurship long before I ever thought about owning a business.
I grew up watching my mom cook and bake, although I wasn’t always right beside her in the kitchen doing it myself. I certainly didn’t grow up thinking, “I’m going to own a dessert business one day.” My path was much more traditional, and I eventually spent 18 years in corporate America. It’s interesting now to see how those early influences and parts of my personality eventually came together in Lady G’s.
I’ve also always enjoyed doing things for other people and making people feel special. Today, that shows up through food and desserts. There’s something about seeing someone genuinely enjoy something I created that never gets old—and the fact that the business carries my mom’s name makes where I ended up even more meaningful.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ladygscreations.com
- Instagram: ladygscreationspa
- Facebook: lady gs creations
