Like many college students, Kady Cox, a sociology junior and the founder and owner of VK Sweets, wanted to find a way to bring in more dough.

She decided to start her own business by putting baking skills she had learned from her father’s girlfriend to use by selling baked goods.

“I started in January (of 2016) and I was just selling brownies,” Cox said. “I made my official website on Feb. 9.”

Cox said it felt like she was making a lot of money back then, which is why she began to sell the baked goods.

“When I first started, I was doing orders every day and not going to sleep until 3 a.m.,” Cox said. “Now it is only on the weekends, because I am (a) student as well.”

This past February is when Cox said she discovered she had a greater passion for baked goods.

“I said, ‘This is art,’” Cox said. “I was coming up with ways to make the food look nice.”

Cox said one of her focuses is getting more people to consistently order from her.

“I let them know you can order in advance because I only work on the weekends now,” Cox said. “I’m missing out on money, but I have stuff to do. It is a bit of a compromise.”

Although Cox’s store is only open during the weekends, she has many things in store for the future of her company.

“Organizations on campus have considered me to be a vendor, and I am a vendor for events in Detroit,” Cox said.

Cox said she does orders for events and people in Detroit but is working on shipping to other states.

She said her chocolate covered strawberries and cheesecake bars are becoming a hot commodity.

In the future, she also said she plans on doing fundraising in addition to working towards getting a limited liability company, or LLC, designation for the business.

“I want to represent our name in different ways,” Cox said.

Cox said she has also come to understand the importance of customer service.

“I realized some strawberries were mushy and I contacted those customers to let them know I would replace them,” Cox said.

Because of the recent growth of her business, Cox hired two interns in February.

VK Sweets public relations intern Nieyri Cobb said the idea of a public relations internship began as a class assignment.

“I also knew she needed a public relations assistant,” Cobb said. “I thought, ‘Why not help her succeed?’ So I took the opportunity.”

Cobb is working on a media kit including a press release, fact sheet and news advisory for VK Sweets.

VK Sweets intern Ciara Hamilton said she inquired about the position because her mother bakes sweets and she has always wanted to learn more about it.

Since starting her business, Cox said she has learned many things so far.

“I have learned teamwork,” Cox said. “I have learned I need people, just like people need me. I have learned a lot about food, there are a lot of precautions you have to take.”

Cox said she also recognizes what it takes to run a business.

“A lot of people say I have inspired them since I have been doing it,” Cox said. “I think people love my drive and determination. It takes a lot of drive, determination and money to do this.”