Atlanta woman turns baking hobby into a business after being laid off

ATLANTA — There’s an old saying about one door opening after another door closes. For a lot of people, the pandemic has presented opportunities they never would have considered previously.

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Channel 2 Action News anchor Wendy Corona spoke to an Atlanta woman who was laid off from an insurance job in March 2020. That opportunity according to Veronica Castro, was the motivation for her to start indulging in one of her favorite hobbies, baking.

With a little support from the Latin American Association (LAA), Castro, whose baking experience was limited to mostly cakes and desserts for her kids, has become an online baking businesswoman. She said her favorite creation is a chocolate dipped, strawberry tower adorned with roses.

“Even then, people were asking me, ‘Where did you order them?’ Well, no. I made them,” Castro said.

She started by selling her creations on social media. From that, Sugar Rush ATL was born.

“I wanted to be a business woman, but I didn’t know how,” Castro said.

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Through the LAA, Castro signed up for an eight week program called “Avanzando Juntas” or “Advancing Together.” With the knowledge she gained there, the Ecuadorian entrepreneur is now growing her fledgling business.

She says her social media page offers corporate gifts and she’s working on developing a website.

“You go from something little that you think is only going to be like a couple of months, until you see what’s going on,” Castro said. “But then you see a big opportunity that you need to take advantage of.”

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Castro told Corona she has another business idea that would compliment what she is doing with Sugar Rush ATL. She said she’s just eternally grateful that she found the resources and information to help put together a business plan.

A new version of "The Wonder Years" is set to debut on WSB-TV Wednesday night

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