HOLLAND, MI – Four years ago, 17-year-old Lilly Turner had no idea how to bake – she barely even knew how to use a cutting knife.

Today, the Michigan teen is the owner of a successful baking business, baking up delicious homemade treats including layered cakes, cupcakes, cookies, crumble bars, cheesecake cones, and more.

Turner’s business, Lilly Jane’s Treats and Eats, has grown a nationwide customer base, landing sales as far as California and Mississippi. She estimates that she spends at least 24 hours each week on her business, from baking goods from scratch, to packing up orders and shipping them to her customers.

“I work throughout the day,” Turner, of Holland, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. “I have two different computers, I have my business one and then my school one, so I’m usually just flipping (between the two) all day.”

Lilly Jane’s Treats and Eats doesn’t have a storefront yet, so Turner does the baking at home and out of her church kitchen.

Turner, a junior at Michigan Connections Academy, taught herself how to bake during the COVID-19 pandemic. After her dad taught her the basics, Turner has spent the last few years developing her baking skills and teaching herself new techniques like layering and design work.

“It’s been a trial-and-error process,” she said with a smile.

The young entrepreneur took her first shot at selling sweets at a school bake sale, where she sold basic treats like muffins, cookies and brownie pops. After making $400 in just two days, she was inspired to keep going, and she began selling treats to neighbors, friends and family.

Her first official order came last year from her cousin in California, who ordered a batch of cupcakes. That was when Turner had to navigate the hardest part of the process: figuring out how to ship baked goods.

“Shipping is a major part of it,” she said. “Cookies are really easy to ship out. But cakes and cupcakes, that’s a whole different thing, because you need it temperature controlled. And there’s usually a big fee for shipping.”

Since launching her business, Turner said she’s learned a lot about patience and perseverance. Her dad has always told her, “In order to achieve your dreams, you need perseverance.” That saying has rang true for the young entrepreneur.

“In my baking business, there’s been like a lot of low times and high times,” Turner said. “I could get a lot of orders, and then sometimes I don’t get any orders for a long period of time, and that can make you feel real low. So being patient and being confident is a major role in this.”

Turner’s dad has been a huge inspiration, she said. An entrepreneur himself, Lilly’s dad John Turner has inspired all of his kids to start their own businesses. For example, two of Lilly Turner’s brothers started their own car detailing business, she said.

“My dad has taught us about providing job security for ourselves, and how (starting a business) provides job security for others, and not being a boss but being a leader,” she said.

Turner attends Michigan Connections Academy, an online school, which allows her to balance her work with her schooling, she said. The flexibility is a huge benefit for Turner, who sometimes stays up until 6 a.m. practicing her skills in the kitchen.

Turner plans to start a foundation so that the proceeds from her business go toward helping women who have been sexually assaulted.

Eventually, Turner wants to open up her own bakery and employ other young women, she said. She wants to provide job opportunities to other people who also have a passion for baking.

“When you have a job that you like doing, it’s way easier,” she said. “It’s like a hobby. So, if baking is (someone’s) hobby, I’d like to employ them so they have something that they love doing, so that they’re not just going into work just to go to work.”

To see more photos of Turner’s products, check out her Facebook page. Customers can place orders or make inquiries by emailing ljtreatsandeats@gmail.com.

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