Business 1 on 1 with Debbie Arledge, co-owner of Simply Southern Sweets Bakery

Debbie Arledge, co-owner, Simply Southern Sweets Bakery, with Lora Arledge, her mother-in-law; 1002 Ball St., Perry, 224-2253. Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

How long have you been in business?: It started in 2010 when they got their first booth in the Peaches to Beaches yard sale. "We sold out before lunch. ... From that we started selling baked goods at the Perry and Warner Robins farmers markets."

They found a place on Washington Street and sold from there a few days a week for four years until moving to the current location in spring 2015.

What do you like best about your job?: "Making people happy. ... You get so much positive feedback just by making some good desserts. ... I like that it's a family-owned and operated business. My daughters bake for me, so I'm teaching them a career ... and would like them to take it over."

What is your specialty?: "Our 14-layer chocolate and caramel cakes are the hit of the party, and we sell divinity all year long."

The shop carries whole and half cakes, as well as pies, cobblers, cookies, candy and cupcakes.

"What a lot of people do like ... we do a lot of mini-loaf cakes. ... It's a little two-person dessert. People don't have to order the whole cake."

What are your future plans?: "My husband, Dan, is working on a new kitchen ... so we can bake on site."

Currently they bake in a certified kitchen at Lora's house. She plans to make more pies and add bread to the lineup once the kitchen is completed.

-- Linda S. Morris