Sweet Envie business owner discusses her journey: ‘You have to get out of your own way’

Now nearing four years in business on Lafayette’s north side, Mel Haynes and her Sweet Envie bakery has established a space for pastries, confections, and a menu that caters to both sweet and savory cravings.

Yet it’s her journey as a business owner that has made an impact in the community along with others with entrepreneurial aspirations.

Haynes spoke with Jan Swift of the Discover Lafayette podcast last week about her journey that began with the help of the Accelerate Northside program.

You can listen to their conversation here.

“You’ve to get out of your own way,” Haynes said. “That is a big thing that a lot of people suffer from — that imposter syndrome where you don’t think that you’re good enough to run your own business. ‘You know, I saw X, Y, and Z do it. How can I do it? I’m not half as good, half as smart, half as talented.’ When in fact, you are just as good, just as smart, just as talented.”

Haynes opened her bakery, 4302 Moss St., after leaving a management role at Acadian Companies. It was a dream that began as a conversation with her late husband as to what her future would hold.

She was inspired by her mother’s talent for baking and informed by her mom’s recipes, and she honed her craft of decorating wedding cakes and mastering the art of petit fours.

Sweet Envie offers catering options for groups ranging from five to 300 people along with onsite food truck, Big Boy Cajun Concessions, operated by her fiancé, Nick Jones.