WEBVTT

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>> I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY FOR

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ALL YOU SWEETS LOVERS OUT THERE,

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ANY WAY YOU SLICE IT, IT DOESN'T

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GET MUCH BETTER THAN A BITE OF

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RICH, VELVETY-SMOOTH HOMEMADE

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CHEESECAKE.

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AND THE REAL THING CAN BE HARD

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TO FIND.

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BUT AROUND INDIANA REPORTER

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MARY-RACHEL REDMAN SAYS SHE

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FOUND IT, UNEXPECTEDLY, RIGHT IN

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THE HEART OF INDIANAPOLIS.

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MEET THE CHEEK CAKE LADY.

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>> BY DAY, CASSIE SMITH JOHNSON

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WORKS FOR AN INSURANCE COMPANY

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AS A PROVIDER NETWORK

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COORDINATOR.

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BY NIGHT, WELL, LET'S JUST CALL

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HER INDY'S CHEESECAKE FAIRY.

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>> SEE THE CRUNCH THERE AND

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CRUNCH THERE ON TOP AND IT'S

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JUST STRAWBERRY CRUNCH

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CHEESECAKE.

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>> CASSIE SMITH JOHNSON IS A

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WIFE AND MOM OF 4.

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AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF

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THE SACRIFICE, SMITH JOHNSON MET

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ME HERE AT 10:00, HERE SHE IS

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JUST WALKING BEHIND ME, AND

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READY TO BAKE.

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SO HOW EXACTLY DID ALL OF THIS

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GET STARTED?

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>> PRETTY MUCH STARTED FROM A

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SOCIAL MEDIA POST ON FACEBOOK.

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ONE OF MY FACEBOOK FRIENDS MADE

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A POST ASKING IF SOMEBODY COULD

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MAKE A BANANA PUDDING CHEESECAKE

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AND I RESPONDED.

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A MADE A POST WITH A PICTURE OF

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THE CHEEK CHEESECAKE, I GOT A LF

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FEEDBACK FROM OTHERS ASKING ME

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TO MAKE CHEESECAKE AND HOW IT

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BLOSSOMED FROM THERE, I GOT SO

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BUSY WITH THEM THAT I JUST

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DECIDED I WOULD MAKE A BUSINESS

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AND I'M HERE NOW.

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>> IN 2021, SMITH JOHNSON JOINED

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INDY'S KITCHEN, A 24-HOUR

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COMMERCIAL KITCHEN WHEN

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ENTREPRENEURS CAN RENT SPACE BY

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THE HOUR.

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>> IT'S FOR RESIDENTS LIKE

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MYSELF WHO EITHER DON'T HAVE THE

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MEANS TO HAVE THE EQUIPMENT ON A

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BUILDOUT AS FAR AS THEIR OWN

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LOCATION OR SOMEONE WHO ALSO

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MAYBE JUST DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE

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THEIR OWN BRICK AND MORTAR.

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>> AND WITH BRICK AND MORTAR

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RAPIDLY BECOMING A THING OF THE

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PAST, THE FUTURE APPEARS TO BE

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BUSINESSES SELLING DIRECT TO THE

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CONSUMER.

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D TO C SALES HAVE MORE THAN

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TRIPLED IN THE U.S. OVER THE

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LAST SIX YEARS.

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SO WHERE DOES SMITH JOHNSON GET

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THE MAJORITY OF HER BUSINESS?

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>> DUE TO MY ENGAGEMENT WITH

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SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

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INSTAGRAM, I'M POSTING DAILY, I

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HAVE A SPONSOR POST CONSTANTLY

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ENGAGING MY CUSTOMERS, SHOWING

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THEM WHAT I HAVE, PROMOTING MY

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BUSINESS HOURS.

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I SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE

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CUSTOMERS, BACK AND FORTH MAKING

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JOKES ON THE ACTUAL POST.

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>> NOW TO THE FUN PART.

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FROM CHEESE BAKE BITES --

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>> WE HAVE COOKIES AND CREAM

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CHEESECAKE BITES AND BANANA

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PUDDING CHEESE BAKE BITES.

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CHEESECAKE BITES.

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>> OH, MY GOSH!

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THAT'S REALLY GOOD!

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THAT'S REALLY GOOD!

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MMM!

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THESE ARE YOUR INFAMOUS

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16-OUNCE --

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>> CHERRY HERE, CHOCOLATE PEANUT

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BUTTER WITH STRAWBERRY SHORT

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CAKE, STRAWBERRY CRUNCH, TURTLE,

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WHICH IS CHOCOLATE, CARAMEL AND

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PECANS.

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>> OH, WOW.

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OKAY.

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I'M TAKING A BIG SPOONFUL.

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>> YES, AND YES.

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YES.

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THAT'S GOOD STUFF.

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>> THANK YOU.

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>> WOW!

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>> AFTER TWO YEARS IN BUSINESS

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AND CONTINUING TO GROW, I ASKED

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THE CHEESE BTHE CHEESECAKE LADYS

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MOST PROUD.

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>> JUST STICKING WITH IT.

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ANYONE WHO HAS OWN AND OPERATED

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A BUSINESS, THERE ARE SEASONS

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WHERE IT'S UP AND DOWN AND THE

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LOWS KIND OF HIT REALLY HARD AND

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IT CAN BE VERY, VERY

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DISCOURAGING, BUT REALLY, I'M

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REALLY PROUD OF MYSELF FOR JUST

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NOT GIVING UP IN THE MOMENTS

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WHERE I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO OR

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THAT I SHOULD.

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I FIGURED OUT HOW TO KEEP IT

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LEVEL AND KEEP IT BALANCED AND

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MAKE IT WORK.

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IT'S GOING WELL, I'M REALLY,