It started in his home kitchen a few years ago. Now, Ryder St. Amant’s treat business, Dipped by Ryder, is moving to a commercial building and expanding its reach with nationwide shipping for the first time.
“To me, this is all I’ve ever wanted,” Ryder said. “I have always wanted to be successful.”
Ryder has had a busy year. Since last September, he has gained more than 1.3 million followers on social media, bringing his total to more than 1.6 million across platforms. This summer, he sold more than 1,000 copies of his e-book, “Treat Makers Business 101.” He will soon be hiring a team of employees to work at the new building on River Road.
Ryder’s hand-dipped, chocolate-covered Oreos, pretzel sticks, Rice Krispy treats, strawberries and cake pops are custom-made and designed to match the theme of each birthday party, baby shower or wedding. Decorated with bright colors and accented with gold dust, chocolate designs or sprinkles, the treats often sell out quickly.
The business keeps Ryder so busy that he spends every afternoon after school and all summer making treats. Customers book his treats two to three months in advance for special occasions.
The new commercial building will allow Ryder to increase production, and he plans to sell his treats at various stores in the parish.
“For the last few months with the rapid growth, it has felt like the four walls in my home dipping room were closing in on me,” Ryder said. “After taking a look at a few commercial properties, I knew this one was perfect.”
Two years ago, Ryder started posting videos of treat-making online. The videos show Ryder dipping treats in chocolate and decorating them in a playroom that his family converted to a special room for treat-making. One video gained 2.7 million views.
This year, he made more than $100,000 in sales.
“With all of the work I have put in—the countless hours of interacting with people and improving my skills—I am finally feeling the success,” he said.
Because online followers often ask Ryder questions about the business and how to make the treats, Ryder created an online class to teach the skills step by step. He also released an e-book about treat-making this summer.
“In that e-book, I put all of the knowledge I learned about running a business, to help others around the world start their businesses,” he said. “All of this information is knowledge that I wish I would have known three years ago, when I was first starting my business, and going months without customers.”
Ryder said his biggest takeaway from the last three years is that, to be successful, business owners must stay consistent, focused and determined.
“People often think I am just lucky, and while I am lucky, it was never just luck,” he said. “It was what I decided to put my all into to get here. This is still the start.”
