Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Britney Graf owner of Cakes by Britney, located in Saskatoon, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am Britney Graf, sole owner and operator of Cakes by Britney. I make sweet things happen through the art of food and sugar. I specialize in cakes, cupcakes, and desserts with every order being completely custom. Whether it is a bright vibrant birthday cake, a cake to look like a cat, or an elegant wedding cake with handmade sugar flowers, I am able to bring your idea to life. Supporting a local baker means you are inspiring a passion and fulfilling a dream! So I recommend that if you ever get a chance to order from a local baker, do it and let them get creative!
Tell us about yourself
Cakes by Britney started as a hobby in 2015 after taking a cake decorating class and watching way too many episodes of Cake Boss. I fell in love with creating art out of sugar. I started taking orders from family and friends but eventually was getting requests from everyone celebrating a life event that wanted something sweet to add.
I bake with passion into every cake, cupcake, macaroon, cookie, or dessert I make. I love trying new techniques, tools, or ideas out and seeing the smiling faces of my clients as they dig into their custom, one-of-a-kind creations.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was my first ever order! It was when I was able to take my passion and hobby and make a business from it.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing about being an owner where I am the sole operator is being the sole operator. The product does not get out the door without me so there is no room for error. This puts a lot of pressure on oneself to deliver a product the customer wants every single time. The best thing about living in a smaller city though is that I have gotten to know other bakers and am able to bounce ideas off each other and/or rely on each other if and when needed. It is always important to get to know others within your industry because you never know when or how you will need their expertise!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My top three tips to anyone starting, running, or growing a business is:
1) Know your costs - First and most importantly, is knowing and understanding your costs. I price my creations not only on the value of my products but the costs to make them. My efforts on a vanilla cake versus a carrot cake might be similar but my ingredients costs that go into my carrot cake are 5x as high. By knowing this, I can price my creations accordingly while still maintaining the profit margin goal I set for myself.
2) Value yourself - Second most important when pricing your creations is knowing your value. Value your time, efforts, experience into your price, even if that means walking away from potential sales. It is better to set a tone for your business than undervalue yourself and try to increase that value as you grow.
3) Invest in your business - The cake decorating business is VERY visual so invest in your business to properly showcase your work. The visuals of your work are what sell, so invest in proper lighting and backdrops to capture imagery, tripods, apps to capture videos, and apps to edit your work. There are many inexpensive options available, but having something is better than nothing. Also, invest time into business planning and creating a brand that you can format all of your visuals around.
Where can people find you and your business?
https://www.cakesbybritney.com
https://www.instagram.com/cakesbybritneygraf/
https://www.facebook.com/cakesbybritneygraf
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
