Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Carrie Shelley, owner of Enchanted Cakes and Treats, located in Parkville, MD, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are Enchanted Cakes and Treats. We are a local bakery in Parkville, MD, and we are here to help you celebrate for all occasions! Having a bad day, we've got a chocolate-covered strawberry with your name on it. Your kids just got straight A's; let us help you celebrate with milkshakes! Baby shower, weddings, birthdays, memorial services, retirements, big and little milestones, we have a cake and a treat for every occasion....even your dog's birthday! We even just announced the opening of our dessert truck so we can bring the treats to you!
Tell us about yourself
My name is Carrie Shelley; I am the owner and operator of Enchanted Cakes and Treats! I've been in the food industry for as long as I can remember. My mom was a prep cook and caterer when I was little, and I can remember standing in the kitchen on the Pepsi crate just to reach the table so I could help. And I was the best cheese tray passer there was. Can you imagine getting passed cheese from a cute little four year old, man they loved me! And boy did my Granny-mom teach me to bake; she loved baking! We would bake so many carrot cakes and sugar cookies! I guess the food world was embedded in my DNA, even though I swore I was never going to work in a kitchen. As life went on, my love for the kitchen was buried deep.
I got married, had children, and life just went on, various jobs, college, etc., but no real passion and fire...just living the life. Then, while I was pregnant with my middle son, my sister-in-law asked me to take a cake decorating class with her, and I looked at her like she had two heads. I thought, I am not Martha Stewart, and this is so stupid....long story short...my love for the kitchen awoke, and I couldn't stop! I started making cakes from home for family and friends, and it just grew and grew.
I landed a few BIG contracts and decided I needed to open a bakery! The passion and drive for making cakes and making memories were unstoppable! In 2014 I opened Enchanted Cakes and Treats! We have been so happy and blessed to be part of our community! We've had the privilege of watching our customers grow, helping with fundraising opportunities in our local schools, donating to those in need, as well as our local heroes. We've been part of Camden Yards; we've been on TV and on and on.
We aren't just here to make cakes; we want to be part of your life...we are here to help you celebrate the good times and cry through the sad times. You guys aren't just our customers, you are our family, and we love you, and we are here for you; you are what motivates me to get up every morning and come in and bake my heart out!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
That's such a tough question; we have had so many accomplishments. We've been on the Cooking Channels and won Cake Hunters. We've won Baltimore's Best Milkshakes and been featured on the news, but honestly, the biggest accomplishment has been the personal growth of being a business owner has given me. It has made me a more patient mom, a wife worried about growth and our future, and a more humble and caring woman and friend.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest thing I have had to endure so far in my journey is the sacrifices you make. The soccer games and baseball games you miss. The late nights that make you miss dinner and not being able to tuck the little ones in. Working through weddings and baby showers. The beginning years are tough and require a lot of your time and money. You're going to have to give things up and forget about vacations for a while, lol.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First and foremost, know it's hard and be ready. You will cry, you will scream, you will want to quit, but you can't. Never give up! Secondly, know your numbers and your worth. Price your items accordingly and make sure you are able to pay yourself. There is a great book called "Profit First" I suggest all business owners, whether just starting out or struggling for years, should read it. Thirdly, I think it is super important always to keep learning and growing. Take business classes, and don't be afraid to say you don't know something. Dave Ramsey has some great leadership courses, and Janelle Copeland has an amazing business course that will change your life! Stay a student, stay strong, and stay humble!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.enchantedcakesandtreats.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enchantedcakesandtreats/
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.
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