WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAVE BEEN THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES SO FAR WITH RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS? One of the biggest challenges was learning to trust myself and tune out the noise so I could build a profitable business— not just a busy one. I knew my strengths in decorating, so I focused on mastering the basics and building on that. Creating stacked, multi-tiered cakes helped me move into the high-end wedding cake space, where I could charge based on my technical skill and professionalism.
Behind the scenes, though? The admin side was a whole new world. I was " technologically challenged "— managing emails, a website, social media, and invoicing was tough at first. But with good systems( hello Canva and Bake Diary!) and better time management, I found my rhythm. Joining ACDN gave me a supportive community and opened doors to helpful tools and resources. And thankfully, I’ ve always loved photography and social media, so once I got going, that part came naturally. In fact, I’ ve had some amazing opportunities lately, like demonstrating for Colour Mill and Cakers Warehouse at the Festival of Cake— which was such a full-circle moment for me. More than anything, I believe there’ s always enough cake to go around. I value camaraderie over competition, and it’ s one of the mantras I live by in this industry.
OUTSIDE OF CAKE DECORATING / BAKING, WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? I love food and travel, especially discovering cute cafés or enjoying a high tea in a new city. Fitness is important to me too— a solid gym session or a good run clears my head. For downtime, you’ ll find me with a good book, a guided meditation, or a movie night with my family.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE TO SHARE WITH CAKE DECORATORS / BAKERS THAT ARE JUST STARTING OUT? Yes— don’ t try to be everything to everyone. Get clear on your style. What kind of cakes do you love to make? What brings you joy? For me, it was high-end custom cakes. Master the foundations first: stacking, ganaching, buttercream application, and fondant work. Once those are solid, you can confidently explore all the fun decorative techniques. Set boundaries early. I only quoted via email and chose not to allow Sunday pickups or deliveries— my family time was non-negotiable. Also, invest in your skills. The more you learn, the more your confidence( and pricing!) can grow.