The SECRET ingredient most business owners FAIL to leverage in their marketing strategy? Client testimonials.

Seriously, client reviews are the frosting on top of your cake, the sprinkles on your donut, and the cherry on your sundae. And Here’s why:

• They’re PROOF your products work – and are LOVED! (you’re SHOWING, not telling)
• They build your credibility and authority – and tell people you can be TRUSTED
• You can use them to highlight all the different ages and categories you serve – from early office-goers who love your buttery croissants to kids who wolf down your chocolate frosted donuts after soccer practice.

In today’s blog post, I’m sharing ALL the tips and tricks you need to know to collect effective testimonials for your bakery business. Let’s go!

How to ASK for a testimonial

I get it. Most business owners AVOID asking for customer feedback because of a few different reasons:

• You feel awkward asking- talk about the...

Hundreds of bakery businesses fail and shut down every year. And it’s not because they didn’t have an amazing product…

It’s because their branding attempts fell flat… Like, imagine a soufflé that's all sad and deflated – that's what their branding was like.

If you want to STAND OUT in the crowd and be known and remembered for what you do, you HAVE to get your branding right. Because as Jeff Bezos once said: “Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room.”

And TBH, it’s not enough to have people just say good things about you – you need them to SING YOUR PRAISES from the top of the freaking hill.

So without wasting any time, let’s dive into the 5 essential branding tips for bakers and small business owners I’ve got for you today.

#1 DEFINE your brand

The first step to successful branding is DEFINING who you are and what your brand stands for. If you’re not clear about this...

Meet Kara, the owner of Kara Kakes! 

I recently took a trip to Franklin Lakes, New Jersey to visit my friend Kara’s bakery called Kara Kakes! While there Kara gave me a behind-the-scenes look at her bakery and we talked about all things starting and running a baking business and entrepreneurship.

It was such a great conversation and I think her story and business journey could offer a lot of inspiration and motivation for any of you who are dreaming of opening a baking business one day. 

So, in this blog post you’re gonna get a look into our conversation and learn all about Kara’s journey and her experience as a bakery owner. You can check out the full bakery tour here, but if you’re ready to learn from Kara and hear how she got started, keep on reading! 

WHO IS KARA? 

Kara is the owner of Kara Kakes in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and she’s not 16 anymore! In fact, she’s 28 now and she’s been in the baking industry for a...

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again –

You might be the most talented baker in the world. But if you don’t have the business knowledge to grow, pivot, and scale your business with CONFIDENCE, your cake decorating skills and cute packaging won’t count for sh*t. 

In this blog post, I’m gonna share 3 essential factors you need to know to build a THRIVING and successful baking business, navigate unpredictable challenges, and emerge on top as the BOSSED-UP CEO you know you are!

#1) Invest in BUSINESS knowledge – not baking skills

Most bakers think that in order to grow, they need to keep improving their skills. But running a successful business requires MORE than just talent in the kitchen. So if you’re interested in seeing some REAL growth, stop wasting your $$ on decorating classes and invest in BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE.

Learning HOW businesses work will help you to make informed decisions, plan for the future, and adapt and...

Let’s be REAL, friend: In a COMPETITIVE industry like ours, even small mistakes can have EXPENSIVE consequences. A bad business decision or a major mistake can cause customers to leave you, impact your bakery's reputation, and result in a HUGE financial setbacks. 

That’s why avoiding mistakes isn’t just about saving face in the industry, it’s a matter of your business THRIVING or failing. In this blog post, I’m gonna the 3 BIGGEST mistakes I see bakery owners making all the damn time, so you can avoid them before it’s too late. So buckle up and pay attention to make sure you don’t repeat ANY of these mistakes in your business!

Mistake #1: Expanding before you’re READY

I get it. You're PUMPED to grow your business and get to that next level. OR, maybe you think you’re current circumstance is holding you back and you think GROWING and SCALING your business is the answer. But if you expand too early, based on a...

When I started my baking business, I was at ROCK freaking BOTTOM. I had zero money, zero experience, and ZERO credibility as a baker or business owner. 

Eddie and I both lost our six-figure corporate jobs in the 2009 recession. We had 3 young kids, a mortgage, 2 car payments, and a sh*t ton of other responsibilities. 

We had ZERO income coming in, our marriage was on the rocks, and we had to file for bankruptcy. We were on the verge of losing EVERYTHING.

That’s when my bakery, The Cake Mamas was born: out of PURE NECESSITY, with no MONEY, and my back against the wall. 

When I started, I didn’t have anything other than my own experience to learn from. I had to learn to do business the HARD WAY – through trial and error. And I made SO many mistakes in those early years that cost me TONS OF MONEY, simply because I didn’t KNOW any better and I didn’t have ANYONE to guide me in the right direction. 

I don’t want y’all to have...

Don’t let this be you, friend… 

But before we dive in, quick question –

How were your Valentine’s Day sales?

Was it record-breaking? Disappointing? Did you hit ALL your revenue goals, or did you fall short?

And most importantly, how are YOU feeling now that it’s all FINALLY over? (phew!) 

Hopefully, you’re feeling HAPPY, RELIVED, and PROUD! Cause you SURVIVED and we’re only going up for here! 

But the truth is there’s a reason why I’m asking you these questions…

It’s because if you wanna GROW your business, there’s one step you CAN’T miss after any HUGE SALE or event –

A DEBRIEF session.

It doesn’t matter how much money you make or how tired or bummed out you’re feeling. (Emotions don’t BELONG in business! )You NEED to sit down with a pen and paper, look at the DATA, pull out the receipts and analyze ALL the different AREAS of your business. I’m talking about...

Now that we’re a MONTH into 2023 (can you believe it?) Some of us are still going strong on those new year’s resolutions, but for many of us, the motivation may be dying down a bit. But I believe that it’s NEVER too late to start something new. And taking MESSY, imperfect action (even if it looks different from what you envisioned or planned) is better than wondering what COULD’VE been. You feel me?? 

And one of the best ways to do something different, I think,  is by leveraging your expertise and starting a business of your own…

Maybe you’ve thought this before too? 

But REAL TALK: Most people don’t even know if entrepreneurship is the right path for them, or if they even HAVE the energy and resources they need to get their business up and running.

But that’s what I’m here for. So I’m gonna cut to the chase. Here are 3 things to CONSIDER if you're looking to drop that 9-5, start a side hustle, or become...

Let’s be REAL: Launching your own BAKING BUSINESS is no cakewalk. (no pun intended) 

It’s not just about picking a cute name and pretty packaging and making cute sh*t all day. You need to register your business, set up your finances, get trademarked and figure out a SH*T TON of other legal and logistical things. 

And SPOILER ALERT: The hard stuff doesn’t end there. When you start a business, you’re gonna spend a LOT of time doing things you didn’t sign up for – like taxes, payroll, sales, marketing. And IMAGINE doing ALL this while working your 9 to 5, raising a family, and trying to balance your personal life (!!!) 

I’m not trying to scare you but I can’t sugarcoat reality for you, friend. And YES, it can feel overwhelming and daunting AF, but with the RIGHT resources and guidance, YOU can power through this and get to the fun stuff (like baking & creating pretty things and making MONEY) ASAP!

So without wasting...

2023 is 11 DAYS AWAY(!!!) 

And as much as I enjoy spending time with family and doing all the FESTIVE things,  I’m also using this time to self-reflect, organize my thoughts, envision new goals, and map out my 2023. (This is important!) 

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I fully believe that REST is  NON-NEGOTIABLE. I know first-hand that you can’t operate, create, and problem-solve when you’re tired and burnt out. So, I hope you’re using this time to reset, regroup, and get re-energized before the New Year. 

But I also hope that you’re using this time to think about what big goals and dreams you wanna achieve in 2023. 

And if you’re reading this saying, “I have NO IDEA what things I should even be thinking about” or “I have ideas but I don’t know how to start,” then keep on reading… 

Reflecting, planning, strategizing, and mapping out your year are CRUCIAL to...