Business Really Can Be A Piece Of Cake
So where did the idea of creating cakes in jars come from? When Gray was the new girl at her school, she wanted to bake something special for her friends on Valentine’s Day. She was a huge fan of cupcakes, but realized that they tend to get messy. That’s when she decided to bake the cakes in jars. She discovered that the jars don’t shatter when you bake them, so it was a no-brainer. Cakes in a jar would make the perfect gift.
The idea of starting her own business clicked when one of her friends asked how much the cake in the jar cost. “I thought to myself, ‘Wait, you want to buy my cake in a jar?’” she says. From that moment on, word spread like wildfire and Gray began selling her specialized product. She began experimenting with a variety of baking methods, flavors and decorations and the rest, as they say, is history. Cakes by Cam was officially in business.
“Don’t ever give up, no matter how much time goes by and you feel like you haven’t done enough or [you] see someone who’s where you want to be…don’t give up on your dream.”
Initially, Gray focused her attention on local clients. She continued bringing her cakes to school and delivering them to individuals that she knew. Her cakes in a jar were so popular that she began getting requests for events such as birthday parties and baby showers. When asked about some of her hottest-selling cakes, Gray quickly pointed out the top three: Midnight Lovin’ is a rich, delectable chocolate-flavored cake that customers continuously rave about. Another fan favorite is Rainbow Fuego. Not only does it taste like you’ve died and gone to heaven, but it’s literally layered with the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple, leaving you feeling like you’ve reached a pot of gold by the time you reach the bottom of the jar. Then there’s the Birthday Cake jar. A yellow cake decorated with customizable frosting and sprinkles, which is by far the most popular with kids.
Five years from now, Gray would like to actually own a store or two. She envisions opening shops in Los Angeles and her hometown of Atlanta. She also welcomes partnering with other business owners, as well. “I’d love to open a fun, modern store offering a variety of things,” she says. Her business continues to expand as she now ships nationwide and customers can place orders on her website cakesbycam.com.
Gray’s inspiration to continue pursuing her passion despite her full-time class schedule and part-time job stems from watching her father and other family members push through the challenges of owning a business. She encourages aspiring young entrepreneurs to do the same. “Don’t ever give up no matter how much time goes by and you feel like you haven’t done enough or [you] see someone who’s where you want to be…don’t give up on your dream,“ she says.
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