Interview with...Jakes Sweet Bakes

​It’s our first 2019 Interview with… and reading about this foundling business is sure to get your mouth watering!

If you’re new to this blog, it’s a regular bi-monthly feature that showcases local businesses in the Essex area. The team at Perfect layout believe that sharing knowledge and experiences is a great way to help other local businesses.

By offering insights into how we do things, helps us improve our business acumen, which means that we’ll be able to offer more efficient and relevant services to the local community. Attracting customers to the Essex area is paramount if independent companies are to thrive.

So read on to find out more about a mum that found her ability to create gravity cakes whilst making one for her daughters’ birthday and has since turned it into a money-making business…

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Business name – Jakes Sweet Bakes
Owner – Melissa Naire
Location – Hornchurch

How long have you been making gravity cakes for?
For about 2 years now.

What did you do before you started Jakes Sweet Bakes?
I was a preschool assistant.

Have you had any formal training?
No, everything I know is self-taught. YouTube and Google have been my trainer.

Where do you come up with your cake ideas?
Well my son really started it all off. He had an idea of what he wanted as a cake for his birthday and I went off and made it. For other clients, an idea just comes into my head and I then research the theme online.

Which type of cakes do you enjoy making the most?
Cupcakes! Because I love making different designs and making different buttercreams.

How did you come up with your business name, Jakes Sweet Bakes?
I named it after my son, Jake, as he was the one who encouraged me to make a cake for him. He was my inspiration!

Do you make these cakes full-time?
No.

Do you have anyone working with you?
No, I do this on my own.

How do you promote and sell your services and products?
On social media. Facebook and Instagram. I also look out for companies like Maltesers and Flake that have promotions. Last year, for example, I shared my cake pictures on Maltesers UK and they donated £5 to Comic Relief and my pictures appeared on their website. On Instagram, because it’s public, my son had a paintball party and I shared a paintball themed cake on this platform. This was then seen and liked by a paintball company that now follow me Instagram. For Father’s Day, I created some cupcakes for a church that wanted to hand them out to all Fathers that didn’t have children or had lost a child. Because this was for a good cause I donated half my proceeds to the church.

Do you have a website?
No.

Have you thought about growing your business through having a website, i.e. having a more comprehensive gallery that would allow people to peruse your work easier?
Promoting my work through these social media platforms works well and I’ll continue to do that. I don’t think having a website at this point is necessary yet as I’m not quite ready to grow.

What other digital marketing do you do to sell your cakes?
Nothing, that’s it.

How’s business going since you first started out?
It’s steady.

For other people out there with creative cooking abilities that remain unseen and unused, what advice would you give to get them to get started?
Just try it and give it a go. Everything I’ve done has been self-taught.

What plans do you have for 2019?
I’d like to learn how to work with fondant cakes and tier cakes for weddings, birthdays etc.

Where do you see your cake business going in the next five years?
I’d like to continue having a steady stream of customers as this is something I do part-time and currently I would like for it to continue like this.

So, if you fancy a cake that looks great and fulfils all your chocolate/sweet desires look no further than Jakes Sweet Bakes. Melissa’s creations can be found via her Facebook page.

Get in touch if you have a business that you would like to feature in this regular slot. We'd love to hear from you!