Today we’d like to introduce you to Widdi Turner.
Widdi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started out as a professional actor, then I got into the production side of the business while continuing to act (my biggest claim to fame is my appearances on Good Eats with Alton Brown :). But I’ve always had side hustles – I think I’ve pretty much spent my entire life doing short term jobs, freelancing, waiting tables, or working commission jobs where I had no predictable income or benefits to speak of. And I’m now 57 and I’ve survived & thrived, so it is possible!😉 In 2011, I stumbled into my latest side hustle.
It all started at a bake sale in a dive bar. From 2009-2012, I was part of a baton twirling troupe called Turnin’ TriXXX, based out of Little 5 Points. We twirled to rock n’ roll, wore wigs, corsets, fishnets and gogo boots, and marched in parades – it was a blast! But we had to pay for those outfits somehow, so we would host bake sales at the Euclid Ave Yacht Club. On Feb 14, 2011, I brought whoopie pies to our Valentine’s bake sale, and I haven’t stopped baking them since! At first, I just baked for friends out of my home kitchen. Then, a friend of mine opened Casseroles in Morningside, so I became her baker and made my whoopie pies out of her kitchen. A few years later, I moved to a shared kitchen, and then this summer, I moved into my own commercial kitchen at PREP Atlanta. A huge step, and very scary, but exciting too! It was an 8-year journey from the bake sale to today, but I’m glad I took it slowly. Sometimes, I still feel like I’m rushing things!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve had some very…”tentative”… moments living the life of a freelancer/”hustler.” But somehow it always worked out. To me, having a 9-5 seems scary, so I guess it depends on your personality! There were definitely struggles along the way to growing my baking business. Before No Big Whoop! Bakery, I had a small side hustle/business called widdiwoo; it was a crafts business. I’m a bit of a rule follower, so I got a business license and everything. But when you go into the food industry, being legit is even harder. More licensing, more rules, and it’s not an easy business to grow by small steps. Expenses are definitely higher, too. That’s why I took my time taking the big steps.
General advice: Even when the opportunity came along this summer for my own kitchen, I still didn’t feel ready! I don’t think you ever do. But then I realized, if not now, when? I knew that there was no way I WASN’T going to give this business a chance, so it became less about succeeding and more about just going for it. You’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t. Just remember there’s NOTHING WRONG WITH FAILURE. You’re getting an education that the fearful will never get. Also, I am externally motivated (in other words, I will do things for other people and with deadlines & goals, but rarely just for myself), so sometimes it’s good to intentionally put those things in place. As in my case, where now I have kitchen rental that I have to pay each month! It’s amazing how motivating that is.😉
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into No Big Whoop! Bakery story. Tell us more about the business.
I am the owner of No Big Whoop! Bakery, “the bakery that loves to make whoopie.” Whoopie pies are small cake sandwiches. Mine aren’t like classic Pennsylvania or Maine whoopie pies – No Big Whoop! whoopie pies are a little smaller and have more varieties in fillings. They have been served at birthday parties, showers, weddings, event kickoffs. I love that they’ve been a part of so many special occasions. I joke that they’re the anti-cupcake. They come wrapped in a small bag so they are much more portable, and customers can order custom package labels for their special events. But I think what I’m most proud of is the personal attention I give to each customer. I create my treats with all of my attention and love! I don’t have a storefront yet, but you can find my whoopie pies at Casseroles in Morningside, MetroFresh in Midtown Promenade, through Zifty (limited delivery area), and you can order through my website. My goal is to get into as many Atlanta area coffee shops and casual dining spots as possible and to build my online ordering capabilities.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
- Life is too short not to do what you love. Life is too long not to do what you love.
- That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a job unless it’s your dream job (we all have bills to pay!), but then think of that job as the way to subsidize your dreams.
- You can change the path whenever you want, no decision is final. Trust me!
Pricing:
- Whoopie pies range from $2.50-$3.25 each
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nobigwhoopbakery.com
- Phone: 404-455-8976
- Email: info@nobigwhoopbakery.com
- Instagram: @nobigwhoopbakery
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/nobigwhoopbakery
- Twitter: @nobigwhoopbakry
Image Credit:
Erin Schopf, Christina Kwan, Widdi Turner, Jim Pace
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