Today we’d like to introduce you to Aundrea Dumas.
Hi Aundrea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have been a business owner in the Food and Beverage industry for more than 14 years, but this part of my life story begins about nine years ago. It started with a promise (years ago) I made to my mom. I promised my mom, “Shirley (ShirlAnn)” if I survived her, I would forever keep her memory alive. On April 4, 2011, my mom passed away from rare blood cancer, Macroglobulinemia-Waldenstrom. During my grieving, I could hear my mom’s voice reminding me of the promise I made to her. I struggled thinking of a way to honor my mom’s memory. My “Aha” moment happened when I remembered how momma loved having fun; how she loved to laugh and loved baking! My mom laughed tears, and her favorite food was cake! In my mind, no one could bake cakes the way my mom could! It was my mom—the master baker who inspired me to bake.
From that promise on October 1, 2012, Shirley Cakes online bakery was birthed in my home kitchen. I never thought that cakes would become a part of my mom’s memory. My vision was to place all momma’s personality in the cakes. Shirley Cakes are homemade square colorful cakes drenched in White Chocolate Ganache icing. The cakes package was simple but cute. A square white box adorned with a ribbon the same color as the cake. The cake rested on a square gold cake board, wrapped in clear cellophane with a cute bow, and a card from the sender. A customer once said, “Why send flowers when I can send a cake in a box!” I had to figure out a way to make miniature Shirley Cakes once I started receiving multiple requests for cake tastings. I discovered making a square cupcake was a replicate of the Shirley Cakes. They became my samples for cake tastings. When customers first saw the miniature version of Shirley Cakes they said, “I have never seen a square cupcake before. They are so cute! Can I buy them?” I explained the samples were not for sale. A dear friend of mine said to me, “If the customers are asking to buy the samples, give them what they want.” That is how Shirley “Cutie Cakes” were born! My husband gave the cakes their “cute” name! Shortly thereafter, I opened a six hundred square feet brick-and-mortar bakery because the demand became too much for me to continue operating from my home. Shirley Cutie Cakes® grand opening was held on August 17, 2013.
Running a bakery was hard work and the build-out drained the company’s reserves, forcing me to keep the dream alive by single-handedly operating every aspect of the bakery. It was in the process of streamlining the business that I begin pre-making the cupcake/cake batter each week and placing each flavor in its own container. When a customer placed a cake order or I sold out of cupcakes, all I simply did was, shake, pour, and bake! My customers often mentioned to me how they wished their home kitchen could smell like my bakery. There was another “Aha” moment! I decided to bottle up the cupcake batter and give it to my customers to take home along with the baking instructions. They absolutely loved the idea! My customer’s words were, “So easy a 5-year-old can do it! I didn’t need to buy any extra ingredients! My kitchen smelled like your bakery!” Cutie Cakes®…a ready-to-pour/ready-to-bake liquid cupcake/cake batter in a bottle was born! Just shake, pour, and bake! Before long, Kroger learned about my shake, pour, and bake batter in a bottle and invited me to their corporate headquarters in Cincinnati. Kroger loved the idea and the simplicity of the product! In the beginning, we agreed to stay with Cutie Cakes® (cupcake batter in a bottle) as the name on the packaged product. The company has since rebranded, and the product’s new name is Eazy Peazy Cakes®.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to “here and now” has not been a smooth one at all. In the beginning, my traveling companions along this road were “Doubt,” “Fear,” and “Not Good Enough.” What made the struggle even more challenging is I am a woman of color in a male-dominated (manufacturing) industry. I knew nothing about Product Development, Mass Production, Co-Packer, Quality Control, Planogram, Shelf Life, Product Package, EDI, DSD, UPC, Category Reset, Spoilage Allowance, Non-Disclosures, B2B or B2C, and so much more. It was very overwhelming. I recall turning to seasoned individuals in the industry for guidance, but they refused me. There were many nights I did not sleep because I stayed up researching and studying the industry. I quickly learned this journey would be alone and on my own. Due to my persistence, I overcame the struggles and became a resilient courageous game changer.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Legends Food is the purveyor for the Cutie Cakes® (now known as Eazy Peazy Cakes) brand of authentic, high-quality ready-to-pour/ready-to-bake products used to create cupcakes layer cakes and a variety of other baked goods. Eazy Peazy Cakes ready-to-pour/ready-to-bake products is so unique that Kroger designated it first in category…nothing like it on the market. This innovative product has the potential to reinvigorate the home baking market—a category in decline for the past decade. Consumers are extremely time-challenged and are looking for more convenient and family-friendly products. Eazy Peazy Cakes has been sampled at retail and the buzz regarding both the product and its efficacy have generated excitement about being able to enjoy home-baked goods without all the prep time and clean-up. Eazy Peazy Cakes eliminate the need for mixing, measuring, cracking eggs and more. Just shake, pour, and bake!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something “surprising” many don’t know about me is I received a Governor’s Citation Award from then Georgia Governor Roy Barns. I also have an 8 x 10 photo taken with him in his office.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@aundreadumascompanies.com
- Website: www.eazypeazycakes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shakepourbake/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shakepourbake/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCtEgr0D71RTuevnbIUpkGg
- Other: https://www.aundreadumas.com/
