Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Marshall.
Hi Nicole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I went to college for entrepreneurship, and I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. In May of 2018, I decided to make a cake (I have always loved baking). I then decided that same day to make a website and an Instagram page. I then broadcasted my new website and social media handles on Instagram & Facebook. I also shared my news with family and friends. From there, business took off! Then the pandemic happened. The pandemic is when my business soared! I was busy all days of the week and not complaining one bit! I have gained so much knowledge from practice and my little community of bakers I have connected with over the years. I am grateful for my customers first and foremost because they are why I am where I am now!
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?
For the most part, it has been pretty smooth. Occasionally there are some hiccups. I do count them as my learning lessons, and like any business, I use those moments to grow/improve my business.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I bake cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. I would say the decorated sugar cookies are the popular item. I think the reasoning behind this is because they are very detailed and personalized. They take a good amount of time and care, and the love that goes into each cookie is shown in the work. It brings me joy to see my customer’s faces when they get excited on delivery day after they have seen the product. I love working on parties that need multiple items like a cake, cookies, and cupcakes because I am able to tie in their theme through multiple baked goods. The baked goods are really the icing on the cake to make the party special I believe.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Caked Up Cole is actually not my first business. When I was seven years old, I started a gift basket business. The main holidays I sold the gift baskets were Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. I would buy baskets at the dollar store. I made homemade chocolates and cookies and added them to the gift basket. For the Valentine’s Day orders specifically the customer had the choice of sparkling juice or a stuffed animal to go in their basket. All baskets were topped off with a pretty bow which made it all come together. The baskets were a huge hit amongst family and friends. Two years later, I made my first big girl purchase with the revenue I gained, and that purchase was my own laptop. It was a proud moment for me!
Pricing:
- Cakes start at $60
- Cookies are tiered pricing from $40-70/dzn
- Cupcakes Or Mini Cakes are $35/dzn
- Number & Letter Cakes pricing varies
Contact Info:
- Email: cakedupcole@gmail.com
- Website: www.cakedupcole.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/cakedupcole
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/cakedupcole
- Yelp: Www.yelp.com/biz/caked-up-cole-duluth
Image Credits
Credit: Caked Up Cole
