Check Out Kelly Hessler’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Hessler.

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Kelly Hessler, Atlanta native & self-taught baker that took a hobby to a business!

The name originated from a few things. First, I have a strict “No Dog Left Unpetted” policy – if a dog is willing/allowed to be pet, I’m legally (emotionally) obligated to oblige. And second, is a tribute to my first Black Lab, Jack, who I firmly believe was (and still is) my soul dog, plus our extra snuggly, four-legged garbage disposal, Pickles. We do have Murphy – who isn’t technically a black lab, but has just enough lab energy to be an honorary founding member in the BLB community. For me, naming my business purely after cake felt too obvious for my personality. So, I mashed together two things that might not seem like they go together, but they absolutely do in my world: my love of dogs and my passion for baking. And just like an odd, yet, delicious flavor combo (looking at you salty-sweet snacks), Black Lab Bakery was born. Officially launched in October 2024, it has since grown into a full-fledged business, proving that this is the perfect recipe for success.

I love the ability to take a serious moment and make it sentimental, but also finding a way to sneak in some humor. While I do have a few boundaries, creativity will never be one of them. I genuinely love this craft. At this point, I eat, breathe, and practically dream in cake layers. I hope to never lose this fire inside because it fuels my passion for baking. And lets be real…life’s just better when there’s a cake in the mix

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For the most part, the journey has been smooth, but I have definitely endured some bumps along the way. In the beginning, I struggled with managing my time and balancing the cost of ingredients and supplies while still making a profit. Owning a home bakery as a one-person operation comes with many responsibilities; you are the talent, the social media coordinator, the bookkeeper, the dishwasher, and the office manager all at once. There were moments when orders were slow, and I questioned whether I had made the right decision. Had I poured all of my own money and time into a craft in a market saturated with local talent? I eventually realized that no one was going to push me to improve except myself. I overcame these obstacles by staying consistent, sharpening my baking and decorating skills, and actively seeking feedback from customers. I invested time in marketing and regularly shared my work online, because if someone is going to spend their hard-earned money on my cake, I want them to always say, “Wow, that was worth it!”

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At Black Lab Bakery, I specialize in completely from-scratch cakes and am best known for my signature Lambeth and vintage-inspired designs. In addition I’ve added new menu items like mini cookie bites, cupcakes, and cake pop discs!

It’s not always easy to talk about your own accomplishments, but when I take a step back and reflect on what I’ve achieved in just one year. With only $100 invested in marketing, I feel incredibly proud. I set a goal to create 100 cakes in a year, and instead, I made over 250. I’ve baked for influencers, signed contracts with event venues, and plan to have my cakes in local retail stores by the end of this year. In a short amount of time, I’ve built this business entirely from the ground up on my own.

As a one-person operation, every cake reflects my dedication, late nights, and unwavering commitment to quality. I take pride in the relationships I build with my customers and the trust they place in me. If I can make it happen, I will. For the busy parent who almost forgot the cake while juggling everyday life, I help ease that stress. For the new bride, I take one more task off her plate. For the person ringing the bell in remission, finally celebrating a hard-fought victor. I create something worthy of that moment. I treat every cake as if it’s someone’s biggest celebration of the year, because to them, it often is.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
To me, this answer is a no-brainer: the customer. Every order I receive begins with someone’s story. It may sound profound for a cake decorator to say, but I take my business that seriously. At the heart of it all, I don’t have a business without the Metro Atlanta community.

I genuinely care, truly. The follow-up messages I receive from customers telling me a cake transported them back to a childhood memory mean everything to me. And if something isn’t perfect, I do everything in my power to make it right. I believe my success comes from treating every order as more than just a transaction. A lot of home bakers know that you’re not doing this for the money, you’re doing it for much more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://blacklabbakery.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacklabbakery_/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Black-Lab-Bakery-61573636049114/