Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn Hubbard.
Jenn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been a crafty person, loved to be artistic and create things, but baking wasn’t typically my “medium”. If someone could tell the future and would have told me I’d be making cakes for a living, I probably would have laughed at them. I was living in my hometown, shoutout Portland, OR! But my husband’s birthday was approaching and I wanted to get him a fancy cake… all his previous cakes were more on the basic side, but this particular year I wanted to blow his mind. So I got this idea that I wanted to get him an erotic cake….. so I was calling around trying to find someone who could make it, but they wanted $200 and I couldn’t figure out why it was so much… I was used to buying grocery store cakes so to me the price was insane!
Me being the creative I am figured I could probably make it myself…. just buy the supplies, watch some tutorials and viola! I’d have a cake! Now to be honest after all the supplies and time, I’m sure I spent close if not over $200, lol! But I did it and it was amazing!!! He was surprised and most definitely impressed! I posted it on social media and that’s when it happened, everyone started asking me to make cakes for all types of events. it was never in my plans to make cakes for a living but I couldn’t be happier for this new venture and business to blossom from something I just took a chance on! I’ve now been making custom cakes and treats for over five years and just recently moved to Atlanta for multiple different reasons, my cake business being one of them.
I also now understand why these things cost so much! time, effort, supplies… there is so much that goes into each order! And the saying goes, you get what you pay for!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’m completely self-taught, never went to culinary school or have taken official baking or decorating courses. It’s been a lot of trial and error, I’ve made plenty of mistakes and have had some struggles along the way. Learning how to stack cakes was a little tricky and in my first six months, I had a two-tier cake collapse on me from improper stacking. I’ve had ideas I thought were going to be an amazing flop, but I stuck it through and pushed myself to learn more because I am passionate about what I do. I also had to take almost a year off from November 2020 till September 2021 due to my daughter being diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer. It’s been quite a journey with a lot of challenges to overcome.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have to give credit to my husband for my business name Jenn Got Cakes, and to some it may sound like improper words smushed together, but I guess he had a hidden agenda and meaning behind the name but it fit, lol! My home ran business was very successful in my hometown of Portland and I absolutely love and miss all my clients! I had so many amazing experiences working on all different kinds of projects, and loved every minute of it! I’ve done everything from kid’s birthdays, baby showers, weddings, 21st birthdays, and homegoing celebrations…. some projects were heart-wrenching, like making cakes for loved ones that had passed or were taken from this world due to gang violence. I’d be lying if I told you I can’t count how many times I’ve stopped and taken a break just to cry over a cake, yeah you heard it right a cake. But it wasn’t the cake that made me cry it was always the story behind the cake and what it meant.
I also have had a couple of great opportunities within my business. Back in 2019, I was able to make custom cupcakes and bling berries for Kevin gates and his tour crew when he came to Portland on the I’m his tour. That was incredible! Not only was I able to make something for one of my all-time favorite artists, I was able to share that moment with my closest friends and was given vip for myself and seven of my closest friends and family. My treats were also shared on Instagram stories by Dreka and the official bwa page.
Another amazing opportunity I had more recently before relocating was I was asked to make a graduation cake for the Portland trailblazers Damian Lillard’s sister’s college graduation celebration. I was honored to be able to create something that was classy and elegant for a memorable graduation party for the successful Portland State University grad!
When it comes to what sets me apart from others, I take pride in every project I take on, I know at the end of the day I am making memories for people that will last a lifetime! I work best with creative freedom and am always doing my best to bring a wow factor!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
What is life without taking risks?! I decided to not work a regular 9-5 and push myself to provide for my family by running an at-home business. Right now I’m in the middle of taking a risk by moving my family to Atlanta. Even though I had an amazing clientele back home, I want more, more opportunities. I also know here in Atlanta it is full of amazingly talented, creative successful bakers! And I never want to say I feel as if they are my competition because at the end of the day there is always going to be someone that is better than you! But here there is so many more people as well, so I know that there’s enough money for us all to “eat”. But ill be glad when I can say I feel like I belong in this city and can sit at the same table with the well-known successful bakers here in the city of Atlanta!
Pricing:
- All cakes are based off style size and design but begin at around $150
- Cupcakes and other treats begin at $45 a dozen
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jenngotcakes
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/JennGotCakes
- Other: @jenngotcakes tiktok
Image Credits
Photo credit to @alvinmiles.jp (Instagram handle) for pink boho cake and cupcake photos included pictures of the cake that started it all, lol!
