Today we’d like to introduce you to Gretchen Baker.
Gretchen, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I had always had an interest in decorating cakes. I remember my mom used to bake cakes and sometimes I wanted to make them pretty. When my nephew was born, I started making his birthday cakes every year and also made cakes for friends and family members. A lot of people would tell me, “you should open your own bakery” but I always dismissed the thought. It wasn’t until I moved to Atlanta that I started making more cakes for a few new friends, and word got out as I started getting more requests. However, I still had my corporate job and wasn’t really thinking about doing this full time.
But then, in July of 2018, the company I was working for went through an acquisition and I found myself out of a job. I decided I wanted to take six months off from the corporate world and started baking and decorating more. I competed in my first cake competition and I was hooked. So in January 2019, I decided I wanted to have a shot at having my own little cake company, and well, here I am now. I have continued to compete and won a few awards: Best Baker in Atlanta — (1st place Wedding Cake division and 2nd place theme sculpted division), and at the Ultimate Sugar Show, where I placed third in the FIPCG competition.
Great, 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?
Since Gretchen The Baker started in 2019, business has been growing, but it hasn’t always been a smooth ride. Owning a small business has so many moving parts and being a one-woman show, it can get pretty crazy sometimes. Also, trying to have a work/life balance while trying to get your business off the ground is very challenging. Luckily, I have a great support system: my husband, the delivery guy, my daughter, the art consultant, and my friends who are always willing to lend a hand when I need it.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Gretchen The Baker is a home based cake shop that focuses on creating one-of-a-kind, premium quality custom cakes for any special occasions, from weddings and big events to quarantine birthdays.
I specialize in very unique and creative cakes, so anything you can think of, I can probably create it in a cake. As my business grows and evolves, so do my cakes. In recent months, I have created some of the most challenging but fun cakes ever and I know this is just the beginning.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I pride myself for making everything from scratch, using the best quality ingredients; trust me, you can taste the difference. Also, I am a very resilient person and I love a good challenge. I always push myself to get better at what I do and I think it shows in the quality of my recent work.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @gretchen_the_baker
- Facebook: Gretchen The Baker
Image Credit:
Gretchen Baker
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