How I Turned My Guilty Pleasure Into a Small Business
As humans, we all have that one thing that all the convincing and willpower in the world cannot stop us from indulging in.
Whether it be shoe shopping, pasta, or sugary sweets everyone has a “guilty pleasure.” Mine is dessert. Specifically all things cake, cupcakes, and chocolate, and if you know me, you know that not a day goes by without me having at least a little bit of chocolate. Normally I’m all for indulging in moderation, but like many people suffering through COVID, this rule no longer applied to me.
Baking has always been one of my passions and because I had the time to bake during quarantine, I did it. A LOT. To say my family and I ate far more cupcakes than the average person should in a given week is an understatement. Baking during quarantine gave me the opportunity to dedicate time to having fun with my baking! I started to get more creative with my flavors and really loved spending time in the kitchen. It was my release during some of the scariest and most stressful times.
Fast forward a few months - I was asked to bake some cupcakes for a birthday party. After watching everyone enjoy the treats I made and seeing the smiles on their faces, I knew this was something that I wanted to do more of and try to turn into my “side hustle.” So, that’s exactly what I did!
“Frosted by Shan” was born in June 2020 on the foundation that life is too short to eat bad cake. “Frosted” came from my belief that it is sacrilegious to deprive a cake of a sufficient coat of frosting. After all, it is the best part of any cupcake and should never be lacking.
My days with Frosted are never the same and constantly changing. I’ve been lucky enough to have a steady flow of customers who keep me busy and challenge me to think outside the box!
To give you a sneak peek into how I run my side business, read below to hear my day-in-the-life with Frosted by Shan.
1: Accepting Orders
Most orders come through Instagram DMs, Google Forms, or text messages from locals in my area. Customers can look through my menu to customize their cupcake orders!
2: Planning
Once an order comes in, I plan out all the ingredients needed, how many days I have to complete the order, and the colors and theme of the order. I always order my groceries at the beginning of the week that an order is due, so that everything is fresh and ready to go!
3: Determining How To Make My Custom Cupcakes
For my “CLOTHES & WATER” batch, I decided on a chocolate cupcake with tie-dye buttercream frosting. Designs are always personal and carefully thought out.
4: Packaging
Once the cakes are baked and frosted they all get packaged for delivery to the customers!
Starting Frosted by Shan has given me the ability to make things that I love for other people to love. There’s no better feeling than seeing people enjoy something you’ve made special for them. People need moments to indulge in their guilty pleasures, especially in difficult times. Thanks to Frosted, I've been blessed enough to be able to add just a bit more sweetness back into the world.
Check out my Instagram page @frostedbyshan to see more!