Keele University
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Cupcake Yourself - Kath Warrilow
Psychology and Marketing (2010)
Summary:
Business type: Specialises in making homemade cupcakes with photographs and logos using edible icing toppers
Website: www.cupcakeyourself.co.uk
Cupcake Yourself was established in October 2010, providing bespoke handmade cupcakes for the public for special occasions, weddings and corporate events. I specialise in turning people’s favourite photographs into fabulous cupcakes and can top cupcakes with any photo or logo that my customer desires. I have always loved baking and when I saw the SpeedWM and EFS programmes advertised I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to try and set up my own business doing what I love.
About me:
I graduated from Keele University in July 2010 with a BSc Honours in Marketing and Psychology. After I graduated I didn’t have any plans to go onto a Masters course or go into a large company for work so decided to set up my own business with the help of EFS/SPEEDWM programme.
About the business:
Cupcakes have become very popular and more and more people are starting to run their own business providing them. At Cupcake Yourself I believe I have a niche - where most others advertise their different flavours, my USP is that I turn photos into edible icing toppers and put them onto cupcakes, be it a baby photo of the birthday boy or girl, or a company logo for a corporate event. Having this USP helps me to be confident in selling myself and stand out from the crowd of other cupcake companies.
My website was launched in March 2011 and since then I’ve been getting busier by the day. There is a lot of demand for my products and customers think it is wonderful how they can star on their very own cupcakes. Customers can email me their order and attach their photos for the cakes. I also am trading at weddings fairs and any farmers markets, spring/ craft fairs I can get into.
How Student Enterprise has helped me:
The funding and training from SpeedWM and EFS has enabled me to buy all of the equipment and marketing materials that I need to set up and I now have everything I need to make my business work and meet all the orders that I get.
The training has given me the confidence and skills I needed to set up my own business on my own and everyone I have met has given me 100% of their help and support.
I have also been given mentoring sessions at the University from professional companies including Global Consultancy Services and Boommm.com. My mentors have helped me with any difficulties I have come across and they have also undertaken confidence-building programmes with me to give me a boost when it comes to selling to the public.
Future plans:
My plans for the future are to develop my business into other sectors such as children’s cupcake decorating parties and also children’s books. I would also like to have my own shop where I can make all of my orders and be open to the public throughout the day.
Website: www.cupcakeyourself.co.uk
