We were lucky to catch up with Caitlin Foster recently and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

Cakelin’s really started when I was in high school. After taking cake decorating lessons with my mom (a bonding experience I didn’t really want at the time) I started making cakes for family friends. Then I attended a vocational high school and went in to Johnson & Wales University to continue learning all about pastry and running a business. After graduation I worked in bakeries, catering departments, and restaurants.

My husband and I had our first child in 2012. I decided to go back to work when he was almost two years old. I absolutely loved my job! I had creative freedom and I truly felt valued. Going back to work meant we had to find a babysitter for our son. I thought everything was great…until she was found by a friend, passed out on our couch. She had taken prescription medicine and couldn’t be woken. My son was left unattended. After that, I quit my job. I lost trust that anyone else could watch him, so I returned to being a stay at home mom.

This is when Cakelin’s Cakes and Cookies TRULY started. I figured if I was going to make this work, this is THE time. This was the perfect way for me to stay with my baby (and eventually my second child), but still fulfill my dreams and make financial contributions to my family. I started a business Facebook page, and told all my friends and family to spread the word! Business started coming, slowly at first. Eventually I applied for my LLC, and started growing even more. I am proud to say that the past 4 years I have continued growth. I get to be part of people’s happiest occasions, and that honor is not lost on me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

When I was 15 my mom signed us up for cake decorating lessons at the craft store. Like any typical teenager, I was all but excited to spend my nights with my mom and a bunch of ladies her age. Little did I know it was exactly what I needed. I absolutely loved it! It was there that I learned about a local vocational school that offered culinary and pastry classes. I also never imagined that I could have a career making cakes.

After high school I went to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. I studied pastry arts and business management.

I worked at the cutest Swedish cafe (Café Choklad) after college, and that is where I truly learned business management. I was hired as the pastry chef, but did a little bit of everything. The owners (Marie and Jens Retlev) encouraged me and allowed me to grow by trusting me with management responsibilities, and giving me creative freedom with the pastries.

Now I have Cakelin’s Cakes and Cookies. I specialize in custom decorated cookies and cakes. In the past couple years I have started offering pre-sale options for holidays-Valentine’s Day is always the most popular. I even do a few pops throughout the year, mainly focusing on my decorated cookies.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing happy clients! I am so lucky that I get to be part of people’s special moments-moments that they will remember forever. When people look back and remember their wedding, they remember the cake too. When they look back and remember their child’s first birthday, they remember the cake too. That’s special, because that means they are remembering me too! That is a special honor to be included in people’s lives like that.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Networking with other small business owners has by far been my greatest source of new customers. I make an edge o use small business for my needs when I can, because I hope others do the same. My nail technician, aestheticians, and hair stylist are all small business owners. They recommend clients to me, and I do the same for them. In addition to people outside of my field, I have a group of amazing bakers in the area. We all refer clients to each other. Sometimes we are fully booked, or a client is looking for an item they don’t offer. We all have the same mindset that community is better than competition.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cakelinscakesandcookies.square.site/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cakelinscakesandcookies?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CakelinsCakesAndCookies?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Kelly Klemmensen Photography (Photo of me)