Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Ross

Hi Vanessa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

One Saturday night I was pathetically wondering around a big box store looking for something to do when I discovered a kit that was titled something like “Learn to Pipe Flowers” which included piping tips, couplers and piping bags. I had always wanted to learn to do this so I purchased the kit and a couple of containers of frosting and headed home to learn a new skill.

Not long afterwards I saw a show on TV called Ace of Cakes. The business owner, Duff Goldman created the most amazing cakes that were all shapes and sizes and used this stuff called fondant. I was amazed and wanted to learn more!

This was before the inception of YouTube as we know it and little information was available online so I headed to the local bookstore to place an order. From those books I was able to learn to cover cakes with fondant, make flowers and learned to make small animals.

I still have those books to this day and I still use them from time to time.

Initially I made cakes for friends and family members and eventually friends of friends while honing my fondant skills.

After marrying my husband in 2010 we moved to Southeast Pennsylvania and rather than looking for work, I opened Vanessa Ross Cakes.

The first thing I did was to join the local Chamber of Commerce and began to network.

Initially, I provided cakes samples and cupcakes at events to get my name out there and nearly 70% of my business came from contacts I’d made through the chamber.

Over the years I have expanded into the wedding market and participate in a number of wedding shows which provide approximately 50% of my annual business. I have also worked very hard to create relationships with event venues and am now listed as a preferred vendor with a dozen high end facilities that do not provide a cake with their event package.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

I don’t think that owning a business is ever a smooth road. There are so many bumps, pot holes and curves to watch for all the time. One can never get complacent as things are always changing.

Not long after opening Vanessa Ross Cakes I became pregnant with twins and the smell of cakes baking made me vomit. Once the kids were born I tried to stay open but soon realized that there was no way I could keep up with cake orders while tending to my boys.

I closed for a while and worked a couple marketing positions from home but my love for cake decorating never left. I would use free time to play with cake design ideas while watching endless YouTube videos on decoraing techniques. I did continue to make cakes for friends and family but kept things very limited.

I wouldn’t say it was all smooth sailing once I reopened but business was steady, I was doing a good job of developing a great reputation. I had a minimum order of $200 and was focusing on larger events and corporate celebrations.

I had two employees and a full book of business when the pandemic hit.

Everything was postponed and I no longer had orders.

As a food based business I wasn’t forced to shut down but I had to abandon my business model and pivot to orders for small cakes and a dozen cupcakes.

I wanted to bring joy to as many people as possible and the way I could do that was through my baking and decorating. There was just no way that I could keep up with the orders and also do all the deliveries.

I was praying for a solution when a friend who owns and interior design company had been forced to close called me to see if I needed help with the deliveries. She had been praying for a way to brin joy to people’s lives when my name popped into her brain! We partnered up. I took care of the cakes and cupcakes, she did the deliveries.

It was a fabulous partnership that got us through a crazy time.

If someone had told me years ago that I would be making poop cupcakes and toilet paper cakes I would have told them they were insane but I would have been dead wrong! We even made poop cupcakes with masks!

Once things opened back up and we were back up to full steam I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Although there is no genetic link for it, breast cancer runs in my family. It was difficult to hear that I was the newest diagnosis but was not a shock. I knew what needed to be done but it was still going to be difficult.

Fortunately, my employees were incredible!

They carried more than their weight through my surgery, recovery and 12 weeks of chemo. There were days that I couldn’t even lift my head off the pillow. They would even bring orders to my bedside to discuss details and then just get it done.

The business would not have survived without them!

Today I am clear and healthy and chugging along full steam ahead.

I no longer have employees. They have both moved on but we stay in touch. I miss the commeraderie but I also like the flexibility of being able to take a few days off without having to make sure I have enough orders to pay people.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

My fondant work is something I’m known for as I’m the only one in the area who really specializes in it however; I think I am most recognized for my crazy carved cakes. I tell people all the time that there is nothing I can’t make out of cake. Whether they want a dinosaur, a shoe or a car I can do it!

But, taste should never be sacrificed for design. My cakes look cool but taste even better!

I make it a point to stay up on trends in the cake design industry and create cakes for wedding expos and shows that highlight my skills. Most people rarely choose the crazy intricate designs but I love showing that I can do them and doing so keeps my skills fresh.

I love the challenge of creating cakes that are hyper realistic and to scale. I recently made a cake that was a 1/15 scale tractor trailer for a trucking company’s 100 anniversary and served nearly 300 people. It was such a cool experience to stand next to it asking people not to touch it because it was a cake! Every person was surprised. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I am super proud of that one!

I always deliver quality. I revel in exceeding customer’s expectations. Few things in business make me happier than having a customer go crazy when I walk in with their cake.

I am also a Sugar Angel with Icing Smiles. “Icing Smiles is a nonprofit organization that provides custom celebration cakes and other treats to families impacted by the critical illness of a child.” Sugar Angels donate their time and cakes to the child with the illness or their sibling. It’s an amazing company and concept that provides so much happiness.

I love being a Sugar Angel. Using the skill that God gave me to make children happy is so fantastic! If I am available when the call goes out in my area I jump at the opportunity to provide the cake.

What started as a hobby has provided me the income necessary to stay home, be with my family and put a smile on so many faces.

What was your favorite childhood memory?

I have so many memories it’s difficult to pick one!

Growing up my parents had a sailboat we spent many weekends racing. I was also a swimmer and diver who competed in both the summer and winter leagues.

My grandparents also owned a house on a river in Maryland and we spent many weeks during the summer down there.

I would never refer to my life as idyllic but as childhoods go it was pretty spectacular.

We spent lots of time with my immediate and extended family as well as friends who were considered family.

I remember laughing more than anything!

I have to say that the memory that stands out most was when we were competing in the Atlantic City Raceweek on the boat. We had completed the downwind leg of the race and were changing out sails. In the process my feet slipped under the lifeline and I went in to water.

I caught my wrist on the lifeline stantion and was trying to pull myself back up. One of the other crew members was trying to pull me up but was actually hindering my progress and the sail was starting to go into the water. While dragging in the water, I was yelling at the crew member to get the sail. It was chaos at it’s best. In the middle of the mayhem my dad looked down at me and yelled, “Vanessa, quit screwing around and get back on the boat!”

It’s a quote that I have used many times in my life.

When things get tough, I don’t waste time feeling sorry for myself. I just tell myself to quit screwing around and get back on the boat.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vanessarosscakes.com
• Instagram: @vanessarosscakes
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/vanessarosscakes