Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christopher Westfall. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Christopher, thanks for joining us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?
If I could go back in time I wish I had started Bakes You Knead sooner. It all started at the beginning of 2020. It was the beginning of the Pandemic and I was considered an essential worker being a Veterinary Technician. I started to bake as a way to relax and take my mind off of work. I saw many people doing porch drops for friends and family and wanted to do the same for those close to me. A few things I made included Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sugar Cookies, and a 4 tier Chocolate Cheesecake (Milk, Semi-Sweet, Dark, and Milk/Semi-Sweet Mixed). I split everything up and gave it away to family and friends. I loved how it felt to bring joy to others from something I created. Little did I know this was the start of something I never imagined. Fast forward to June 10, 2021, when I filed for my business license.
At the beginning of my baking journey, I worked as a Vet Tech & for a law office part-time. I was doing various tasks from answering phones, setting up appointments, processing documents, assisting paralegals/lawyer, and more. Also had 4 fur babies at the office I helped care for during the day which was the best part of it all. I decided this job wasn’t a fit for me anymore so I switched back to the Veterinary Field at a new hospital full time. At this point, I would get a few orders a month but persevered even though I could see things were growing a little slower than I was hoping.
If I had started Bakes You Knead sooner, I think I would have had more exposure and a bigger presence in my community and others. Right now I’m working on doing more events and being a positive presence. Starting sooner I would be that much closer to an ultimate goal of having a brick-and-mortar location. The first of many I hope?!
By starting Bakes You Knead sooner I think I would have more experience and hopefully produce a higher volume of baked goods. All in all, it’s worked out well, but had I started sooner I could have completely transitioned out of the Veterinary field. When I started baking the Veterinary field became a very dark place for me. Baking was a light for me and really changed my life for the better. I often will be sitting and think back to how this all started and how far I’ve come, especially on the bad days. Regardless of when I started I’m very much enjoying the ride and learning as much as I can every opportunity.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My love for cooking started growing up. I found myself taking all the culinary classes available in high school and when the time came for college it was between Veterinary Medicine and Culinary Arts. It wasn’t until 2020 that I dove into baking head first. Prior to that, baking was a fleeting hobby limited to your usual suspects ie cookies, and basic cakes. I found a love for scratch baking very quickly. Being able to start from nothing and create something stunning, delicious, and unique is always my goal.
Bakes You Knead offers a stunning variety of products. Cookies, Cakes, Cupcakes, Brownies, Macarons, Cake Pops, Hand Pies, Bars and so much more. Every order is baked fresh & from scratch with high-quality ingredients to ensure the best possible product. I schedule time for each order to guarantee freshness upon pickup/delivery.
At Bakes You Knead, we try not to limit the options available to our clients. You tell us what you are looking for and we will do our best to meet your request. I find doing this not only allows the client to get what they want, but at times teaches new techniques, skills, and more if it’s something we’ve never done before. If you don’t challenge yourself how will you continue to grow and get better?! If needed we offer tastings for weddings, help with event planning and designs, and more. Need us to sketch a cake or dessert table? You got it!
I’m most proud of the partnerships Bakes You Knead has created. We currently bake for a local restaurant and work with Mid Missouri PrideFest for several events throughout the year. Being able to work with both has been a pleasure and allows Bakes You Knead to grow even bigger. Mid-Missouri PrideFest takes place in Columbia, Missouri which is like a second home for us and is only 2 hours west of Saint Louis, MO. I can’t say how much Bakes You Knead appreciates all the support, business, and opportunities. Being part of the LGBTQ community and joining Mid-Missouri PrideFest continues to be a mutually beneficial partnership for two growing brands. Because of this relationship, I have established many meaningful connections and truly feel like a part of the LGBTQ at large.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Funding Bakes You Knead has been quite the journey. To be honest I had no real plan going starting this quest. All I can tell you is I knew I wanted to bake and through baking wanted to spread joy and happiness. My first big purchase was a Red Kitchen Aid Mixer 5.0 in April 2020. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing when I found a deal online. I jumped in the car and ran to the store and 1-hour later I was home setting it up on the counter to try out.
By now, you can tell I didn’t have money put aside to start this new side gig. This wasn’t something I had thought out much at all. Over the past few years, I have invested much in the building and growing of this business, and seeing progress is very rewarding & admittedly frustrating at times. Sending invoices for orders and receiving payment prior to making a product was a big help. This allowed me to purchase supplies, ingredients, etc., to complete an order without coming out of pocket. It was a learning process though. Some orders would end with a good profit whereas others I’d end up losing due to unexpected or unforeseen circumstances. This could be due to spending more money than expected on supplies, spending more time than planned, accidents/mistakes, a combination, etc. Over time things improved, but I still invest funds into the business as needed. In order to make money, you have to spend money.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been word of mouth and social media. I feel like recommendations are just as good as someone ordering from Bakes You Knead. We really appreciate those helping spread the word and get the name out there. When finishing products we try and take pictures if time allows. We also appreciate it when our clients share pictures with us. This helps with future potential clients when they are looking at our page to see if we are a good fit for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bakesyouknead.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakes.you.knead
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BakesYouKnead/
Image Credits
Christopher Westfall