Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Frankie Howell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Frankie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a customer success story with us?

On August 6th, 2024, Ohio faced a treacherous thunderstorm followed by multiple tornados. This storm left numerous counties without power for over a week. While my business was not impacted by the widespread outage, there were other bakers in the area who were not as fortunate. I had two moms-to-be reach out saying they no longer had desserts for their gender reveals. Even though I was completely booked myself, I accepted their orders with two days notice and waived the rush fee due to the circumstances. They both expressed their gratitude and thanked me profusely for saving their parties.

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

I have always loved to bake, but I never thought I could make a career out of it. Whether it was baking for friends and family or helping my dad at his restaurant, I grew up in the kitchen. I was also fortunate enough to hear countless stories from my mom about her working at my grandmother’s bakery. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I decided to pursue it.

I graduated from The Culinary Institute of Michigan in 2017, with an Associate’s Degree in Baking and Pastry. Following graduation, I worked as an extern at Wentworth by the Sea in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. After my externship, I moved back to Cleveland to work as a Pastry Cook at Red the Steakhouse’s downtown location. After two years at Red, I started as a Pastry Cook at the InterContinental Cleveland. I then opened Sugar Fix by Frankie after being temporarily laid off due to Covid.

Fast forward to today and I am a custom, at-home baker who currently specializes in detailed cakes and cupcakes! However, I offer a wide variety of other desserts. I’m best-known for creating realistic cakes that may not always look edible. Some of my most popular examples include a Jack Daniel’s whiskey barrel, a giraffe, and a Highland Cow.

As a custom baker, I welcome any flavor or design! My goal with every order is to expand my creativity and improve my skill set. Having the freedom to create new flavor combinations also gives me the opportunity to stand out amongst local bakers. In addition to providing a customizable experience, I have previously worked with weddings, plated desserts, and mass production as well!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I was very fortunate to have my mother invest in my small business. Not only did she buy all the tools I used in college, but she also bought my KitchenAid mixer! I did, however, try my best to minimize the start up costs. I sacrificed quite a few birthday and Christmas wishlists to add supplies like a second mixer, cake pans, and a light box for taking photos. I also purchased a baker’s rack from marketplace and took advantage of sales at local craft stores!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

If you asked me four years ago if I was interested in opening a bakery, I would have said no. If you asked me today, my answer would probably remain the same. However, this was the path life handed me and who am I to turn it down? I was perfectly content working as a Pastry Cook at the InterContinental Cleveland until Covid had other plans for me. After being temporarily laid off with an unknown resume date, I created Sugar Fix by Frankie!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarfixbyfrankie
• Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/sugarfixbyfrankie

Image Credits

J. Lynne Photography (Wedding Cake)