We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kayla Tellington. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kayla below.

Kayla, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I actually think the way I created KayTell’s Sweets is hilarious. Especially since I am now a high school teacher outside of baking. I started my business senior year of high school while attending Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Even though your senior you’re bombarded with being with speeches about life really getting started and how much Poly was the perfect place to have prepared us, all I could think about was how real it was going to get.

One day, when my current desktop was on it’s last legs, I asked my parents if I would be able to get a new laptop for college. They said yes, but I knew that yes meant that I would get a cheap laptop that will breakdown after a year. To them a laptop is a laptop and they all do the same things. It didn’t feel right to beg for a more expensive one, because they did not have to say yes at all – so I had to find a way to get money without getting an actual afterschool job. My schedule with sports and extra studies did not support a job schedule, nor did I have the transportation.

Since I was younger I had three main career goals that I wanted to reach, whether it was one of them or a little bit of all of them: venture into Education [teaching literature/writing], become a paid writer [short stories/ novels], and open a bakery. So as I was trying to determine where I saw myself from there, I had to think about where I was at that moments during the beginning of senior year. I couldn’t technically be a teacher yet, for obvious reasons, and I didn’t even feel ready for that. I could have published some of writing or sent it to publishers, but I did not realize that was an option for my age then – and looking back at it I’m glad I held on to my work now that I am in the M.F.A. program at University of Baltimore. And when I thought of opening a bakery, I thought that just meant huge business loans and a lot of numbers. After thinking about what I could do to actively pursue a goal beyond hoarding my writings and being a good student, I just knew there was something else to do.

Then, when I was buying a candy bar from another student, it hit me. Why don’t I just sell my sweets to my classmates? It wouldn’t hurt to try, right? So after running the idea to a few friends, and then they told their friends – I was receiving orders for my business that I only thought of a few hours prior. So now, I had to do it.

Before even considering execution I was pressed about the name of my mini-business. I wanted it to be simple. No fancy words, nothing hard on the eyes with alot of letters. “Kayla’s Sweets” was not only boring, but there are Kayla’s every where – especially at Poly alone. Each one had a thing about them that was their descriptor. There was “Kalaih that draws”, “Kaila from soccer”, “Cayla from softball” [despite there being 4+ Kayla’s on the team], “Kayla with the braids”, “The other Kayla that can draw”. and it could go on.

Yet, the year prior, I adopted the nickname, “KayTell” from my best friend Haley during softball where we had to find a way to keep every Kayla from turning their head when they heard what they thought was their name. It is a mixture of my first and last name, no one else could have it.

So then, I created a social media page called, “KayTell’s Sweets.” Again, I have no idea how I am filling these orders at this point.

As we know at this point I don’t have any money. Nor did I want to raid my parents pantry and use up all of their products and call it a day. I asked them for a loan of $50.00 to buy groceries, napkins, and take out containers. Now that I mention it – I do not remember if I ever paid them back directly but that doesn’t matter right now.

Because I always baked at home for family, friends, and events – I’ve always had the equipment to get started on smaller orders. So that day I got groceries I whipped up a few batches of my first three flavors: shorties [strawberry shortcake], cookie monster [oreo], and apple pie. I made so many cupcakes that night with all the intentions to sell out and have money for a laptop as soon as possible, but not thinking about how I will carry them around.

In the morning, I had a decision to make. My best friend, Haley, was five minutes away still on the high of independence of driving to school during our last year – and I had a fridge full of cupcakes to sell. So, when she pulled up I dragged out a extra large u-hual box filled to the brim with cupcakes in take out containers and stuffed it in the back of her car.

On the way there, we came up with a few horrible ideas. I could sneak out of the surveillance building every hour to grab more cupcakes both skipping class and technically leaving school. I could drag the box around the school and immediately get sent to the office. I could sell them in the parking lot before school and carry the left overs, if we were ever on time.

Then it hit us, I carry two big bags during school everyday, because I went to practice. I could empty both of these bags and just carry cupcakes and maybe a folder. And that is what I did.

During that year I did not face many downfalls, because I was saving up for an item and not pressured to have an amazing Return on Investment for my parents $50.00.And even now, baking is still my passion, and I want to take it far – but it does well as a extra income from a hobby I love.

The next year I started my undergrad for Creative writing and a minor in Business Management at University of Baltimore. This is when things began to take off. Second semester of freshmen year, I took Entrepreneurship 101 with Professor Frank Van Vleet and not only did I manage to impress him with my product [I like to believe that] , but he taught me things to upgrade my business that I think about today.

Of course I learned the numbers, marketing, pitching, etc. But the main thing I took away is the confidence I have in my product, in the time I spent baking since I was 6, Learning how to make consistent textures in cake and designs with smooth icing, everything I did not even realize I did to become the baker I am right then and now is worth something. And I was too afraid to see it until he told me that I was.

From there I brought cupcakes in to classes as a treat, handed out cards, gave random thank you cupcakes, talked about my business in all of my business classes – and eventually found myself as a consistent vendor for the university, bigger events, and more clients.

So my favorite thing to say when I talk about how I started my business is that I sold cupcakes out of a duffel bag to save up for a laptop for college, during my senior year when I became “Kayla the Cupcake Girl.”

Kayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I began baking at six-years old. Yes, I probably should not have been in the kitchen, but I was not technically alone, although I did execute all of the none oven related processes without assistance. I would sit and watch Cake-Boss with the hopes of going there and meeting Buddy. Unfortunately that still hasn’t come true, but he is still one of the biggest inspirations for my passion in baking.

I currently sell cupcakes and cakes with the option for non-edible decor with over 20 unique flavors. As of July of 2023 I am also introducing cookies and monthly vending events.

I try to help my clients with pricing by breaking down each price by add-ons to achieve the cheapest price that does not hurt me as an employee.

I think the thing that sets me apart from other bakers is the personality in my treats. I don’t like them to be too serious, I love whimsical themes with bright colors, big toppings, unique names, and flavor and looks existing at the same time in a cake product.

I am most proud of my progress as a business owner as it pertains to integrating it with my full-time job and other interest. Before, I never said no and all of my hours awake was spent towards baking, school, and work. Now, I am working on a balance.

One thing all customers should know about me and my business is that it isn’t a young-woman baking these things in hopes of hitting a cash prize, but it is the little girl, watching cake boss while her mom and dad oversees her in the kitchen jumping off the walls that people actually like something I make.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

A small thing that helped my business was social media. Being consistent on instagram with the right hashtags and reel sounds has brought me many clients. As well as a single viral tweet on twitter during the time that the line, “It costs $0.00 to retweet and support,” was connected to hundreds of tweets that got thousands of interactions. From that viral tweet I learned that it paid to pay attention to what people where saying that caught peoples eye rather than making up your own stuff all the time. Sometimes you need to follow a trend to attract people to your page to then see your unique content.

The main thing that helped my business outside of social media was handing out free samples. Wherever I work or go to school, I often bring bags of sweets or left over cake to hand to people, and it always results in support.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Using Wix is very helpful with sending automated emails and a built in loyalty program that allows customers to build points and receive discounts for being a member.

Contact Info:

• Website: KayTellsSweets.com
• Instagram: @kaytellssweets
• Twitter: @kaytellssweets