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

May, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

Success started with curiosity and vision. As a child, I asked a lot of questions, and my mom encouraged me to think critically and find my own answers.
At 14, I wanted to improve my English, so I interviewed tourists in Bangkok for a school project. That sparked my curiosity about studying abroad, and with a friend, I earned an international scholarship to study in the U.S.
When I started my cupcake business, I asked my husband if people would buy my cupcakes. His confident response led me to create a logo, website, and Facebook page, launching the business the next day.
Over time, I learned that curiosity gets you started, but to truly succeed, you need a vision or goals to guide you. Every entrepreneur knows that failure is part of the process. Mistakes will happen, but the key is to learn from them, so you don’t repeat them.
I’ve been in business for 8 years now, and this year, I’m focusing more on networking. I’ve always been focused on running my business and spending time with my family, so I never made networking a priority. But over the last few years, I’ve realized how vital it is for growth. This year, networking is on the top of my to-do list.

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

Hello, my name is Parinda Thompson. In Thailand, we all have long names, so we go by nicknames. My nickname is May, which my mother gave me because I was born in the month of May. That’s also where the name of my business, Parinda Cupcakes, comes from.

I started my career as a graphic/web designer right after college. I spent a couple of years in that role before getting promoted to senior web designer. In 2016, I made the tough decision to leave my job and homeschool my oldest son. It wasn’t easy, considering I’d been in the industry for so long. After about a year of teaching, I found myself craving a creative outlet. I started baking more and doing some freelance graphic design on the side. One day, I asked my husband if he thought people would buy my cupcakes if I turned it into a business. His instant reply was, “Of course!” So, I went for it.

It wasn’t until a few months later that I really found my niche. I stumbled upon beautiful Korean flower piping online, and I was instantly captivated by its beauty. I began practicing it myself. Soon after, I created a flower arrangement for a friend’s mother’s birthday and shared it on Facebook. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and people started asking me to make similar designs for them. As I practiced more, I was able to explore other creative designs as I became more comfortable with the technique.

**What problems do I solve for my clients, and what sets me apart?**
I brought something new and unique to the Des Moines area—the Korean buttercream flowers. At the time, they were becoming popular in Korea, but there weren’t many people doing them in the United States, especially in Iowa. I became the go-to person for creating beautiful, custom cupcakes and cakes that my clients could share with their loved ones.

What sets me apart is that I approach my cakes not just as a baker but as an artist. How can I make this cake as unique and personal as possible for you? I see each cake as a commission piece of art, one that stands out in both design and flavor. I want my clients to not only admire the aesthetic but also to savor the taste.

What I’m most proud of is creating custom designs that my clients can’t find anywhere else in the area. Someday, I hope they’ll proudly say, “I got this cake from Parinda Cupcakes”—kind of like how people say, “I got this ring from Tiffany’s!” If you know what I mean! :)

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I try to stay true to what I do best, focusing on buttercream flowers and painted cakes—those are the designs I truly love creating. The more I work with these techniques and share my creations, the more people start to recognize my style. It’s such a great feeling when a stranger approaches me in public and says they know me from my work or follow me on Instagram. It’s a reminder that the effort I put into my craft is being noticed.

Networking is also key for me. The more people you know—especially fellow vendors in the same industry—the more word gets out about you. A lot of my clients come from referrals by florists or wedding planners, which I’m so grateful for.

I also make an effort to stay active on my social media. There are times when the overwhelm hits, and I don’t even want to look at my Instagram for a day or two, but I always come back to it. When I follow someone, I want to see their work and what new things they’re sharing, so I try to keep that in mind for my audience too. It’s all about keeping the connection going and sharing what I love to do.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

When I first started my business, it was really just a side hustle—a creative outlet. Over the past 3-4 years, it’s grown into a full-time job. In the beginning, I only worked about 20 hours a week since my main focus was homeschooling my oldest son. But as word of mouth spread about my work, the more opportunities came my way. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like saying no, so I kept taking on more and more work.

2023 was a huge year for me. One of my clients, Jennifer from Pepper Harrow, reached out to see if I wanted to be part of a photoshoot for Midwest Living and showcase my cupcakes. Of course, I said yes! It was such a fun experience. Later that same year, I was also honored to be nominated as one of the 40 Women to Watch in the hospitality industry in Iowa. Being recognized alongside 39 other incredible women in the state was such a privilege and truly humbling.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.parindacupcakes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parindacupcakes
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parindacupcakes/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parinda-cupcakes
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/parindacupcakes
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@parindacupcakes6253
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/parinda-cupcakes-west-des-moines
• Other: https://pinterest.com/parindacupcakes

Image Credits

@sentimentalsoulphotography
@missielafrenzphotofarm
@alexakarenphoto