We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Merry Dumas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Merry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you share a customer success story with us?
I recently had a bride getting married at a beautiful outdoor location called Ely’s Mill right in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. The bride had been hoping to see the bears while here celebrating her wedding but sadly had not seen any as of the day of the wedding. When I stopped at the florist to get the greenery for the cake I saw the cutest cake topper of a bear couple bride and groom, so I picked it up for them. After getting to the Mill I got to work setting up the cake table and cake with the topper. The bride, Officiant and I joked about how docile our bears are here in the smokies. I then congratulated the bride and groom as they walked up to the spot they would have their ceremony, snapped a few pictures of the cake and left. The next morning I got a notification of a comment left on my posted content of the cake. From the bride ” it was absolutely beautiful!! I wish we could have tried it the bear was hungry lol” Apparently right after I left a bear climbed the railing to the pavilion got up on the table and helped himself to the entire cake! Of course I called the bride immediately and mad arrangements to meet up with her later and get her a new cake. You cant get married without a cake! the whole experience made for some incredible pictures and a once in a lifetime story!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I have always loved baking. Whenever there was birthday or special occasion needing a cake or desserts my friends and family always reached out to me. I always wanted to have a bakery but was too afraid to take the leap. the end of 2019 and into the early part of 2020 brought many changes into my life both personal with the death of my father and physical with a challenging medical diagnosis. this meant I would need to reevaluate what I wanted to do for work going forward, I launched a sublimation business in August of 2020 making tumblers, T-shirts and blankets to sell at various arts and craft shows. In December my sister asked me why I wasn’t pursuing my dreams of owning a bakery after selling out at the last 2 shows of all of the baked goods I had brought with me, I told her I just didn’t think I would have the support outside the shows. It was that moment Cakes and Confections was born. My sister had a logo made and set up my website as a Christmas gift and I officially opened my business January 2021. From there Business has been incredible. I have a large loyal base of customers both local and out of state who make sure they get a cake every time they visit the area. I have been blessed to make 100’s of wedding cakes, birthday cakes and other desserts for any number of occasions over the last 4 years. I currently work from home and fall under the Tennessee home based bakery cottage rules. I love when my clients allow me to be creative with their cakes, I have even had a few clients draw one of a kind images for me to recreate in buttercream and fondant!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
I would have to say social media and networking is a key for any business, I belong to many Facebook group for brides in east Tennessee. I also belong to the Smokey Mountain Wedding Association. The Vendor contacts I have made in the wedding industry in this area has been priceless. I have been blessed so far to not have to pay for any advertising, all of my business is from word of mouth and referrals for other professionals in the industry.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The Customer is not always right. Although I strive to accommodate every request and give the best customer service I have had to learn your not going to be able to please everyone, some people just want to complain. It is rare I receive any negative reviews or comments but when I do get one it makes me second guess myself. I have had to learn sometimes it is best to bite my tongue and simply walk away form the negativity, some people are very entitled and there is no pleasing them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cakesandconfectionsbymerry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cakesbymerry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cakesbymerry
