We were lucky to catch up with Tameka Irby recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tameka, 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 started my business after I graduated college in 2015. When I finished High School I would always try to wonder what I wanna to do after school. It’s took a long and hard year after graduating high school to find my passion. One day while my mom was making Dinner she asked me and my twin sister to help out with cooking. We were at a young age so it wasn’t much we could help her with. She didn’t want us playing with knives!. While helping with some things I had a feeling that I couldn’t explain. Several weeks passed and I wanna to see what that feeling were. I immediately went to the kitchen to see what I can play with and the feeling come back , the excitement the joy and the rush I had while trying to prepare lunch for my mom. The next thing I remember is her saying oh this cake is delicious and I was very thrilled that she liked it. That gave me my motivation to start cooking more . My go to we’re making desserts so I challenge myself to sign up for vendors shows, church events and catering around my community. This was to let me know if I had what its takes to go to college for Culinary Arts Baking and Pastry.
After all the positive feedback I got I went to college and graduated. Years latter I had to say to myself now what should I do with this knowledge and degree . Opening an online business. Trying to figure out what to make and what should I name my business. My specialty were cupcakes so I wanna to incorporate that into the name. One evening while sitting and talking to love ones , someone said well if your cupcakes is that good then you turn them into an Addict and they will be back for more.
CupCakeAddicts

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

My name is Tameka Irby and I’m from Laurens Country and I have a twin sister who have a business called Catching Tempations and a brother who is a Sargent in the army. I’m a big family person and I cherish my love ones. My mom is everything to me and my dad is my heartbeat. I got into this industry by faith and never giving up on your dream. I strive to succeed and I know my worth. I will say that being a Chef is hard work and you have to be committed and strive for greatness. In the beginning my business was very successful then it get slower then it pick back up. These are some of the things you have to deal with through your career.
My business CupCakeAddicts provides cupcake, donuts, scones, brownies, cakes, assorted pastries, assorted cookies and many more.
CupCakeAddicts try not to have any problems with customers because we know that the customer make the business and without them it’s no business. We treat everyone equally and whatever the customer wants is what they get. It don’t matter if a customer ask for one cupcake or 100 cupcakes they will all taste the same with the quality , consistency and love that we use to bake with.
What sets me apart from other small businesses is my creativity and the planning and thought I put into my cupcakes. They might be plain to some but that flavor will knock you out.
I’m very proud of my thrive to keep going yes it have took me longer to get a store front. But I don’t need a store front to make my customers happy. I want my fans, family and supporters to know that my passion will continue to grow and it’s shows in my deserts. My work is authentic and it make me a lot of bakeries out here making the same things but it’s only one CupCakeAddicts.

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

When I started my business which was my side hustle. Getting up everyday going to work at a plant and taking cupcakes with me and asking hey guys I got cupcakes for sales. 1 dallors each which back then were a lot to me. I did this for weeks into half the plant were buying cupcakes from me . This side hustle turn into something big very quickly, now I’m making cupcakes, candy apples and chocolate dipped strawberries and it went from make one dozen this to making 4 dozen this and three dozen that. Being able to see people reactions to a simple cupcake was everything to me.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy I use to grow my clientele were to always put business cards . Pamphlets and brochures out. To keep my current clients I always took them new products and keeping them up to date on things I were making. Letting my customers be my taste testers. This is only the beginning look out world here comes CupCakeAddicts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086580332960&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=wo5uuh7jflcd&utm_content=3eglhm
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086580332960&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: @krekre081

Image Credits
CupCake Addicts Team Tameka Irby Shaneque Irby Brenda Irby