We were lucky to catch up with Tina Dahdaly recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tina, thanks for joining us today. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

Absolutely, I do take vacations. As a business owner, it’s crucial to understand the importance of stepping away occasionally to rest and relax. This break not only rejuvenates your energy but also enhances your creativity and productivity when you return. It’s perfectly normal to feel some anxiety about not being present at your business, and the urge to check in can be hard to resist. But it’s essential for entrepreneurs to trust in the systems and the team they’ve built. Delegating responsibilities and having a reliable team or a second-in-command you can trust makes a huge difference. Also, setting up processes and tools for remote management can help you keep a light but sufficient watch on things while you’re away. Remember, a well-rested entrepreneur is often more effective and innovative, so taking short vacations can actually be beneficial for your business in the long run.

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

I’m Tina Dahdaly, the co-owner of Cupcake Sisters Bakery in Glen Mills, which I run with my sister Nana. Our journey into the bakery business is a story of passion, creativity, and community.

My transition into this industry was an unexpected but fulfilling turn in my career. After moving to Glen Mills from Canada in 2013, where I had a professional career in HR management, I chose to stay at home to support my two young kids in their new country. However, I soon found myself seeking a creative outlet that wouldn’t compromise my family responsibilities. This led to a dinner conversation with my sister Nana, where we decided to start a home-based bakery. Nana’s extensive experience in the food services industry, combined with our upbringing in our father’s restaurant, gave us a solid foundation to start our venture.

We started small, initially sharing our baked goods with friends and family. As word spread, our business began to grow. We both took decorating courses and developed our skills through trial and error. From the outset, we were committed to offering the highest quality products. We experimented with various recipes for cakes, buttercream, cookies, etc., until each was perfected. Our dedication to small-batch production ensured the highest quality and freshness for every order.

As our skills expanded, we began creating more complex and sophisticated designs. Today, we’re proud of our menu that features at least 15 flavors of gourmet cupcakes baked daily, alongside brownies, cookies, and other desserts. We also specialize in made-to-order, highly decorated, and bespoke cakes, cookies, and cupcakes.

Our philosophy at Cupcake Sisters is simple: stunning desserts should not only look fabulous but also taste great. We use the finest natural ingredients and meticulous craftsmanship to create desserts that are both tasty and tasteful. We bake our products in small batches to ensure consistency, freshness, and great quality.

During the Covid lockdown, we began exploring the idea of moving from a home-based side hustle to a full-time venture with a brick-and-mortar storefront. After about 18 months of planning, equipment sourcing, and location scouting, we opened our doors to the public on August 24th, 2022. We chose Glen Mills for our store, strengthening our ties to the community we had grown to love.

We are most proud of the connections we’ve built within the community, participating in everyone’s celebrations and seeing the joy on our customers’ faces when they taste our creations. Our journey from a small home-based bakery to a beloved community spot reflects our passion, dedication, and the support of our wonderful customers. We want our potential clients, followers, and fans to know that at Cupcake Sisters Bakery, every dessert is crafted with love, care, and a passion for excellence.

How’d you meet your business partner?

The story of how I met my business partner, who is also my sister, is interwoven with our shared experiences and our family’s history in the culinary world. We grew up in our father’s restaurant, which instilled in us a deep appreciation for food and hospitality from a very young age. My sister Nana had continued in the food services industry, leveraging the skills and knowledge we had gained in our early years.

My journey back to the culinary world was a bit more circuitous. After moving to the area from Canada, where I had a professional career in HR management, I was looking for an opportunity that would allow me to be actively involved in something I was passionate about, without sacrificing my ability to care for my young children as they adjusted to their new country.

Nana, on the other hand, was searching for a side hustle and a creative outlet. We had been toying with the idea of starting a venture together for some time but couldn’t quite land on what that should be. Then, one night over dinner, one of us — and I honestly can’t recall who it was — suggested the idea of a home-based baking business.

I must admit, I was initially apprehensive about this idea. Unlike my sister, baking had never been my forte. However, Nana reassured me that we would tackle this challenge together. We began experimenting with various recipes, and after much trial and error — and a considerable amount of taste-testing by friends and family — we grew confident enough in our products to start spreading the word about our new venture.

Our collaboration was a blend of my organizational skills and Nana’s culinary expertise. The synergy between us was evident from the start, and our shared background and values provided a strong foundation for our business. What started as a tentative step into the world of baking soon blossomed into a full-fledged business, driven by our passion, dedication, and complementary skills.

The rest, as they say, is history. Our journey from hesitant beginnings to a thriving bakery is a testament to the power of family, collaboration, and the willingness to embark on new adventures. It’s a story we’re proud of and one that continues to inspire us in our daily operations at our bakery.

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

Yes, our side hustle, Cupcake Sisters, did indeed transform into our full-time business and career. The journey from our humble beginnings in early 2014 to where we are today is a story of growth, adaptation, and community support. We started our business focusing on cupcakes, which quickly gained traction in the community. However, to grow, we realized the need for a strong brand identity. The second key milestone was naming our venture Cupcake Sisters. We invested time in branding, selecting colors, and designing a logo. By September 2014, we were ready to launch our brand, complete with a Facebook page to promote our business.
Expanding our product line was crucial. We soon added cakes and cakepops to our offerings. A significant breakthrough came when we received a large order for a prestigious local country club’s sweet 16 birthday party. This event, involving over 150 cupcakes, 150 cakepops, a multi-tiered cake, and a candy bar, greatly expanded our exposure.
In early 2015, we expanded again, adding sugar cookies. By then, our product offerings had rounded out, remaining stable until our store opening. A major milestone was in May 2015 when we held an open house to showcase our full product line to local event planners and community leaders.
December 2015 marked another expansion as we partnered with Rachel Kohl Community Library in Glen Mills to offer cookie decorating classes, introducing an additional line of business.
However, life events also played a role. In late 2016, I had my third child and had to step away temporarily, with Nana carrying the business. Upon my return in 2018, we were thriving, but capacity issues meant we were turning down business.
COVID-19 in 2020 temporarily halted our momentum. Yet, we remained optimistic, sensing a pent-up demand for our services post-COVID. Early 2021 saw an uptick in business, sparking conversations about taking our side hustle to a full-time venture.
We began building a business plan and scouting locations. In November 2021, we found our perfect spot. Negotiations with the landlord culminated in March 2022, leading to immediate construction of our new facility. Meanwhile, we teased our social media followers with hints of a big announcement.
By June 2022, both Nana and I dedicated ourselves full-time to Cupcake Sisters. In July, we officially announced the opening of our first store. Despite construction and supply chain challenges, we opened on August 24th, 2022, to an overwhelming reception.
Initially, we operated without employees, relying on friends and family. This phase was crucial for refining our processes, ensuring efficiency when we eventually did hired staff. Our first employees started in February 2023. This was a significant milestone for Cupcake Sisters, marking our transition from a family-run operation to a growing business with a broader team.
Bringing in our first employees was a crucial step in scaling up our operations. It allowed us to handle the increasing demand and continue providing high-quality products and services to our community. This expansion also reflected our commitment to creating jobs and contributing to the local economy.
Integrating new team members into our business brought new dynamics and fresh perspectives. It was both an exciting and challenging time as we adapted our processes to accommodate a larger team. Training our employees in the art of baking and decorating, as well as instilling in them our philosophy of quality and customer service, was paramount.
The arrival of our employees not only helped in managing the workload but also allowed us to focus on strategic aspects of the business, such as expanding our product range, enhancing customer experience, and exploring new market opportunities.
The decision to hire employees was a leap of faith and a testament to our belief in the potential of Cupcake Sisters. It’s a chapter in our story that we’re particularly proud of, as it signifies not just the growth of our business, but also our role as a community-focused employer.

Looking back, key milestones like branding, product expansion, community engagement, and navigating life events shaped our journey. The transition from a side hustle to a full-time business was a blend of strategic planning, community support, and adaptability. The overwhelming response to our store opening and the growth we’ve experienced since then is a testament to our hard work and the love we’ve poured into Cupcake Sisters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cupcakesistersbakery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cupcakesistersbakery/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cupcakesisters/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cupcake-sisters-glen-mills?osq=cupcake+sisters

Image Credits
All images are our own