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Local Cake Bakers needed for New National Website
The sad loss of a much-loved niece in Wales has prompted a mum to start a national home-made cake delivery business.
Davina Jones, who lived in the small town of Llanrwst, lost her battle with breast cancer in December at the age of just 44.
Her aunt Paula Wilkinson, who lives in Maidstone, Kent, realised there was a gap in the market when she tried to send a cake to Davina.
“She had enjoyed tea at the Ritz in London so much and I wanted to send her something that was relevant and special to her,” Paula said.
“Not everyone wants flowers. I went online and couldn’t find anything about a local baker making and supplying cakes to people in their area.”
If Davina had lived in Maidstone, Paula would have baked the cake herself or asked a friend.
“I ended up arranging for my sister to organise a cake from a baker in the Llanrwst area. I drove to Wales to collect it and deliver it personally to Davina.”
Mum-of-two Paula told Davina about the idea a few weeks before she passed away. “Davina absolutely loved it and gave it
her full support. She was so pleased to know that her legacy would be a cake-baking business in her memory.”
Paula is now calling on all cake baking Mums to join her new venture Mums Bake Cakes. “This new business needs you!” she says.
It offers customers anywhere in the world the chance to give family and friends a cake for special occasions made with love by a local home baker. Paula promises an “Interflora-style” cake distribution service.
“I want a network of mums around the country who love making cakes at home and help them make some money as well. Many families are struggling and this would give them a bit of extra cash.”
She says the “Mums” brand is strong and “shouts quality.” But she insists that cake-making Dads and non-Mums are also very welcome.
Paula believes her online cake ordering and delivery service will be a winner, building on the success of BBC TV show The Great British Bake-off and celebrity cake-makers Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood.
Bakers must be fully compliant with food hygiene regulations- and Mums Bake Cakes wants to help bakers thinking of turning their passion into business do just that. The service will offer gluten and dairy-free cakes, with all ingredients listed on a gift card.
Paula’s business partner Richard Watson, from Canterbury, added: “There are Mums who have baking skills but don’t know how to market themselves. They make cakes for friends and family, and make them with love.”
By going through the website portal, individual bakers don’t need a site of their own. All they do is pay a small registration fee, take a photograph of their best cakes and upload them to the website.
A customer goes online to find a baker in the recipient’s area, provides a message, places an order, pays for it, and awaits confirmation of delivery.
“The Mums don’t need to worry about the money,” says Paula. “They make a cake, deliver it in a cake box and make the recipient smile. They will receive the cost of the cake, less a small handling fee that comes to us.”
“It’s a simple system that works as easily as ordering flowers for someone anywhere in the country. There should always be a baker in their area.”
Paula believes the service will help enterprising mums and other network members take a step towards running their own business.
“I would love some of the mums to get enough orders to enable them to open a little shop or cafe in their area. Wouldn’t that be lovely?”
Maidstone borough councillor Nikki Fissenden, a mum-of two and Paula’s first registered baker, said: “I’ve been working for five years since my husband was diagnosed as a coeliac. I make
special gluten and dairy free cakes, and speciality cakes for weddings, restaurants and cafes. This is a fantastic idea and I love being part of it.”
Anyone interested in joining Mums Bake Cakes should visit www.mumsbakecakes.co.uk