Supplier Focus: Kimmi's Cakes

Here at Whitewed, we love seeing businesses grow, and we are lucky to have so many talented and ambitious business owners on our directory. 

This month we asked Kim Curtis, of Whitewed approved top cake and all things baked goods designer Kimmi's Cakes more about how she has grown her business.  

We first met Kim a couple of years ago at a Wedding Show Pre-Meet when it was her first entry into the Wedding Show world, and my she didn't disappoint - her approach, quality and tenacity are all exceptional, and we so admire her and have loved getting to know her better...and her bakes are consistently out of this world delicious...we've tried them at every opportunity!

Here she shares how and why she started her business, what challenges she has faced and how, thanks to her determination, lockdown delivered her the busiest 3 months since her business began - well after all, the best advice she's ever been given had a bearing on that: ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’...

Tell us about Kimmi’s Cakes, the baker behind it and what you offer...

Hello! I’ll introduce myself firstly, I’m Kim and I’m the sole owner, baker and decorator at Kimmi’s Cakes. Kimmi’s Cakes is a Swindon based business, operating from my new kitchen unit in Cheney Manor. Offering cakes, cupcakes and other baked goods for birthdays, weddings and every occasion in between.

I’ve been baking for as long as I can remember. I have lovely memories in my Nan’s kitchen helping her make cupcakes, sponges, scones and other bakes as a child…I always loved licking the bowl and couldn’t wait to eat what we’d made!

Why did you start your business? What was your light bulb moment when you decided to start up? What made you take the plunge and go for it?

I sort of had an idea I wanted to ‘bake cakes for a living’ when I was working an office job around the age of 18, it was more of a wish/dream and I didn’t actually think I’d be able to set up my own business.

I started a Facebook page in 2016 more to keep a log of all of the cakes I was baking more than anything, it was when I was working in Reading in 2017 I was being asked more and more to bake themed celebration cakes and my sister’s best friend asked me to make her wedding cake I decided to register the business.

Little did I know a year later I would be handing in my notice to do this full-time; it had got to the point I was turning orders away just because I didn’t have enough time when I wasn’t working. So with no real plan or guarantee I just went for it, what’s the worst that could happen?

What have you loved so far?

I absolutely love working for myself, choosing what I do, when and how is such a rewarding feeling. I love the variety of products and services that I offer, it keeps work interesting and I get to be really creative. I never planned on getting into weddings, but decided on booking a couple of shows to see how I’d get on and I’ve not looked back, such a wonderful array of suppliers, some who have become my very close friends, they understand what it’s like to run a business and offer amazing support. The couples are on a magical journey planning their special day and I get to be a part of it, how can you not love that!?

What challenges have you faced that you weren’t expecting? How have you overcome them? A little birdie tells me you’ve been super busy during lockdown with a new service, do tell us all about it...

Apart from the obvious which we’re all going though, I’m very lucky to have amazing friends and family who have helped me with deliveries, wedding shows, business admin to name a few. One of the bigger challenges was outgrowing the home kitchen, I’d taken over the garage, kitchen, conservatory and living room getting ready for a wedding show. It was at this point I looked into getting my own premises, firstly so I’d be out of my parents way and they could have their home back and secondly, so I could have my own space to go to work.

Feb 2020, I got the keys to Kimmi’s Cakes HQ. I was so excited and had so many plans with a busy wedding season approaching and nearly 80 weddings in the diary…perfect timing for a global pandemic to hit and wipe out all of my work for the foreseeable future.

Having sat at home for 2 weeks with no work, feeling lost and more and more emails coming in from couples postponing to 2021 it was all becoming so overwhelming. There was something in me that knew I had to do something, so I stocked up on ingredients and supplies and put out an Easter menu…little did I know that I was about to have the busiest 3 month since starting the business.

I was putting out weekly and daily cupcake menus, cream teas, cake jar menus and treat & grazing boxes for delivery, one weekend me and my family delivered over 80 orders to 62 addresses across 3 routes…it was insane! I can’t tell you how grateful I was for the support from everyone, the best thing was seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces when they received their goodies.

Who cheers you on?

I really have the best family, although it’s only me who actually bakes and decorates the cakes, my family get roped into delivering, running errands and various other tasks. My sister is incredible, I really don’t know what I’d do without her, she sorts all of the non-customer based admin, making sure all my receipts are organised, she even comes and does my washing up and recycling. I also have some amazing friends who come and make me tea, listen to me being tired and all of the exciting ideas I have, they’re the best!

What’s your proudest moment in business?

Getting the unit, hands down! I’m completely and utterly in love with it, I spend so much time there. It’s my very own space that sums up my personality in a room, it’s everything I wanted and more. I’d planned on having a big open day but sadly due to lockdown I couldn’t go ahead with it.

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A milk man…no idea why! I think I liked the idea of driving round in the little truck with all of the bottles of milk, orange juice and chocolate milks…

Photographer credit: The Little Photo Company

What is the best advice you’ve been given?

‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’ – something my Nan always used to say and has kept me going when I think I can’t do something or am struggling. I have a lovely photo of her on my wall with that phrase in a photo frame.

In your day to day role, what can’t you live without?

Coffee! It used to be Red Bull but I treated myself to a fancy coffee machine when I moved into Kimmi’s Cakes HQ. Now my days start with a delicious latte to get me going.

What’s next for Kimmi’s Cakes?

For the moment, I’m focusing on getting the weddings up and running again with a monthly pop-up shop. I have a couple of things I’d like to venture into in the future but I won’t say anymore as they are top secret!

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It's been a delight to learn more about you and your business Kim, thank you for sharing your Kimmi's Cakes story so far with us. We so admire you and all that you've achieved - and we can't wait to follow your progress and see what happens next!

From the Team at Whitewed