Scratch Cake mixes, starting from scratch ;)

This is the story of how Scratch Baking Company came to be.

I was a new(ish) mom to two babies, working full time. My kids had just started going to a daycare and ofcourse, being exposed to all kinds of new germs, they got sick. But not just, regular old sick… they were down for four weeks with fevers, runny noses, the works. I was lucky enough to have some help for the first two weeks, but I wanted to be there for my babies…. as any mother would. So, somehow, I was able to get 2 weeks off of work and care for my kids.

This was when it happened. I call it Diving Intervention. I had this idea of baking pop into my head.. but not JUST baking, oh no, this girl who never even liked being in the kitchen had the urge to bake FROM SCRATCH! I remember the moment exactly. I was sitting on the couch with my kids sleeping next to me and it just came. This notion to get up and bake something from scratch.

My kiddies were pretty lethargic and actually slept alot during this time. While they slept, I googled and youtubed all the things I could think of. Just sucking up all the information I could get online. Then I took the step and baked some cupcakes. And that’s how this ball started rolling.

Jolirose Cake Shop was born. The name changed a couple of times, but this was the first one.

I made tons of cupcakes over the course of several months and took them all to work, because, I wasn’t gonna eat all of those cupcakes ;). And found out that people actually loved them. Then ofcourse came the resounding.. “You should sell these!”. So I did!

Very quickly, baking and selling cupcakes, turned into baking cakes and becoming a cake artist. I did that for several years and here are some of my faves.

It took several years to get to this level of artistry.

The bakery businesses (2 locations) came after years of caking from home as a home processor. With some major help, I was able to purchase a bakery. I was then able to open a second shop at the local mall. But before the second shop happened, I was on Food Network Cake Wars.

I had a simple goal which was to have the judges LOVE my cakes! I’m happy to say they did and Ron Ben Israel actually said that my buttercream was a buttercream that was so smooth is tasted like a mousse. (I’m paraphrasing- Cake Wars was 6 years ago. lol)

During this time, I perfected my recipes, grew my business and found a hole in the market. So I started testing mixes to see if there was really a market for this. Lo and behold, I found that there was! People were purchasing my cake mixes. The first generation of mixes. Jolirose Bake Shop Cake Mix.

The first prototype.

While all this was going on, we decided to move an hour north and after some thought, I decided to go ahead and sell the bakery.

I took some time to settle in to the new house and get my kiddies on a routine and then I picked up the torch again and Scratch Baking Company came to life!

I continued my product development and design and finally got my branding the way I wanted it.

(That took so much longer than I had anticipated.) :/

There is so much artwork to get right and soo much sourcing to do. But I actually enjoyed the process a ton! So, even though it took forever, I wasn’t upset at all. I’d rather get it in the ballpark and take a little time, than rush and be completely off brand.

To my delight, people showed up for my mixes again!

They loved the idea of a great experience in the kitchen, baking cakes from scratch. Parents really took to baking and creating beautiful memories with their children.

This product makes it so much easier because the dry ingredients are all measured out and have no additives or preservatives. Just simple ingredients that you may use often, already. Not to mention the fact that your kitchen clean up crew (most likely YOU lol) will thank you for a neat and clean baking experience.

If you’ve made it this far, first of all, thank you!

I wanted to take a moment to recognize that the story I just told you has a few twists and turns. I started with cupcakes, then moved on to cake decorating which then moved on to being a bakery owner, then two bakeries, and now no bakeries. lol.

And I wanted to leave a little side note to the entrepreneurs out there that may be reading this and need a little encouragement.

Entrepreneurship is rarely, if ever, a straight line to success. There are always things that will throw you off track and make you doubt yourself.

Ride those waves!! Ride them all the way to shore.

Eventually, if you keep at it, your dreams will become your reality.

I’m still riding crazy waves, one day I may make it to shore… we shall see. :)

Now, let’s get baking and making memories!!!

#LETTHEFUNBEGIN