Today we’d like to introduce you to Lori.
Hi Lori, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I opened Oh Yeah Cakes in 2013. We were operating out of a small train car for 7 years in Olmos Park at the Yard Shopping Center before we moved to our current location on South St. Mary’s in 2020. But the cake making started way before, in my mom’s kitchen, where she would bake delicious cakes and I would decorate them for family and friends. She’s a fantastic baker and cook, and I am an artist, so we teamed up, and Oh Yeah Cakes was born. She worked full time, but encouraged me to open a cake and cupcake shop of my own. I was 24 and had recently graduated from UT Austin with a degree in fine arts, but wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do for a career, so I went for it! I figured I’d try it out for a couple of years, then maybe get a “real job” later. To be honest, I didn’t make very much money the first year, as small business ownership usually goes, but I enjoyed creating custom cakes and cupcakes for my customer’s birthdays, baby showers, weddings, and life events! I worked really hard, and started getting more and more customers. The business has grown so much since then, and it has become my “real job” for the last 12 years with no signs of stopping anytime soon!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Any entrepreneur will tell you that business ownership is quite the bumpy road. The first few years were the toughest, bringing little to no profit, but eventually we got to a point where money finally started to come in. Of course, Covid in 2020 was definitely a hard time, with people cancelling parties and large events. We adapted by offering small cakes and cupcakes for curbside pickup for a while. I think my biggest challenge today is the high cost of supplies and ingredients. It’s definitely become more expensive than ever to run the business, but we are trying to adapt and figure out how to make enough money to continue operating successfully. I think we’ve been good at adapting to different challenges so far, so I am confident we will continue to do so.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in custom cakes for weddings, birthdays, and other life events! Some of my favorite cakes to make are ones where the customer comes in with a silly idea or an inside joke, and we design a unique cake to celebrate someone. Or when we combine a person’s favorite things and make a cake specifically for them. I think that’s sets us apart from other bakeries that might just have a catalog to choose from. I love creating a personalized cake!
Although we started with and specialize in custom cakes, our cupcakes have become just as popular! We bake them fresh every morning and offer 8 signature flavors, and 7 seasonal monthly flavors daily. Because our custom cakes take 4-8 weeks notice to order, they are a great option for last minute celebrations!
What matters most to you?
Besides making a quality product for people to enjoy and creating a fun place to work for my employees, community is so important to me! We have been fortunate enough to have the means to donate cupcakes and gift cards to local charities, schools and organizations these past years. It feels really good and necessary to be able to contribute to community, especially low income communities, and places and organizations I benefited from growing up.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ohyeahcakes.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/ohyeahcakes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohyeahcakes
