Today we’d like to introduce you to Preethi Shanmugam.
Hi Preethi, 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 started baking in 2014 when I moved to the US. It started with simple cakes and cookies. I baked birthday cakes for my family. Baking makes me happy. Whenever there is a potluck or any kind of gathering, I will be curious to bake goodies apart from cooking. 🙂 I thought baking was very easy then 🙂 Naveen’s cakes was started in 2020. I turned baking into a business.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I realized turning a passion into business is not that easy. I am not a professional and didn’t have even little knowledge about business. Time management was the biggest challenge. Not everyone liked the cakes. There were mixed reviews. Sometimes, negative reviews throughout. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong and how to proceed. I was on the verge of giving up just after a couple of months. I took a break and enrolled in a class. The class was very helpful in teaching not only baking but also about growing business. Baking an order was not that hard after training. I was able to meet the timeline, and it was not overwhelming either. It gave me a little confidence.
But still, I was not satisfied. I wanted to give the ultimate cake-eating experience. The one that will make my clients come to me again for the flavor and taste. I enrolled in a series of classes and figured out what clients would like the most. I also understood that my passion should not burn me out. I want to give my best for every order. I need to have time to spend with my family too. So, I am not taking up more orders like before. I’m happy with my few clients and my business grows slowly among my clients’ friends who taste my cakes.
I’m just a beginner in this business. I have a long way to go and have a lot to learn. 🙂
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I bake a variety of cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and desserts. The cakes are customized according to themes.
What do you think about luck?
I would say good luck and bad luck, both have an important part in my business. Good luck is my husband. He is a great pillar of support. Someone who always has my back. That keeps me going and gives me the courage to face my fears.
The bad luck is my father’s demise. His death shattered me. I was disturbed, and it took more than a week to realize that he is no more. That was the time I had continuous negative feedback too. I realized I cannot continue like that anymore. I took a break to learn. That helped me greatly.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@naveenscakes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naveens_cakes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naveenscakes
