Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Sepeti
Hi Melinda, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Mindy’s Bakeshop is a home-based bakery that offers custom decorated cookies and event cakes, along with cake and cookie decorating classes. We officially started in 2015 (ten years this May! Omg!) but we started growing those roots in 2012. My now husband and I met that year in a little biker bar and grill where he was a line cook and I was making pies and cakes. I was just a few years out of pastry school and after we started dating, Kenny took the plunge and enrolled in the same program.
We took orders on the side while working in professional kitchens for a few more years and then in 2015 we decided to take our little side gig to the next step. Quitting our jobs to focus on Mindy’s Bakeshop full-time was scary but it was truly the best decision we’ve ever made. Ten years later and we’re still doing what we love – hooray!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think there’s a small business out there that hasn’t faced obstacles along the way and we are no exception. Building our customer base from scratch was especially terrifying in those first few years. The uncertainty was exhausting and trusting in our vision was hard at first. Then learning how to scale our business up while still working from home became tricky. Securing great locations for our cake and cookie classes has been an ongoing struggle. And of course money in general, I think, is always scary as a small business owner! But we have been so so fortunate to have amazing customers and incredible friends who have supported us through it all and we are forever grateful. We take it one step at a time and tackle whatever comes our way as a team.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We are a home-based bakery that specializes in decorated cookies and event cakes! I’m a gal with a life-long sweet tooth but the sad truth is that not all baked goods are created equal. There are far too many not-s0-great cakes and cookies out there, so our goal has always been to provide beautiful desserts that taste as good as they look. We want you to see our products and be visually delighted, and then be just as transported when you taste them. The number one piece of feedback we get is that our cakes and cookies are the best people have had and it’s never not thrilling to receive that text or email.
We also teach cookie and cake decorating classes! This is maybe my favorite part of our job. I come alive getting to share my passion with a room full of new friends. I love showing them that they, too, can create really beautiful things from scratch. We both went to pastry school but when it comes to cookie decorating we’re pretty much self-taught. It’s a skill that seems daunting to learn but, with practice, anyone can master it. Watching students of all ages lose themselves in a new creative outlet and seeing them get excited about it is such a gift.
We’re also at the Arboretum Food & Artisan market once a month now! It’s been so fun to have a booth where folks can come try our treats without having to commit to a big custom order. It’s also been a great way to try out new menu items and cake flavors. Come see us!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I think having the ability to pivot has been really important for us. Learning to roll with the punches and being willing to try new things has been crucial to our success. It’s what’s kept us in the game for this long!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mindysbakeshopaustin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindysbakeshop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindysBakeshop
