Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Armendariz.
Michelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Baking has always been a pass of time and passion of mine since high school. I was inspired by my mother who would bake cakes as a hobby. I was always told by my parents to go to school, get an education and get a secure and reliable job. I did exactly that and my life did not fill fulfilled. I decided to go back to school to earn my Pastry Chef certificate. I started building a business plan and researching everything and anything that would educate me on how to run a business. I took many business seminars, financial seminars and a few business counseling sessions through SBA (Small Business Administration). I have always been a very reliable and hard working person, I told myself it was time for change. That following month my corporate job had gone to part time and I started working on my cupcake business full time. Not long after did I realized it was time to quit my “normal job”. As scared as I was to go on my own, I took a leap of faith. It has been two years and I have had many ups and downs but it has all been worth it. Social media has played a big role in helping me get customers, as well as my monthly pop up’s around San Diego. I’m 29 and I’m a proud small business owner who would like to have her own cupcake shop in her own hometown.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting a business can definitely have its challenges, I’ve had a lot of success through this journey. However, working with perishables has its own unique challenges. There has been times where my product has not completely sold and I am left contacting loyal customers about purchasing extra cupcakes or I’m left giving them for free. It is a big loss for my business financially. For anyone who is planning on opening any kind of business I would recommend researching what kind of permits and licenses you will need to purchase before selling your product. Being prepared and organized will take you a long way.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Mad Flour Bakery – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I specialize in original and Vegan cupcakes, while I occasional offer 4″-10″ round cakes as well. All of my cupcake recipes are created by me and only me. My business theme is spooky, it brings you the spirit of Halloween all year long. My customers always mention to me how much they love my custom cupcake boxes. My boxes are currently black and they contain a special spooky message inside the box (“One cupcake is always poisoned, enjoy your night”) and it comes with a black and orange ribbon around it. I currently offer free delivery in San Diego and I can deliver to an office building one day or deliver to someone’s personal home the next. I believe my business theme, food quality and free delivery separates me from other businesses.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
My parents have always been hard working individuals and they always inspired me to do more with my life and to never give up. I would have to give all of the credit to my parents, they made me into the strong, independent woman that I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.madflourbakery.com
- Phone: 619-817-7003
- Email: madflourbakery@gmail.com
- Instagram: madflourbakery
- Facebook: madflourbakery
- Twitter: madflourbakery
Image Credit:
Theodore Perez
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