Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Ashby.
Hi Madeline, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I begin baking with my mom when I was very young, around the age of 5. Growing up, I’ve always had a love for baking and even sold some of my treats when I was 7 years old. During quarantine, since I was homeschooled and had no after-school activities, there was a lot of free time to bake. I pulled out my old recipes and started trying new ones. I was in the kitchen baking every day and really rediscovered my love for it. That’s when I decided to start Maddie Cakes Bakery 2. The business launched in February 2021.
We began by putting a post on Facebook, sharing some of my Valentine’s treats and there was a huge response and more orders than I could have ever expected. It was exciting and fun but it was more than I was prepared to handle. I’m so grateful that I have my big brother, Michael, who is also my business partner to help me with big orders like that. We fulfilled every order… and the momentum has been consistent ever since.
We have since launched a website and an Instagram page. The Instagram page is where I share pics of my treats and reels of me decorating cakes. The page has grown to over 40K followers! I am so thankful for such a supportive community. As a result, I have been blessed to get so many amazing opportunities such as competing on Disney’s Magic Bake-Off and being interviewed by The Real, ABC, Localish, Access Daily, Houston Life, and Great Day Houston.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been an interesting and exciting road and one where I am always learning. In the beginning, the main area where I tended to struggle was knowing when to say no to an order. I would get so excited when an order came in, that I immediately wanted to take it. I would say yes to almost every order but found myself with more volume than I probably should have taken on.
I have learned the importance of balance, priority setting, and time management. I’ve also learned to set boundaries on orders that I take. I would get calls from someone wanting a 2-tier custom cake for the next day or wanting a very detailed, elaborate cake but not wanting to pay what it was worth. I’ve also gotten better at using my resources. We tend to get a lot of big cookie orders (50 to 300 cookies) quite often, so my brother and I generally decorate and package those together.
I am involved in several school activities & organizations, as well as, sports so my schedule is pretty busy. I enjoy being a kid and spending time with my friends, but I also take my business very seriously and want to ensure that I focus on running it in a professional manner. Being organized and maintaining a schedule has helped me to better manage my personal and professional life.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Maddie Cakes Bakery 2 is a kid-owned business based in Houston Texas specializing in custom cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and chocolate treats. The company is run by me, 12-year-old Madeline (Head Baker) and my 16-year-old brother Michael (Business Manager). Although, I’m the one that people associate Maddie Cakes Bakery2 with, since I’m who they see on Instagram and Facebook baking and decorating, Michael is behind the scenes overseeing the finances, business development and strategy for growing the company.
I am very proud of the fact that even though we are a kid-owned business so many people have trusted us to make cakes and cookies for their special occasions. Weddings, graduations, birthdays, baby showers, etc. are huge milestones and to know that people believe in a 12-year-old enough to allow me to be a part of these occasions is such an honor and I am so humbled and grateful. Because they place that faith in me, I put 110% into every order- from understanding the customer’s needs to being creative in my design, to on-time delivery. Every treat is made from scratch and is personalized to each customer.
My goal is to prove that their trust in me is well deserved. I want readers to know that I am still learning to perfect my craft and I spend time every day doing just that. I’m often taking an online class, watching a YouTube / Tik Tok video, practicing a new decorating technique, or just reading an article to increase my knowledge. I’m always looking for tips, advice, or methods to make my treats even better and to stay current on new trends in the industry.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Covid was a very scary and unfortunate time. However, had we not been quarantined; there would not have been time to start the business. Being homeschooled for that year gave me the time to focus on learning more about baking. I had time to practice, develop recipes, try new techniques, and learn about marketing a business. These things have all contributed to the success of Maddie Cakes Bakery2. The pandemic was a moment in time to turn an obstacle into an opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Website: maddiecakesbakery2.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddiecakesbakery2/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maddiecakesbakery2
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5dz2maERb9k_fw3Wou1nOg
