Meet Cheryl Clark of Cake Conspiracy in The Woodlands

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Clark.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Cheryl. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I think most bakers’ origins begin in the home, creating cakes for family and friends. I’m a self-taught baker and cake artist that began dabbling in cakes about 19 years ago. In 2009, I was working full time as a Retail Customer Service manager and making cakes on the side part-time. I was getting so many referrals that my husband and I decided that we needed to create a website to manage the traffic. When the cottage food law passed in 2011, we decided to make the jump into full-time cake decorating. Fast forward to today, and Cake Conspiracy is proud to have a loyal established customer base and continue to welcome new clients weekly.

On busy weeks we create up to 15 cakes out of our home. We are truly a family business, with my husband, Jason who handles deliveries, website development, and all the not so fun technical issues we may encounter. My son Parker has just recently joined the crew and has been learning all the recipes to assist in the baking. As any small business owner knows, the hours are endless and the stress can be extreme at times, but the end results always justify the hard work and dedication. We love making our clients happy, that’s what it’s all about.

Great, 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?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but every challenge makes me a stronger business owner and cake artist. My three biggest obstacles from the very beginning were accurate pricing, time management and lack of space. Pricing, well, one of the most discussed topics on cake forums for newbies is “How much do I charge?”. In the very beginning, I technically didn’t make any money. I charged for my supplies plus a little extra. I wasn’t confident in my skills and didn’t charge for my time, like AT ALL. So I ended up getting stacked with cake orders because my prices were stupid cheap.

Very quickly I was getting burnt out and not having any financial rewards to show for all the labor. I had to completely reassess what my time was worth and create a true long term plan for the business. Self-evaluation is very difficult for me because, well, how do you define what your time is worth? It’s ultimately a personal choice, but as my skills and knowledge have increased over the years its been easier for me to be make some concrete decisions. Not to say there isn’t the occasional unusual cake where I budget a time frame of 20 hours of caking, when in reality it takes me 40. These are true learning opportunities.

Time management is always a challenge, but with experience it has become easier. I never really stop working, I’m always planning and updating my daily schedules, developing new recipes and constantly trying to make production more efficient without sacrificing quality. I try to take Mondays off, but during wedding/graduation season I typically won’t get a day off for several months. Space, or lack of it, defines how much I can produce from my home. I have it down to a science what sizes and configurations of cakes can be stored in my fridge.

Cake Conspiracy – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Cake Conspiracy is a home-based custom cake company. We specialize in custom cakes for all occasions but also provide cupcakes and can accommodate other sweets upon request. What we are most proud of is our extremely supportive customer base. Through all of our growth we have managed to retain the majority of our original clientele. We are so fortunate to have provided celebration cakes for families for over a decade. It’s amazing to start at a shower to welcome a little new one, and then watch that child grow year after year, cake after cake. I feel humbled constantly by the support provided by these folks and my community, and the simple fact that they continue chose us to be a small part of every celebration.

Let’s be real, there are A LOT of talented cake artists out there and I certainly know I am not the only option. What sets Cake Conspiracy apart? What I would like to think is our delicious recipes, attention to detail, and custom design capabilities. What I ultimately think it boils down to though is personal style. Every caker has a specific style, and their talents or preferences define who they are as a cake provider. We all have different strengths and weakness in our caking skills and that plays heavily into what our portfolio reflects. A client ultimately contacts you because your style is what they are looking for.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I don’t have a proudest moment. What I am proud of Is being able to successfully support and raise a family of eight while working (more than full time) and continuing my education, while mostly maintaining my sanity. It isn’t always pretty when you work for yourself, but I am proud of how far I have come.

Contact Info:

• Website: thecakeconspiracy.com
• Email: cakeconspiracy@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cake_conspiracy/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cakeconspiracythewoodlands

Image Credit:
The images that I am in were taken at Heather’s Glen Wedding Venue in Conroe.

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