Debbie Cook
Owner
C$15,545
Being a cake hobbiest for about 8 years, I started to see a trend in what I was doing. If I had a cake to make, I would store hop to gather everything I needed to make and decorate, I would then find a day to bake, prep for decorating would be in there somewhere, then decorating. It was quite the process, especially if you included actual 'life' into the equation. It took up my time, so much space at home, and my extra dollars for those tools I only used once or the package I needed to buy just to use 1, oh and that store hopping... , and, the tornado 'stuff' in the kitchen, as I rush to put together a masterpeice. Cake requests from family and friends would come and go and I would repeat these steps over and over, getting more efficient and strategic along the way. I at least now knew which shops to go to for what, extra batter would be made into extra cake rounds and extra icing would be stored in the freezer, and all my new tools would get stored in my section(s) in the storage room just waiting to be used again or be borrowed out, and the mess, well, that never goes away. I would take a class every once and a while to learn a new skill or broaden my knowledge of the pastry arts or cooking, and would find myself teaching a friend or cousin what I had learned soon after. I liked the idea of getting people involved with my hobbies.
After being laid-off from my full-time job, my mind was set on starting a business. While still hobbying my way with cake, I wished for there to be a one-stop shop, a short cut, a tool and supply share, a place where I could cake in peace or even not have to put my family out of the kitchen for a couple days, and a real live person in front of me to help me with a technique. And so, the idea was born.
You know what's fun?
Getting your hands dirty.
Doing things you've never done before.
Attempting something and failing. Doing it again and doing it better than the first time.
Doing things with friends and family.
Having someone there to help and guide you when you want them to be.
Making cake together.
Celebrating together.
Eating cake together.
Since our doors had opened in August we witness so many great things happen here. Not only do we get to be part of the celebrations of life, achievements and unions, we see giving and gratitude in different forms constantly. The best things though, are moments of genuine actions, like a little one trying cake for the first time ever, a dad stealing icing every chance he got while helping his daughter decorate her birthday cake, real life nailed it competitions where people clearly made bad decisions and also really good ones too, young ones being super thoughtful and methodical while executing a project, comfort in ladies who haven't seen eachother in ages reuniting while making their families goodies for the weekend, laughter from kids who just realized some sprinkles are just like tiny bouncy balls, people coming together to create their loved one the perfect celebration cake, people teaching other people something they just learned to someone they just met, high fives on a job well done, eyes lighting up in a child or a complete grown up when they see that they CAN create something amazing,
Classes available for adults and children.
Ladies from a Birth & Babies group decorating their babies' 1st birthday cakes together.
Geodes.
Debbie Cook
Owner
Heather McGrath
Professional Cake Artist
A girl with a couple of sugar crazed kids, and a dream, Heather McGrath dove into the world of sugar in 2007. She laughs now when she sees the cakes she was making when everyone told her that she should go into business. But that hysteria, while well founded, is the driving force behind her need to improve. Heather started creating things, taking classes, and consuming as much knowledge and experience as possible. Today she has her own custom cake business, many awards, including best in show at the Calgary Stampede, the Calgary Cake & Sugar Art competition, and was awarded silver at Cake International in Birmingham, UK. She frequently volunteers with the Calgary Sugarcraft Guild, loves talking about anything cake, and sharing techniques and ideas. Still the owner of her cake business Cakepunk (www.cakepunk.ca), she also is a member of the Cakeify Studio team.
Jan 23, 2020
We did it!!! We reached our goal of $15,000 (WOW) for our ATB BoostR!!
OK, shout out time.
First, my family & friends, for your support, in so many ways. Thank you.
My team at work, Meghan (manager), Heather (head decorator - www.cakepunk.ca), Iana, Olivia and Maegan. Wow, you ladies work so hard and continue to impress me every day.
Tay O! Your artwork! All over our walls, and I just love them all, and so do our customers! FYI - Taylors art is for sale, and part of all her sales go to charity. createfate.ca
Mike and his self-built CNC machine can create custom pieces. He made our big beautiful logo inside the front door everyone takes pictures in front of. www.ferrousandfibre.ca
Alan Fortune of Fortune Filmworks who made my BoostR video. He did everything for that video. Beautiful and amazing work. www.fortunefilmworks.com
Natasha of Create Distribution and Tiffany of Dragonfly Cake Supply, our suppliers of goodies.... createdistribution.com dragonflycakesupply.com
Sue and Lori, my capturers of beautiful moments. I use your photos so much, still, and your work always wows me. suemoodiephotography.com www.lorimaloney.com
Shannon, you're logo & branding. It will be forever with us wherever we go. Oh, the places we'll go.... www.hewlko.com
These Ladies, my Masterminds group: Micki - www.theolfactoryshop.com, Victoria - stresslessladies.com, Jessica - www.inhercircle.ca, Amy - lisseshave.com, Alex - www.yamanomad.com
Other professionals that went out of their way to help bring this dream to life. Daniel Cook (GC - www.danielcook-reno.com), Faiz Khaku (Mortgage Broker - truemortgage.ca), Curtis Chenail (TD Small Business Account Manager - Curtis.chenail@td.com), Meghan & Geoff Speers (www.speersedge.com), Michelle Robertson (personal coach :) ), and ATB for banking, ATB X - small business support, ATB BoostR (www.atb.com)
And my immediate family who has probably invested the most and has helped more than anyone can imagine. My mom, dad and sister. Thank you.
My daughters, thank you for letting mom take time to be away from you to grow her business.
My husband. If there is anyone else in the world who feels all the feels to build and run a business, even though it's not his to build or run, it's him. No one else has supported me more on this journey than this guy. Thank you Andy.
Jan 22, 2020
The BoostR will run for another day! We have until Jan.23 at 11:59PM to make this happen. I'm sure we can do it!!!
Here is my little bit longer version of 'How I Got Here....'
Jan 6, 2020
Dec 9, 2019
Ready to decorate with us?! We are very fun. Truly we are :)