Torie Hancock of Go Ahead Bake My Day
How did you start your business?
I have been making cakes for friends and family for about 15 years total now, but I started operating under my business name when I was about to graduate from culinary school in 2010. We needed to market ourselves for our portfolio show. After a lot of play with words, I finally came up with the name “Go Ahead Bake My Day.”
How did you come up the idea for your business?
After watching
Dirty Harry! I have always had a passion for baking and decorating cakes since my first job in the bakery of a local grocery store when I was 16.
What resources here did you take advantage of and how did they help?
Social media has been an amazing help with networking and getting the word out. You tell one friend, they tell two friends and
they tell two friends … it really can spread pretty quickly. I have also hooked up with several other small business owners to help refer business both ways, and I donate product and set up booths when I can.
What inspires you?
God, my husband, my son, my sister and my church. It’s a blessing to wake up every day and be able to do what I do and have the support that I do.
I am thankful every day, even the stressful ones!
As far as the cakes go, my clients inspire me. I take time to speak one-on-one with my customers and get the information I need to create something unique and custom just for their occasion. When my brain starts flowing with all those ideas, those are my favorite orders. Basically, I’m in the business of creating edible art.
What’s next for you and your company?
The next step is to build my business to the point that I can open up a local shop instead of working out of my home, and to make “Go Ahead Bake My Day” a household name. I try to grow and learn with every order, never lose the personal touch I strive for with every client, and to have fun!
Interview by Robin Donovan