Today we’d like to introduce you to Nailah.
Hi Nailah , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Running a home based bakery was never in my plans. I started respiratory school and was able to balance keeping my job. As the semesters went on, it became more of a challenge to juggle school and work. For Mother’s Day that year I wanted to buy my mom chocolate covered strawberries, but it was completely out of my budget so i decided to try my hand at it and that’s honestly where the interest sparked. What started as a way to save money quickly became something I loved. Over time, I discovered that baking gave me a creative outlet while allowing me to bring joy to others during some of life’s biggest moments.
Today, I’ve built a business that I’m incredibly proud of. Every order has helped me grow, not just as a baker, but as a business owner. I’ve learned resilience, patience, customer service, and the importance of continuously improving my craft. What began as one simple Mother’s Day gift has grown into a passion that I’m excited to keep building.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been easy. My very first obstacle was COVID, which ironically is where the name “Essential” Edibles originates. Covid was a difficult time for us all, so being a new small business I faced challenges I wasn’t prepared for. As I continued building my bakery, I faced the challenges that come with starting a business from scratch. I had to learn everything through trial and error. From decorating techniques and pricing to marketing, customer service, and managing my time while working full time.
There were moments of self doubt and orders that didn’t turn out exactly how I envisioned, but I used each experience as an opportunity to learn and improve. Every challenge has helped me become more confident in my skills and more intentional about the experience I provide for my customers.
Looking back, I’m grateful for those obstacles because they taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of never giving up on something you’re passionate about.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I run a home based bakery. I specialize in custom cakes such as themed kids cakes, wedding cakes etc. teaching myself and attending “Youtube” university is what’s got me to where I am today. The fact that I was able to build a clientele off of my talent alone is what makes me so proud of myself.
I love to give back to the community if possible. I’m apart of a community called “Icing smiles” where bakers like myself donate custom cakes(or cookies) to a sick child or their siblings. Being able to be apart of something so big seems to make all the hard work worth it!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was naturally creative and always enjoyed making things with my hands. I’ve always been someone who cared deeply about people and enjoyed doing thoughtful things to make others feel special. I was also very determined, once I set my mind to something, I wanted to learn everything I could about it and keep improving.
I’ve always loved celebrating people. Even before I owned a bakery, I enjoyed giving gifts, planning thoughtful surprises, and finding ways to make people smile. I think that’s one of the reasons I fell in love with baking, it allows me to be part of people’s biggest celebrations
Pricing:
- Heart cakes start at $105
- 6” cakes start at $130
- 2 tier cakes start at $220
- Cupcakes start at $36/ dozen
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bakesy.shop/b/essential-edibles-1
- Facebook: Essential Edibles Custom Cakes
