Dreaming Big for the Cupcake Bakery

Here's another entry in our Big Business Contest describing a company's personal struggle to grow, succeed, and thrive.

Judging of the entrants has begun, and 15 semi-finalists will be notified on Monday, May 5. Come back to vote on the finalists as they compete for the two final prizes -- specialized consulting from a business expert and a trip to Maui for business- and wealth-building seminars.

I own a custom order bakery that I operate from my home. I make cakes, cookies, and cupcakes for occasions from birthday parties to weddings.

I started making cakes in 2004 at my daughter's request for her 7th birthday. Since then I have gone from making cakes for family and friends to creating one of a kind creations for a host of clientele. I offer custom designs for my clients so that they don't have to chose from generic cakes in local grocery store chains. I also create individually hand decorated cookies to coincide with and events theme. I also create a large variety of cupcakes for my customers to choose from as well.

Although my clientele has grown over the years I feel that my business cannot reach the heights I hope foe without my having a commercial space.

The biggest problem for any small business, mine included, is financial constraints. With credit issues and lack of sufficient collateral I have found it impossible to secure the necessary resources to make my dream come to fruition. I also need more creative marketing tools so that The Cake Lady can become a household name and i would like for local restaurants and coffee shops to carry my products on their menus. Living in a large college town real estate is very costly, so finding affordable space in a good location is also a key element in achieving the success I so desire.

I feel that your organization would be instrumental in helping me overcome these challenges I face by providing me the assistance of business professionals who can equip me with the necessary tools for attaining my dream of successful business ownership.

As I survey my growth to this point I see 2008 as the time for my company to become visible in the community. When I obtain a commercial space I plan to start offering decorating camps for children during school breaks and offering tours to local schools and youth groups to show children how dreams can be realized.

This year I want my company to debut as the first cupcake bakery in Athens, Ga. I have always felt that I was put here to reach out and help others reach higher heights and achieve thing they never thought possible.

As a young girl I was often told that the things I dreamed could not be done which put doubt in my mind about my own abilities, so part of my mission will be to employ teenage and young adult women from low income families to inspire them to reach for their dreams regardless of what they have been told. As I think of my dream I raise the same question as famed poet Langston Hughes, "What happened to the dream deferred? Did it wither up like a raisin in the sun?"