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My name is Ellen Kotlarz, and cake is my life. For over a decade, I've known that I need to create things with sugar in order to be happy. I really can't picture myself waking up everyday and doing anything else for the rest of my life. Choosing a career path was easy.
College came, and 4 years and a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management later, I decided that I really wanted more hands-on baking experience. Luckily, while I was earning my first degree, I found someone special who was just as crazy about baking. Adam and I decided to move to Charlotte, NC and get associates' degrees in Baking and Pastry Arts at Johnson & Wales University.
Our year-long program was winding down, so we needed to come up with a game plan for the rest of our lives. Number one on the list was getting engaged. Number two was moving back to Charlotte. Number three was opening our own bakeries.
Why would we take such a risk? I've asked myself that question a lot while I consider the economy and the likelihood of small businesses-especially in the food and beverage industry-to fail. I guess we just figured we really don't have much to lose right now, and it's probably going to be the best time in our lives to try something crazy.
So my goal with this blog is to talk about our challenges with starting home bakery businesses in North Carolina. It seems like every time we get caught up in a project, we ask, "We can't be the only people that are going through this, right?" I strongly encourage anyone who has started a home business to leave me blogs, or blog me, or just write something-I am not hip with the blogging scene or its lingo yet, but I am eager to hear what people have to say. I am also eager to help other people with starting home businesses if I can.
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I can't wait to order from EK Cakes and DukesBread!!! You are both amazing. I am so proud of you. You both have such great enthusiasm, professionalism, and a great work ethic. Keep following your dreams!
ReplyDelete***those cupcakes look so good***
ReplyDeleteHI
ReplyDeleteI LOVE CATERING AND COOKING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOOD,SO I STARTED A IN HOME CATERING COMPANY HERE IN CHARLOTTE,I WENT PATRICK HENRY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN VA,AND GOT MY CATERING MANAGEMNET CERTIFICATE,I STARTED THE CATERING THERE IN MARTINSVILLE VA,IN MY HOME,DURING THIS TIME I HAVE WENT TRU A BAD SEPERATION INVOVLING THE HOUSE AND CHILDREN,SO I DECIED TO RELOCATE TO CHARLOTTE IN 2006,TRYING TO GET OVER THE SEPERATION AND ALL,I NORMALLY USE MY STRESS TOWARDS EDUCATION AND ALL TO BETTER MYSELF.I HAVE BEEN COOKING SINCE I WAS A LITTLE GIRL BACK IN BROOKLYN NY MY GRANDMOTHER TOUGHT ME AND THERE IT WENT MY PASSION,SO TODAY I SOMEWHAT OWN A CATERING BUSINESS THAT ONLINE BASED,I'M SCARED BUT I WANT MORE FOR MYSELF,I NEED A PUSH FROM SOMEONE A LITTLE MORE EXSPERIENCE THAN MYSELF TO EDUCATE ME ON HOW TO TRULEY GET IT UP AND RUNNING THE ONLY PRBELMS IS I'M RENTING,I DON'T TAKE HUGE CATERING EVENTS BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE KITCHEN EQUIPMENT TO DO SO,SO THAT LEAVE ME LIMITED FOR KNOW,I JUST NEED SOME POSITIVE PEOPLE AROUNG ME THAT LIKE THE SAME THING I DO,I LOVE DECOR AND ARRANGEMENTS AND ALL I WISH I CAN TEAM UP AND MAKE A BIG CATERING COMPANY WITH SOMEONE I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES THE DRIVE AMBITON AND MORE SO PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN, THE DREAMER