Gather around the sweet

CEBU, Philippines - “The most challenging part is getting people to  try my cupcakes,” shares 28-year-old cupcake baker Nicole Lorenzana, who has turned her hobby into a business by offering her pastries to friends at special functions. Words of praise for her products spread quickly by word-of-mouth, with the help of the instant-messaging technology.

Parties are great opportunities to be with people, and thus good opportunities, too, to market products. Especially if they are good products. But good products can come only from good creators or makers, often those possessing more than mere desire to make a business out of their ideas.

“My baking is the product of my passion for cooking and love for desserts,” says Nicole.  Her own online shop, called Neekul Bakes, offers a wide variety of her sweet delights, such as cookies, macaroons, cake pops, and celebration cakes. Her red velvet and the chocolate cake are bestsellers.

Nicole is a self-taught baker. Her knowledge in pastry arts comes from research and actual trials. And, in time, it has become the quality standard for all her products – to be “soft and moist”, to the delight of her customers through Facebook. 

“Any food becomes delicious when it is not rushed; that’s the big difference between commercial and home-made food products,” Nicole says. She uses only quality ingredients because “it does affect the result.” She admits, however, that it can be really tempting to go for low-grade, commercial supplies because they are very affordable. “But taste is my priority,” Nicole points out.

While she acknowledges that good design does add to the products’ appeal, she chooses to focus more on good taste. She doesn’t compromise anything in her baking. She considers her cakes-and-pastries business to be her most rewarding endeavor yet.

With her degrees in Mass Communication and Education, and having previously held corporate jobs and pursued a teaching career at a religious school, Nicole prides that it’s her baking that gives her the most fulfillment.  She enthuses, “The best part of it is seeing people’s enjoyment of their every bite. My cupcakes are becoming a celebration focus – people bond together while enjoying the luscious taste.” (FREEMAN)