Local entrepreneur bringing her sweet treats to your tables with black cake this Christmas
Entrepreneur using her hobby turned business
KELLY De Freitas is an enterprising young woman whose baking hobby has turned into her own small business. De Freitas is the proprietor of “Bake My Day” which specialises in cakes, including delicious, traditional black cake – the same kind your elders (grandmothers) made in your childhood.
The 25-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that growing up, she was the only person in her family who loved baking, and when she matured into a teenager, she began exploring the possibilities. She always surprised family members with cakes for their birth anniversaries since she was 14 years old.
The Nismes, West Coast Demerara resident reported that she loves baking and her speciality is cakes, all kinds and flavours. She explained that after high school, she worked at a cell phone business as a technician and that was not what she wanted to do for a living, so she went to work at Freshco Supermarket at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
De Freitas added that eventually, she had had enough of working for people and decided to become a better baker. She then enrolled in afternoon classes at the Carnegie School of Home Economics.
She was successful, and after two months, she graduated as a trained baker and established her own small business from her home, making cakes for a living.
Today, De Freitas’ small business is growing, and it is her dream to open her own bakery featuring all types of cakes.
She is the supplier twice weekly at Freshco Supermarket, Diamond, East Bank Demerara, with icing cakes in two sizes and various flavours.
De Freitas bakes at her home based on orders and twice weekly to supply the supermarket on Mondays and Thursdays with 30 cakes per week.
She specialises in fruit, black cake, sponge, red velvet, chocolate, vanilla, chocolate chip cakes and all other flavours requested by customers for any occasion.
The small business owner told the Pepperpot Magazine that all her cakes are homemade with fresh ingredients and her fruits are also homemade from carambola (five finger) which have been curing since last June.
De Freitas does not skimp on the ingredients despite the high costs of baking products since she wants to maintain a high quality of cakes produced and keep her customers even though it is not on a large scale.
She stated that she does all the baking alone for now but has the help of her partner, who assists in transportation to deliver cakes based on orders.
De Freitas reported that once she has her own bakery, she would like to have at least one employee and even if she has to train that person, she is up for the challenge.
She has been baking professionally since 2017 and wouldn’t have it any other way because she feels empowered as a small business owner.
“I feel blessed to have a small business and doing what I love is something extraordinary. Even though it takes a lot of time, I prefer to work for myself rather than be employed with other people,” she said.
De Freitas reported that it is a busy time for her since some Christmas black cake orders are due. Along with her weekly regular order of cakes, she has her work cut out.
De Freitas told the Pepperpot Magazine that all her ingredients are wholesome, locally sourced. She would source her ingredients in bulk, which is economical given the increase in cost for baking products. She believes her prices are still pocket-friendly, considering the quality of the cakes.
She has had nothing but excellent reviews and having repeat customers speaks volumes. Apart from her regular offerings, it is safe to say her black cake is considered by her customers as one of the best.
