FM Walsh & Associates Inc.

Woman of Substance – Stacey Bridges

I met today’s Woman of Substance, Stacey Bridges, when I received a box of her gorgeously yummy cake balls for Christmas.  These things are divine – both to look at and to eat!  After licking my fingers off, I got in contact with Stacey in Austin, Texas, to learn the story of her wonderful company – Cake By Bridges.  This has to be one of my all-time favorite business ideas!  Check out her website – it is a feast for the eyes.  

How did your company get started?

I was a costumer for theatre and opera for 9 years.  It was just after I finished my Fine Arts Masters in Costume Technology at the University of Texas, Austin. I was doing a little R&R and happened to be watching Food Network – it was a cake show. I was really drawn to the aesthetics of the cakes they were making.  My boyfriend encouraged me to take a course and I started playing around with cake.  From the very beginning, I saw my cakes as an art form – I wanted them to be spectacular.  Six months after my first cake, we decided we wanted to make it a business and Cake By Bridges was launched in August 2008.  We do cake balls, wedding and anniversary cakes and custom orders for corporate events and parties.

My background in art provides the inspiration for the cakes;  I look for images I like in nature, magazines, on-line and then I create the image in sugar.  Recently I did Steeler football helmets for a client’s Superbowl party.

Cake balls are your number one seller – how did you come up with the idea for them?

I stumbled across a recipe for cake balls one day.  They sounded fun and different so I made the recipe and started to test market them.  People loved them so our new product line was born.   They are the perfect solution for dessert – hand held, pretty and easy to eat.  We now ship them all over North America.

What is the most important lesson you have learned for success in business?

Patience!  And the ability to learn from others who have already experienced what you are going through.  With no prior business experience, every business challenge is new to me and slightly terrifying at times. 

My focus has always been on creating beautiful things – not running a business, so I had a lot to learn fast.  We have tapped into our network of friends to get connections to experienced business people who have generously shared their advice and insights.  This has been invaluable to us growing so quickly.  

 What does Cake by Bridges have planned for 2009?

We have a fun, quirky product.  We just finished our marketing plan and the focus this year is to keep building our word of mouth, which has been our main marketing tool, and to also build a stronger web presence and launch a newsletter.

For Valentine’s 2009, we have created special decorated cake balls – heart shaped or with roses, hearts and teddy bears – check them out here.  In addition, we have a special  flavor for the month of February – Cherry Amaretto!

 Any words of advice to women in business?

Go for your dreams.  Never in a million years, would I have ever imagined I would open a cake business!  But the idea came along and I went with it.  When opportunities are offered to you, grab them! Take them, develop them and then spend the time to grow them.