Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawnna Bing.
Shawnna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I came to Orlando to study Education at the University of Central Florida. Like most college students, I ended up changing my major. I received my Bachelor’s in Restaurant and Food Service Management. After being a restaurant manager for many years, I decided to go back to college for baking and pastry at Valencia College. I then got a job in the bakery at the Buena Vista Palace on Disney property. There, I developed my pastry and cake skills and quickly became a lead pastry cook and head cake decorator. After a year, I was offered a job at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort as an Advanced Pastry Cook. I was working there for few months and then the pandemic happened.
During the pandemic, I used the time to further develop my skills and recipes. I started selling my baked goods to my husband’s coworkers and locals. I coined myself the Sunshine Baking Princess.
I soon became part of the Ear For Each Other Facebook Group. The group grew exponentially and it was then that my hobby became a small business. I started receiving orders as more people began to travel again. I even started booking up to three months in advance. A year later and I am still going strong. It has become a full-time business and I am so thankful and happy.
I love that I have done so much that I have developed my own style and people give me creative freedom with their custom orders. I love to Bake People Happy!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My business was a bit of struggle in the beginning, like other entrepreneurs. I think the most challenging thing I learned over the past year and a half is honing down on what I want to do. While I have the skills and ability to do so much, it is most feasible, productive, and satisfying to do what brings most joy and profit. It is a business after-all. With that being said, I have made so many menus: adding new things, taking things off, adjusting prices, etc. I was always good with numbers, accounting, and being organized. So luckily, that part of the business was a smoother road.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a baker and cake artist. I specialize in buttercream cakes with fondant and chocolate work, drip cakes, ombre cakes, and overall elegant cakes for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, or any occasion.
In addition, I make custom cupcakes and cakesicles of the same style.
I also make gourmet cookies, brownies, French macarons, rice krispie treats, and breakfast pastries such as cinnamon rolls and muffins.
Most people seek me out from my style of cakes, cupcakes, and cakesicles. Examples of my work can be found on my website: www.sunshinebakingprincess.com.
And/or they were referred to me. I have worked with a lot of travel agents who order for their clients staying on Disney property. Majority of my clientele are Disney guests who seek custom baked goods for their vacation. Most of them find me on the Ear For Each Other Facebook group. On there, I have many posts and reviews of my work.
I am proud of my style. I believe my artistic, elegant style and my Instagram videos set me apart from other cake artists in the area. Also, I make everything homemade. I do not use boxed cake mix or store-bought buttercream. Most recipes I make are my own and people come back for that alone. I have many locals who are repeat customers for my treats and cakes. I take pride in not only the look of my baked goods but the flavor!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Advice for people starting out:
Know your worth. Start with your numbers. See what is your bottom line (ingredients, supplies, electric, etc.) then add on all the variables like labor and skill. Experience and college degrees count in this. Customers are paying for the skill and expertise, not just the raw ingredients.
Work on your skill by creating items that challenge you. You will be rewarded when you accomplish new things. I often come up with new recipes/ menu items that I am interested in offering. I will Flash Sale any trials batches until I am happy with the result.
Set financial and creative goals.
Do not be afraid to adjust your menu and prices periodically. The world changes, so should your menu and policies.
Set boundaries. Do not be afraid to leave a message unread while you spend time with your loved ones. Create “work hours” to help with this.
Set your standards. Do not budge on prices or creative integrity. You priced things out for a reason. Also, no bulk discounts. It still takes the same amount of time and labor to creative those items.
Stay organized. Keep track of all your orders and payments, grocery store receipts, and gas receipts. Open a separate business account. Keep and maintain an inventory of ingredients and supplies.
Contact Info:
- Email: sunshinebakingprincess@gmail.com
- Website: www.sunshinebakingprincess.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/sunshine_baking_princess
- Facebook: Facebook.com/shawnnabing
