Caked With Love
I was only supposed to buy an espresso machine and I ended up getting a business
Marvic Abarra and Eileen Andassan are partners in Caked with Love, a Corydon Avenue coffee and cake shop. Since opening in 2015, they’ve won numerous consumer and employer awards. And many fans, especially for their cupcakes. What’s their secret? We chatted with Marvic Abarra to find out.
Q: Tell us about your professional background.
A: I was an academic advisor at the University of Manitoba. At the same time I worked at a coffee shop at the student union there. That was the reason I wanted to open a coffee shop, because I loved the environment, and a lot of my regular customers encouraged me. Eileen is an engineer by trade, but she’s always loved baking for other people. I know she’s done things on the side, making cakes for family and I know people have encouraged her to start up a bakery. We decided to combine our passions.
Q: What were some of the challenges opening a first business?
A: Eileen and I are not formally trained in business. That was the biggest challenge. We didn’t know what we were getting into. We did it with faith. And we’re here now four years later. The hardest thing was getting the place ready, and the different requirements for running a business, like GST and all the things you have to follow running a business.
Q: So no experience at all in the business world? Other than customer service?
A: Yes I’ve have had experience there, in customer service but because we’ve won so many awards that kind of tells me we are doing something right. That’s something I feel really proud of.
Q: Tell us about some of the awards.
A: We started in June 2015 and in January 2016 we were awarded Best New Business through the Corydon Times. And then that same year, REES,(Reaching E-Quality Employment Services), an employment agency, gave us an award for star employer. In 2016 and 2017 we won Metro Winnipeg Community Choice awards for best bakery and best desserts. After that, 2018, 2019 we’ve taken home a top choice award for best bakery. I didn’t really know a lot about running a business. But I know what I’m good at. And people appreciate that. They see you’re genuine.
Q: How did you find this space?
A: When I quit my job at the coffee shop at the U of M, friends told me ‘you should look for an espresso machine to practice your craft.’ I looked on Kijiji and the first thing that popped up was Coffee house for sale. And it was this place. Eileen said we should check it out to get ideas. When we came to see it, we were like, OK, this place is amazing. It happened so fast. I was only supposed to buy an espresso machine and ended up getting a business.
Q: How many staff do you?
A: Right now a total of a six. We like to say this is theirs as well. I completely trust my staff to do a great job. They know how we are as a people. I just trust them to be able to run this place.
Q: What’s on the horizon for the business?
A: I would like to open several locations. I would love to grow a team. I’ve been told I give great customer service and I’d like to train other people to do that as well. We’re still learning. But I’d like to expand eventually.
