I’m fed up with the media talking down the prospects for graduates. Yes it’s tough out there for today’s graduates looking for work. Having graduated during the the recession of the early 1990s, I understand first hand what it’s like looking for jobs during a recession.
But in many ways, today’s graduates are also the luckiest generation of graduates there has every been.
They have the tools, technology and knowledge to turn ideas into opportunities and income with virtually zero expenditure. What’s more they have a global market place to leverage their product or idea. All that’s required is the seed of an idea, passion, hard work and the willingness to just have a go.
So over the coming months I’m going to feature graduates who have ignored all the noise about the economy. Individuals who have got off their butt and just had a go at a business idea or taken a slightly different career choice. Hopefully it will inspire others to follow suit.
The first interview is with Poonam Kataria. She has no website, uses a Gmail email account and uses a Facebook page to promote her cake making business whilst using her mum’s kitchen to do all her baking.
Who says you need lots of cash to get started..?
An Interview with Poonam Kataria of “Spoony Cakes”
Sital: Poonam, what’s your background? I mean, where did you study, what course?
Poonam: I studied Psychology and Sociology at City University London.
Sital: So how the hell did you get into baking cakes…?!?
Poonam: I’ve always had a passion for baking; when I was young my mum and I would look at this old book of recipes and make about 100 fairy-cakes to send to all the family, they seemed to like them so it kind of came from there.
Sital: And what was the ‘trigger’? There’s always a moment that is the real catalyst to get off your butt and do something. What was it for you?
Poonam: I’ve always had an active life and can’t just sit around and do nothing, so in my spare time I began to bake constantly. It turned from being a hobby into being an obsession where everyday I’d get up plan my day and decide what i was going to make.
Well my 21st birthday was drawing closer and I had to decide what I wanted for my birthday, I decided that investing in myself would be the best option and applied for a course at Squires Kitchen during the summer. Once I completed that course I was adamant not to let the skills I had learnt go to waste and it went from there.
Instantly I gained followers who seemed to like my designs and adore the taste, plus the support of great family and friends has meant more people spreading the word and showing my edible art some appreciation via the Spoony Cakes Facebook page.
Sital: Okay, so you took a course – but looking at the pictures on your Facebook page, you clearly have a natural flair for cake decorating. Where does that come from? Have you always been artistic?
Poonam: I’ve always held some connection to arts and crafts, if I’m not painting, I’m making cards or something to get my creativity out. When I watched ‘Ace of Cakes’ – American cake decorating show following the life Duff Gouldman – I instantly fell in love with the idea of creative cakes.
What motivates that creativity is knowing that after all this hard work, twiddling tiny pieces of sugar paste and baking for hours, we get a final product, a jaw dropping reaction or a little kid amazed at his birthday cake…it’s the most satisfying thing I’ve ever experienced.
Sital: Yes, I can imagine! So how long has Spoony Cakes been around now?
Poonam: Not long at all, but it’s in demand more then I had anticipated! I did my course in June and have since been a busy bee, every week I’ve had to churn out cake after cake – but I love it!
Sital: And how’s it all going? Is business good?
Poonam: Yes business is good, orders are coming in and I’m being kept extremely busy . But more then the profitability of cakes I believe in giving to the less fortunate and recently I have taken part in a number of charitable bake sales raising money for Build Africa and Mac Millan Cancer
Sital: What about the economic climate? From what you can see, does that have any impact on the demand for fancy cup cakes and celebration cakes?
Poonam: Well I’ve only been doing this for a short while so haven’t felt the downturn as much, but I think people are still very much interested in small birthday gestures and cupcakes and cakes provide that. So far I don’t think the economic climate has had an effect and fingers crossed it won’t! Cakes make people smile and at times like these people need to smile, so people should eat cake…good mantra I think.
Sital: “Cakes for recovery” – I can just see the headlines! So is it just you or do you have you a team of bakers helping you?
Poonam: Currently it is just me. I would love to have a team of helpers in the future but for now I’m happy working my butt off to make this happen, slowly but surely I’ll have a little empire (fingers crossed).
Sital: Any great success stories in that short time?
Poonam: I do a lot of charity work and was selling cupcakes, I made 200 or so and thought they would struggle to sell. However an hour and a half later they had all gone! Knowing all that money went to charity made me happy – although I was a little disappointed as I’m sure I could have sold more.
Sital: So is this your day job or something you do as a “side gig”?
Poonam: At the moment it is a “side gig”, I do the marketing for a small business consultancy firm by day and bake and decorate by night!
Sital: What do your friends and family make if it all?
Poonam: My friends and family are all extremely supportive, I’ve had help from a number of amazing people and I guess at times like these its good to have a network of amazing people to guide you and help you grow your success. It’s been good…plus they get to eat cake so it’s a win win!
Sital: That’s true – everyone’s now your best friend I bet.
But I guess you’ve had some critics too. People that laughed at your idea and thought you were crazy! How have you handled that?
Poonam: Ooh that’s a tough one! For me personally when people doubt me its almost a challenge to prove them wrong, it’s motivation to show them they were wrong to negatively judge my ideas, disprove their disbelief!
Sital: That’s a great attititude. So tell me, what’s the best part of running you’re own little business?
Poonam: I just love handing people my business cards and the shocked look you get when people don’t believe you. It’s also extremely rewarding when people see your cakes and think wow did you make them, that “wow” just gives you the most amazing feeling.
Sital: What’s been the most difficult parts of starting up a new venture?
Poonam: It’s extremely time consuming, making the cakes is all good and well but the financial aspects of the business aspects and the boring back end jobs aren’t too fun. But without it, the cakes would not succeed so what you must remember is that it isn’t that easy.
I also think when starting a new venture pick something that is your passion, something you cant get bored of and something you love – it will be running through your mind 24/7 so ensure it’s something you wont get a head ache from.
Sital: What’s the 2 biggest lessons you’ve learned about starting a home-based business? Things you wished you’d known before you started.
Poonam: I wish I had an awareness of how time consuming it would be. I thought “lets make cakes” and that was it – but its far more then that.
Sital: What would be your top 3 tips for any graduates out there with an idea for new business?
Poonam: First and foremost a new business venture will take up a lot of time, effort and energy, so make sure the path you choose to take has some connection to you, something you hold a passion for so work seems more like fun then a chore!
Secondly, it's going to be hard but it's exciting and somehow you will find the energy to do what you have to do to make it happen so don’t let the hard work scare you.
Thirdly, when you're starting off you cannot slack, do everything and anything to make sure your working the hardest you can to achieve your dream.
Sital: So what’s your vision for Spoony Cakes? Where do you see it all going in the future?
Poonam: I would love to have a few quirky cupcake boutiques, where people can come and enjoy delicious, freshly made sweets and treats and a cup of coffee! I would also like to start doing some fun classes for children’s parties and adults too, baking and decorating…fun fun fun!
Sital: One last question – you must be sick of the site of cakes by now no?
Poonam: Let’s just say my taste-buds are part of the quality control process!
Sital: Of course!
Thanks for taking the time out from your baking duties to speak! How can our readers get in touch with you or see some pictures of your wonderful cakes?
Poonam: No problem at all. I suggest people head over to my Facebook page and they’ll see pictures of all the cakes. If you “Like” the page you’ll hear about special offers and competitions – and of course drool over new cakes as we make them!
Oh and to contact me you can email me directly on: spoonycakes at gmail dot com
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Poonam is 21 and graduated this summer. From the pictures above you can clearly see she has a talent. But lots of people have talent. And probably lots of people far more talanted that Poonam at making and decorating cakes. But unlike them, she's gone off and had a go at sharing her talents.
Are you a you a recent graduate? What have you a talent for? What could you have a go at with very little investent?
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