Page 9 - HC B2B Fall20

NEW ERA OF BAKERS, BUTCHERS AND BOUTIQUES
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By McKinley Winkle
While the last few months have been a bit out of the ordinary, there are a few industries that are on the rise despite the changes in economy, and making their path known. While there have been new and upcoming businesses in the Helena area as of this last year, and the last couple months through the pandemic, there have been staple businesses to the community as well.
As we dive into the new era of bakers, butchers and boutiques we will take a closer look into industries, our local businesses, how they’ve been weathering the storm of the pandemic and what is next for them as the industry continues to evolve and grow.
Shannon’s Custom Cakery is a
one-woman show featuring cakes,
cookies, cake pops and more! Shannon
started her business out of her home
originally baking for friends and family
starting in 2014. She has taught herself
everything she knows through watching
videos and “a lot of trial and error.”
Shannon has always loved watching
baking shows and wanted to make her
own creations. Shannon has loved being
a stay at home mom but needed an
“I grew it from the ground up, I’m 100% my business,” says Shannon. “Without the Cottage Law I would not exist. It allows me to work.” She has taken full
advantage of this opportunity, blossoming as a business owner.
Shannon’s Custom Cakery has been self-made and has spread like wildfire through word of mouth. She
generally has 8-12 custom orders a week, depending on what needs to be made, and has outgrown her kitchen. Her new exciting addition to her company is her commercial refrigerator named “Talula.” Shannon is more than passionate about her business and hopes that with her business continuing to grow she will be able to invest in her next steps of either a storefront, or a stand-out delivery car.
Shannon loves being a part of the Helena
community, and has received an
abundance of support. “It’s a really
now found on her menu...cookie boxes! The cookie boxes contain Shannon’s Custom Cakery’s cookies, frosting and sprinkles for people to make their own cookies. It gave people a fun activity to do during quarantine and tasted good too.
Throughout the pandemic and looking forward to the future of bakers, Shannon is excited for what is to come, the next steps in her journey and to continue to grow her business. If you or someone you know is looking for a sweet treat, Shannon delivers “happiness one cake at a time,” and that happiness most likely involves sprinkles!
PLEASE HELP US SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19
“outlet” to have something for herself and to call her own.
Generally, when you think of bakers you
positive experience for me. Everyone is
so supportive and has been cheering me
on,” she says. While times have been
short of easy especially throughout the
pandemic, the community support has
been encouraging to Shannon. This
picture them in bakeries... but
Shannon takes a slightly different path
than some, helping to pave a way for a
WEAR A MASK
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCE (AT LEAST 6 FT. APART)
new era of bakers in the Helena community. Lucky for Shannon, Montana
summer with weddings being cancelled
left and right, Shannon had around 20
cake orders cancelled or re-booked for
WASH YOUR HANDS & USE HAND SANITIZER
passed the Cottage Law on October 1st,
2015 which establishes that from home
next year. Along with cancellations, she struggled to find flour to even create her
bakeries can sell to the public. While there
for Shannon’s Custom Cakery.
AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE
are rules and regulations that must be products. Despite the storm, Shannon followed, this opened a great opportunity came out on top with an idea that
COVER COUGHS & SNEEZES
received such great feedback that it is
Bakers- Shannon’s Custom Cakery
SAFETY FIRST, ADVENTURE SECOND
FALL 2020 B2B - A Publication of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce 9
SAFETY FIRST,
ADVENTURE SECOND.