Today we’d like to introduce you to Shauntise Weeks.
Hi Shauntise, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
My name is Shauntise Weeks, and I was inspired by my late grandmother Roseann Gray to start my amazing business, The Ugly Cake Factory. I am a native of Washington, D.C., and I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Community Health Education focusing on HIV in the Minority Community. After graduating, I landed what seemed to be my dream job at Whitman-Walker Health doing HIV Research in 2016. In November 2016, I lost my grandmother. She was an amazing woman, but she was also an amazing baker! She was the Cake Lady in D. C. I never wanted to bake. I knew I always wanted to do healthcare. But my grandmother brought me my first KitchenAid when I was in college, and she walked me through my first cake over the phone. Right before she died, I promised her that I would make the best cupcakes in D.C. So, In 2019, I decided to leave my job to focus on my rapidly growing business, The Ugly Cake Factory.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Entrepreneurship is far from easy! The hardest thing would be to balance and understand the legal way of running a business. We sometimes get so caught up in our craft with the physical labor part. Whether baking or delivering, we must remember that we must stay on top of the legal and legit side of running a business, for example, taxes, business plans, registering your business, business bank accounts, etc. It can be a lot to keep up with, but staying on top of it is essential. Business is more than the finished product; it’s a lot of the behind the scene paperwork that is very important too. Also, I found it so hard to balance a life outside of my business. That then caused me to feel burnt out, which is common among many entrepreneurs.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Ugly Cake Factory started in 2016. I came up with the name in college. I didn’t know the look I was going for, but I knew that I didn’t want to make fondant cakes. I believe in the Baker World, there are Bakers, and then there are Cake Decorators. I knew I could bake. But I didn’t want to make drastic cakes. I originally started making simple cakes because I couldn’t figure out how to keep the cupcakes moist and soft after refrigerating them. I then came up with the “perfect formula” or trick, and I fell in love with cupcakes! I love making people smile with cupcakes. They are little tokens of happiness. We are known for our Strawberry Crunch cupcakes. Our crumbles are made in-house, and our customers love them! People always say they never had a cupcake like ours. We also sell “Glazers or Naked Cupcakes” These are cupcakes that come without frosting. The vanilla is almost like a glazed donut. I am very proud of my business. I have some of the best supporters! My customers have become my family. They have helped us get this far. A lot of my flavors came from suggestions from my customers. I truly love my Cake Lovers.
Any big plans?
I’m looking forward to having a Brick and mortar and then doing more community work with my business.
Pricing:
- Classic Flavors: $4.00
- Premium Flavors $4.50
- Seasonal Flavors $ 4.50
- Strawberry Shortcake/ Strawberry Crunch 8’inch 130 10’inch 150
Contact Info:
- Website: Theuglycakefactorydc.com
- Instagram: @Theuglycakefactoryllc
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCZ59DSxbF9JIxMgh3kHdBeg
