Business Profile - Patty's Piece of Cake

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**If you’d like us to write a feature like this about your business, get in touch today! editor@torquayonline.com**

At Torquay Online, we like to celebrate local businesses of all sizes. This feature will talk about a great little business who have recently signed up to Torquay Online, and we hope we can help them reach lots of local people.

The business we’re talking about is Patty’s Piece of Cake (Facebook page – give it a like to support local businesses).

Patty’s Piece of Cake is a multi-award winning sugar flower artist and cake decorator in Brixham who can bake amazing cakes for all occasions. They have over 100 5* reviews on Facebook which is an unbelievable achievement for any local business, so if you need a cake, they are highly recommended! (find them on our cake makers page here)

I recently spoke to its owner, Clare Vaz, about how she started the business and how it’s all going. Have a read below to see what she says.

How did you get into starting the business?

It all started back in 2008 when I made my son’s 1st birthday cake. I had never made a cake, used fondant or made models up until that point. I copied a picture from the front of a book from the library and voila! I had made my 1st cake.

Then my 2 girls came along and I made their cakes and then friends started to ask me to make cakes and then their friends started asking me to make their cakes and it kind of just snowballed from there, rather rapidly!

I have taught myself all I know from using the internet and reading books but still continuously learn – there is always a new technique out there to try.

How long has the business been running for?

Patty’s Piece of Cake has just turned 4 years old as a business. I decided to take the plunge and register myself with the EHO and HMRC and become a legitimate business on 5th May 2015

What is the most rewarding part of running your own business?

I love every part of my job but seeing the looks on peoples faces when the see their cake for the 1st time is by far the best. Seeing their smile and them look at every inch of their cake taking in all the design gives you that really warm feeling inside.

People leave so many amazing comments and reviews when I have posted my pictures. I am very very blessed indeed to have such amazing people support me. What has been the most difficult part of it?

The hardest part without a doubt is trying to juggle so many balls.

The business, 3 children, the husband, the house, sleep! It’s hard to find the time to do things sometimes, especially weekends.

The children do sometimes miss out because I am so busy especially on school holidays.

However, I am trying to limit what I do over the holidays so we can get out and do things and enjoy the sun (hopefully), but saying that 2 letter word is probably the most hardest part of my job as I hate to disappoint people.

Any plans to expand in the future?

It isn’t the right time to take that huge next step but who knows what the future holds. We all have to have a dream right?

I would also like to maybe try the wedding cake side of the business but I have to overcome my fear of not wanting to disappoint people and failure first.

Any advice to young people in the area looking to start a business?

Do your research first and make yourself unique. Find that gap in the market for your style of business and don’t be afraid to have a go.

Be prepared to put in a lot of hard work at the beginning, its worth it all in the end I promise.

I am only a self taught cake decorator who has watched every cake programme and tutorial going, read every book and subscribed to I don’t know how many magazines – but if I can do this and make it work then so can you! Just believe in yourself.

The motto of my children’s primary school is “Dream Achieve Believe”. Go for it and you will do it!

What’s your favourite thing about Torbay?

I live in Brixham and I love the community feel that our little port has – people know you (mainly as the cake lady) and will help and support you where they can.

I will do all I can to help our town and community.

I love the fact that we also have beaches and green open spaces on our doorstep. We are truly lucky to be able to walk away from the hustle and bustle of life and be in a little piece of Heaven so quickly.