It was Saturday June 18th, 2005.
I was working for a nonprofit organization, and was at my office on a Saturday researching economic development strategies. One of the topics I found myself reading about was entrepreneurship. My mind began to wander and focus on an old hobby that had recently resurfaced: my love ofbaking and bundt cakes. It had been about 6 months since I started baking again, and I was really enjoying the creative process. It was somewhere in this moment that I got the crazy idea that I was going to start a bundt cake bakery, and that I would call it...well...you know.
I didn't know in that moment all that would be required of me to achieve this dream, but I fell in love with the name and when I closed my eyes and envisioned my bakery. I could see every detail. I could smell the cakes. And I knew I could do it. That same afternoon, I sketched out some sassy lips for a logo and I built a little rinky-dink website for what was then "Kiss My Bundt Bakery, a web-based cake-catering." And I started dreaming. And I couldn't shake this crazy idea.
As I write this, I'm in awe. It's June 18, 2009, and it's 4 years-to-date. That's 4 amazing, scary, exhilarating, back-breaking, warming, fantastic bundt-filled years growing Kiss My Bundt Bakery from a girl in her kitchen with homemade cakes and a homemade (ahem...rinky-dink) website into an award-winning retail bakeshop.
As we see the economy impacting small businesses across the nation (and down 3rd Street for that matter), I'm humbled that this girl was able to realize her dream, and that I'm writing this email from a computer located in Kiss My Bundt Bakery, the brick-and-mortar bakeshop I could see when I closed my eyes so many years ago.
I want to give a special thanks to each of you that receive this email. You are my guerrilla marketing team. You are one of the major reasons Kiss My Bundt Bakery has grown over the last 4 years. And you are certainly one of the major reasons we've made it 9 months at our retail home. You're support, bundt purchases, reviews, and word-of-mouth marketing are priceless!
This month, in honor of the Kiss My Bundt Bakery brand's 4th Birthday, we're doing lots of classes and other events, which include a Birthday Party/Bundt tasting event this Saturday.
Whether we see you in class, at the tasting events, or in the store, I hope to see you soon.
Thanks for your support. I am filled with gratitude.
Best Wishes, Dishes, and Kisses!
~Chrysta

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