From the Bundt Lady's Oven...I mean Desk

Keep Talkin!

Thanks to everyone that's been commenting and writing about Kiss My Bundt Bakery.

Here's a sample of what's been popping up over the last few weeks:

Marital Suicide's Saying We Beat the Cupcakery: http://maritalsuicide.blogspot.com/2009/09/sprinkles-begone-kiss-my-bundt-is.html

TastingTable.com: Totally Tubular  http://www.tastingtable.com/entry_detail/la/508/Kiss_My_Bundts_Chrysta_Wilson_takes_the_cake.htm

LosAngeles

Times’ Daily Dish Blog:  Bacon makes everything better, even Bundts.  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/08/bacon-makes-every-better-even-bundt-cake.html

LosAngeles

Times’ Daily Dish Blog on our Red Velvet: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/08/kiss-my-bundt-bakerys-red-velvet-cake-recipe.html; http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/08/red-velvet-cake-the-challenge-is-on.html

 

 

Please Help "Shine a Light" on Kiss My Bundt Bakery

Before I was a bakery owner, my career was in "community building".  Community Building is based on the idea that everyone that lives and works in a community (or owns a business in a community) has a role is making the community a better place. 

Though I quit my job (a very hard decision, I might say) to pursue my passion for bundt cakes and baking from scratch, I didn't quit being a Community Builder.  Kiss My Bundt Bakery has been active in the community and has become a real community bakery that is an asset, or positive element, in the 3rd Street and overall Los Angeles area.

We've done some pretty inspiring things with little (to no)  publicity because publicity isn't why we do what we do. So we're going to toot our horn just a little bit to hopefully get you to nominate Kiss My Bundt Bakery as an inspiring small business as a part of the American Express/NBC Universal "Shine a Light" award.

A little history

Did you know that Kiss My Bundt Bakery started as my (Chrysta) part-time hobby?  It did!  But the support from friends and customers became so great, that the hobby quickly grew into more.  In 2007, after 2.5 years of baking as a hobby, I had to begin thinking about what to do next.  Everything in my spirit was telling me that I needed to open a bakery, but logically I just couldn't imagine doing this. My family grew up very poor in North Carolina. They weren't afforded many luxuries, but family time, food and baking were important elements. I was the first in my generation of the "kids" to go to college, and then I obtained my masters degree.  And on top of that, I had a solid job making pretty good money.  I had achieved what my aunts and uncles in North Carolina wished for the next generation. And so, it was a hard decision to decide to give it all up and take a major risk like opening a business. 

But, life is about pursuing passion, and about chasing your dreams.  And in March 2008 I quit my job to open Kiss My Bundt Bakery.  And we've been open on 3rd Street in Los Angeles for 1 year.  The two years it took me to get ready, build, and open this bakery were very difficult. I regularly meet with emerging entrepreneurs to support them with the knowledge I obtained through my experience.

Shine A Light

AmEx and NBC Universal are looking for a small business that YOU find inspiring.  It's a wonderful opportunity because the winner receives a grant and marketing support.  And, in this economy, your favorite little independent Bundt cake bakeshop could REALLY use this. :)

A little bit of the "inspiring" things we've done this year:

• Kiss My Bundt Bakery serves on the Board of the local business association, focusing on various aspects that help improve the quality of life in the West 3rd Street area.
• Kiss My Bundt Bakery has donated over 100 dozen mini bundts to schools & charities.
• I've partnered with various nonprofits & community leaders to help emerging entreprenuers do what I did: take the plunge and chase their dreams to open their own business.
• Kiss My Bundt Bakery hosted interns from local urban high schools to teach them about entreprenuership. One reason this is important is because most minority youth report not knowing a minority business owner. I've heard from the youth that I've worked with that they don't know other minority or female owned businesses, and that their interaction with Chrysta (who is an African-American female) has shown them that they can do it, too.
• Chrysta regularly volunteers to serve as a panelist to speak about her experiences in community buiding and opening her bakery, to inspire young people and adults to chase their dreams and follow their hearts.

Ok, enough horn tooting. 

Kiss My Bundt Bakery would greatly benefit from the AmEx/NBC Universal Shine a Light Award.  With a grant and marketing support, I could strengthen the bakery, ensuring that we're here a long time, keeping up the good work, and helping us improve our community one Bundt at a time.

Please take the time to register here and nominate Kiss My Bundt Bakery for the the Shine A Light award.  Here are some sample nominations from celebrities. 

Warmly,

Chrysta

Founder/Kiss My Bundt Bakery