Brouwer didn’t dream of becoming a baker, but in 2016, after having her first child, she found herself spending more time in the kitchen where baking eventually became “a bit of an obsession. I do a lot of procrasti-baking, which is basically when there’s lots to do but I ignore it and bake instead. When my daughter Uma turned two in May of 2021 my cake-making obsession had reached an all-time high. One evening in early June, I asked my husband if he thought I could sell my cakes. He quickly said yes, and I haven’t looked back since.” Brouwer is planning to open her own storefront; she’s bought a property in Downeyville where she hopes to sell “coffee, other baked goods, some convenience items and some unique finds. We hope to open mid summer.”
Business and Residential Tech Support
New and Used Walk-Up Service, Laptop & No Appointment Desktop PC’s Necessary
CALL 705-328-9918
VISIT 1 William St. S., Lindsay BROWSE www.kcchelps.com
THE SOCIAL BOOST
Starting a sweet new business is one thing, but spreading the message effectively is another. For these entrepreneurs, social media has been the key to success. “I think that having consistency on your page is key to drawing people in,” said Brouwer, whose Instagram posts are as artful as her cakes. “I try to use a solid background for all of my cake pictures, which I think helps create a more eye-catching feed.” Williamson has more than 1,000 followers on Facebook where she promotes her business, something that amazes her. “I’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback and people are consistently saying the town really needed this and it’s really good I’m here.” The Majkuts are just beginning, and as a family project, their daughter is in charge of social media advertising. Thai and Denney have each brought a fun twist to their social media promotion. “I introduced Mochi’s Bakery to people in town by posting a giveaway event, in which I gave away free cupcakes for people to try,” said Thai. “I got a lot of welcome from people in town and started taking some orders. The first custom cake I made for a customer in town was a Finding Nemo cake. The customer was so happy that she shared the cake online and I got more orders.” Denney went out to businesses, doing a fundraiser for the Kawartha Lakes Food Source. She created a game called The Lindsay Logo Challenge for the businesses for the fundraiser, where she would ice a cookie with the logo of the business on it, then bring them the same materials she used to see if they could imitate her and ice a cookie the same way. Over 70 businesses came on board and she was able to raise almost $200 for Kawartha Lakes Food Source. “I got the community engaged in a different way, and that’s how I made a lot of my initial connections.”
www.lindsayadvocate.ca
NOW RENTING
PRIVATE OFFICE SPACE THRIVEONKENT.CA
Leave a legacy of healthy forests for future generations. You buy the trees, we’ll plant them locally right here on protected land in Kawartha Lakes. Give $5, $10, $15… whatever you can afford! Every penny goes toward buying trees.
Visit plantaforest.ca and click Support the Project.
23
