Getting to Know Charmaine’s Cupcakes…

Who doesn’t love a good cupcake! They have become so popular within the last few years that they have their own TV shows like “Cupcake Wars” , “DC Cupcakes”, and “The Cupcake Girls”. I have also seen them on many bridal blogs for weddings, bridal showers, and even baby showers. But what I have never seen before is a Cup-O-Cake™, which is why I wanted to share with you a little bit more about Charmaine’s Cupcakes and the woman, Charmaine, behind the incredibly smart Cup-O-Cake™ idea!

1.How did your company begin, what made you want to be in the baking industry?

I started baking cupcakes in November 2009 after coming across some photos in a magazine and deciding to try something different to give to the guests of my youngest sons christening. I spent the next 11 months making cupcakes for family and friends until one day someone asked me to make them for her parents, that’s when I thought “I could make a living from this” so in October 2010 I made my first batch of cupcakes for Charmaine’s Cupcakes.

2.Do you get a lot of wedding and bridal shower events?

When I first set up I was not confident enough to make wedding cupcakes as I feel a bride & groom deserve perfection for their special day but as I continued to teach myself the skills of baking, frosting and decorating my confidence grew. Earlier this year I decided to add wedding cupcake towers to my collection and I immediately starting getting bookings – in fact I have 5 weddings in the next 3 weeks!

3.What type of event do you bake for the most?

I have baked for many different types of events from corporate meetings to Ann Summers parties to the V Festivals VIP Louder Lounge but the majority of my cupcakes are baked for birthdays. I offer beautifully decorated, bespoke Giant Cupcakes which are particularly popular as an alternative to a traditional birthday cake.

4.How did you come up with the cup-o-cake design?

The Cup-O-Cake™ concept was born one evening after I had spent a few days considering the best ways to send cupcakes by mail. Whilst I was thinking of alternative containers the idea of creating a portable, no mess cupcake just popped into my head. I kept the idea to myself until I had visited the wholesalers the next day and found the perfect container to house my Cup-O-Cakes™ complete with attached spoon, then I trialled it on my family who absolutely loved it which gave me the confidence to trial it on the public. After some changes made to size and proportions I launched the Cup-O-Cake™ at a street fair on 3rd July 2011 – we sold out in less than 40 minutes!!

5.What is your favourite item in your collection?

The Cup-O-Cake™ – I am totally in love with the entire concept and taste. It’s not a novelty item; it’s a versatile, convenient and totally practical solution to all the issues that eating cupcakes presents. No more sticky fingers or crumbs, the advantage of being able to eat some now, eat some later and it can be ‘eaten on the go’ which is so valuable for today’s hectic lifestyle.
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