Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanika Victor.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
So let’s start from the beginning. I’ve always had a passion for cooking and have been naturally creative.
Back in 2014, I lived in Tampa and I was a student at the time. I would binge-watch cupcake wars and try to create my recipes, and I would have family and friends try it, lol, everything I baked for them they loved and they would always tell me “SHA SHA, you should be selling these”.
I would laugh and say “Yeah right”. So in 2016, I moved back to Broward, and at the time I was working as a sales Rep. So on one particular Friday, my sister called me and said you need to take baking seriously. You should start selling cupcakes.
So I went to Walmart with $160 and bought ingredients and a Hamilton mixer. At this point, I’m like “You know what I’m gonna do this and I did”! It was honestly the best thing I could ever do, I started selling at my job. I would bake and place cake and icing in mason jars and sell them at work. Originally, the brand was Sha Sha’s sweets and treats but it wasn’t until 2020 I decided to go into full entrepreneurship and that’s when Sha Sha’s Bakery Was created!
It has been almost 10 years, and I’ve grown from making cake jars to now doing full-fledged decorative buttercream and fondant cakes for special occasions. Boy has it been a journey, I’ve learned from other bakers in my community, been inspired by the smile that people get when they see what you create for them, and most of all I continue to get better over time. So to be honest, if I were to return to the past, I would do it again.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say it has been a smooth road, but the best way to describe it is how everyone then when you drive you go over speed bumps, lol.
The struggles you encounter in this field of activity know that not everyone will love what you do and that people will not appreciate your work unless you do. Those are the top two and once you set yourself apart from others and not compare yourself with others in this industry you walk in a confident space.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Here at Sha Sha’s Bakery, we specialize in custom-decorated cakes and a variety of gourmet treats to suit every occasion. From edible handbags to luxurious wedding cakes.
What I am most proud of is my growth and how I continue to grow every day in my business. Every now, me then I take a look at the first cake I ever made versus my work now I’ve grown amazingly.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Yes! Don’t ever quit. This holds for all entrepreneurs. You may cry, there will be times that you want to give up but don’t and the sky’s the limit. Also, use your skill now to bring you to other avenues of success.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sha_sha_bakery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shashasbakery
