Small Business Focus: Cakes by Kylee

Earlier this week I ran a short article about the upcoming grand opening of Life is Sweet Bakery and its owner Veronica Thomas. Veronica acquired her bakery facility from a friend, Kylee Miller, who founded Cakes by Kylee in that same location five years earlier. I interviewed Kylee about her decision to start her own business, her success, and her decision to sell. This article is from that interview. -- Jay

Kylee Miller

Kylee Miller is a lifetime resident of Indiana. Born in Lafayette, raised in Batesville, and currently living in Bright, she is more than comfortable with the family atmosphere of the Southeast Indiana / Southwest Ohio region. That familiarity, along with her dedication to her craft and an obvious love for people, brought her considerable success during her five-year stint as the owner of Cakes by Kylee.

A June 2012 graduate of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Kylee completed her degree in Pastry Arts. She opened Cakes by Kylee in Harrison, Ohio, in October of that same year. But Kylee's journey into professional pastry work really started while she was still in high school.

"I think I took all of the cooking classes," she remembers. "Every year we made gingerbread houses and that was so creative and fun and so I really got into it. I began doing cakes and custom cupcakes for people out of my house -- in high school."

Her college training required her to co-op in the bakery department of a major grocery store. It was that experience that led her to consider opening her own bakery. 

"After working there, I knew I never wanted to work in a grocery store," she laughs. "My thinking began to change and I would say to myself, 'If I had my own cake shop I would do it this way,' and then I'd pump the brakes and say to myself, 'What are you talking about? You don't want a cake shop of your own!' "

But gradually it dawned on her that she actually did want her own store. "I definitely underestimated myself," she admits. "I finished every order on time and always got great reviews on my work. I knew I could run a business! It was like an 'On' switch inside of me flipped up. I went home and talked to my mom about it. We started praying about it and looking for places to rent."

She secured a lease at 1373 Stone Drive in Harrison and opened Cakes by Kylee on October 20th, barely four months after graduating. Custom cakes, cookies, and cupcakes were the most commonly ordered items. Seasonal favorites like pumpkin rolls, apple crisp, and Christmas cookies, along with French Macarons, were frequent sell-outs. But she acknowledges that her true specialty item was a cupcake.

"The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cupcake...people went nuts for that and I always ran out of it fast. People would call and pay for them over the phone so (that) I would hold them back so they didn't miss out."

Almost from day one, Cakes by Kylee was a success. Twice it received the #1 vote in cupcakes, wedding cakes, and desserts on the Cincinnati A-List. But throughout her five years of hectic busy-ness, Kylee never hired an employee.

"Just me!" she says. "I think this is the biggest thing that people didn't understand."

She did have family support though. Mom and Dad made deliveries -- or ran the shop while she made deliveries. Dad was also the handyman. Mom took care of the books and finances. Her brother answered phone calls and assisted customers.

Kylee readily admits their support made the difference, allowing her to do what she did best: create amazing pastry.

"I never wanted to hire anyone simply because the only thing I was really needing help with was the decorating part. But that was the part I was 100% most passionate (and picky) about, and since my name was on it, I wanted to create it."

The long hours of standing, baking, and running deliveries did take a toll. Earlier this summer Kylee made the decision to sell her business and reached out to her friend, Veronica Thomas. Kylee and Veronica worked out an agreement that would allow Veronica to open up her own bakery, Life is Sweet, at Kylee's old address.

"Owning a small business is tough sometimes," says Kylee. "I mainly decided to sell because the hours were really wearing on my body. I would work until 2, 3, and 4 a.m. most weeks to complete orders. And it really goes back to not wanting to hire anyone, too, but I wasn't at a place where I could or wanted to do that."

Asked would she start another business if the opportunity came along and her reply is "I mean who knows, right? I'm definitely happy to step down and do something completely different. I have no doubt it was the right decision for me."

What's next for Kylee?

"I am nannying!" she says. "I'm going into my 3rd week and I completely love it. Like I said, it's totally different but I really am loving it so far! I knew I wanted to do something with kids after having the shop, and this job really just fell into my lap. (I) definitely have to trust that I am doing the right thing, but I feel so good about it. Who knows if this will be forever? But I'm enjoying it one day at a time!"

(There's more! Read about Veronica Thomas, owner of Life is Sweet bakery.)