Cleveland is a wonderful town. One of the joys of living here is the entrepreneurial spirit of its residents. When life hands you a bad situation, sometimes you just have to make something new out of it. That is what happened to Laura Williams, owner of LaBella Cupcakes. In 2009, like many Clevelanders, she lost her job. Rather than panic, she opened her own business:
I’ve always had the dream of opening my own bakery, so when the opportunity presented itself after I lost my job last year, I thought why not give it a try. I launched LaBella Cupcakes in September 2009, and we have been growing steadily ever since.
As a mother of two, my first full-time job is taking care of my family. My second full time job is business owner, baker and entrepreneur. Running the bakery currently from my home has definitely been exciting. As we continue to grow and eventually move into our own retail space, we know that other exciting opportunities and challenges will present themselves. But I am always open to change, open to new ideas and always on the lookout for ways to expand my business.
It is not a surprise to see business treating her well. The cupcakes that she makes look amazing! With flavors like S’More for Ya, Wedding Whisper and Cherry Yum Twisted there is something for everyone. Have dietary restrictions? Not to worry, she still has options! Now even if you cannot have gluten or are watching your sugar intake, you can have something special. Some of my friends have kids who can’t eat gluten, so I am happy to see that they have a place to order cupcakes for the next birthday bash! They keep an eye on the environment as well-using only wrappers that are made of recycled paper and printed with soy based inks.
Where this woman finds her energy, I will never know! Not only is running a business a full time job in itself, but she is also a mother! Creating a balance between family and work is hard, but Laura seems to keep herself centered:
In the end, everything I do is for my family. I am happy to carry both loads of full-time mom and business owner so that one day, I’ll have something to pass onto my daughters. My oldest who is 15 stands right beside me, learning the recipes, suggesting new flavors. And the little one, who is only 15 months stands on a chair and pretends to pour vanilla into the bowl as I mix up batches of cupcakes.
So for your next party or event, or just for munching on these chilly winter nights, pick up the phone and call LaBella: 216-501-1084
or check out all the great flavors that she has at the LaBella Cupcakes website. Support a local business that is sure to be a favorite!
What a great story. Good for you, it is so nice to hear success stories.
I help so many people who have started their own business open retirement accounts, but usually it is way to late. Hopefully you are taking advantage of your own plan. If not give me a shout.