In this series, we talk to people who turned their passion for food and baking into a business idea amidst lockdown and COVID-19 fears. Some have been in the market for years and others saw the new opportunity and took it! These home businesses are changing the game and have overcome the odds of running a business during quarantine. With increased restrictions once more, we talk to home bakers who are operating during these times to bring the sweet and savoury to your very own doorstep! 

For home baker Shazra Zacky, the passion for baking started back in 2016 when she decided to try her hand at baking a cake for her son’s first birthday. “From there, it really encouraged me to try something different and out of the box and I loved the concept of cakes in a jar!”.

What do you offer?
We offer wedding favours such as Jar Cakes, Mini Cakes and Cupcakes, Wedding Cake Structures and customised cakes. We offer more than 10 varieties of cakes in jars. Our best seller and most popular one is the Ribbon Cake Jar which mostly goes as wedding complimentary gifts.

When did you start operations?
We started the operation before curfew and there was a significant growth during the curfew period.

What is it like running your operations in times like these? 
Well, operating during lockdown requires a well-organised plan due to the limited supplies and other limitations. I could manage this tough time well with the proper pre-planning like buying supplies in bulk and through pre-booking.

How are you ensuring the proper hygiene measures are taken in preparation and delivery?
Hygiene is our top priority, it is a main factor in the food industry these days especially with home bakers. I do keep a very clean workspace and there is proper usage of gloves and proper storage for the ingredients and we follow all the strict standards in baking with proper sealing of the jars and safe packaging. We make sure to take all hygiene measures while delivering.

What do you enjoy about baking and operating your own home baking business?
Home baking is something I really enjoy as I can manage my time well along with my daily routines. Since I do mostly wedding favours, I am known for getting almost the exact theme colour for cakes. The most enjoyable part of this process is the customer satisfaction and the positive feedback I get from my clients.

How do you see home bakers going forward post-Covid? 
Actually, Covid-19 has given a positive impact on some businesses around the world, and home baking is one of them. The major change I notice is, in Sri Lanka majority were not familiar with the online ordering process. Now, this has changed drastically and has given more opportunities for new home bakers.

What’s next for your brand?
I want to expand my brand, by introducing more wedding favours at affordable prices with the availability of island-wide delivery.

What is SL Cake O’clock’s signature style?
I would like to say my signature style in baking is doing my own recipe with higher quality ingredients at convenient and affordable prices.

Any advice to anyone who wants to start their own business?
My best advice to newcomers is to ‘Think out of the box’ and come up with creative ideas. You have a wide market to try out your own style till you reach the place where you would like to be.