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! 

 

Avid cupcake fanatic, Hafsa Shafraz, never thought she’d enjoy making the cupcakes she has always loved to eat. But with a lockdown and nothing but time, she found a talent for baking and wasted no time starting her own home business. “During last year’s lockdown, while cakes and cupcakes became highly sought after, it was unprecedently elusive as ever! This propelled me into discovering this whole other world. Not only did I stumble upon a talent that was unbeknownst to me, but I also realised that I was as passionate at whipping up a mean cupcake or two as I was at eating them and there was simply no turning back. With much encouragement from my family, I started taking orders on a small scale over the past year and officially opened for business over a month ago!”.

 

I do a variety of premium cupcakes using the highest quality ingredients, from fruit-based flavours like raspberry, passionfruit, lemon and strawberry - with curd or fruit centres and cream cheese, swiss meringue and ganache toppings; to classics like mint, chocolate and salted caramel; and Vanilla and Chocolate Swiss rolls. Tiramisu cupcakes and Strawberry Cream cheese Swiss roll being among the most loved items on the menu.

 

Sourcing packaging supplies and ingredients during the current travel restrictions imposed is a bit of a struggle – mostly because of all the fresh fruit that is used for various fillings, curds and flavoured toppings and frostings being unavailable to us. But I think most are better prepared and equipped this time around as opposed to the initial lockdowns. Also, fortunately for me, since my husband is in the food and beverage sector, I have managed to get my hands on most ingredients without much hassle.

 

Hygiene is of course of paramount importance to me and not one to be compromised. As it is a small home-based business, I prepare and do all the baking, assembling, and packing myself strictly adhering to the safety guidelines by frequently sterilising the equipment used and the workspace, and maintaining little to no contact with anyone while doing my orders. I also only accept payments via bank transfers and have partnered with a reputed delivery service to ensure a contactless delivery.

 

Apart from the truly rewarding experience that baking provides and the sense of fulfilment that positive feedback from happy customers can give; it brings incredible joy to be able to experiment with different flavour combinations and create something that I am passionate about. Also, my perception is that home-based businesses are in a unique position with a lot of independence at their disposal to explore different avenues, figure out what works for them and create a niche for themselves without having to worry about a staggering monthly commitment, especially in these trying times.

 

The pandemic and everything associated with it has become the new normal. It has become a way of life and gotten us accustomed to its consequences like never before and like all businesses facing the brunt of it, home-based businesses too face their fair share. But I would say that social media has been important and instrumental to us home bakers in making our businesses and products known and opening a world of opportunity. So, capitalising on this, going forward, would prove fruitful and the possibilities for growth endless.

 

I have got a few interesting flavour combinations lined up and planning on introducing a range of full cakes too. Really excited and looking forward to launching it and generally working towards establishing my brand of cupcakes and making it synonymous with taste and quality.

 

Overcoming fear of failure and setting up your venture will get you halfway there, and the rest is simple – focus your energies on what you are good at, maintain consistency and constantly strive towards improving your product.

 

DeLuscious Cupcakes take orders via Instagram (@deluscious.cupcakes).  Bank Transfers are accepted and delivery is available within Colombo and suburbs.