Thika: Pregnancy Cravings Made 25-Year-Old Mom Build Cake Empire from YouTube Lessons
- In 2017, Asunta Wangari was heavily pregnant, unaware that the cravings for cake that came with it would be the twist to lead her to a business venture
- Tired of always having to dash to the supermarket for a fix, she took to YouTube and self-trained in baking with her jiko
- Sometime later, she used the money meant for house shopping to buy a small oven as well as a hand mixer, and Drips n Cream Bakery was born
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When Mary Asunta Wangari was pregnant with her second born in 2017, she had this insatiable craving for cake, one that she had no control over.
She says that she would buy and eat so much cake from the supermarket near her residence that she started feeling ashamed, so she decided to try learning how to bake it herself.
The 25-year-old started trying out recipes from YouTube and baking cakes on her jiko.
Spent shopping money on buying equipment
One end month, Asunta was given money to shop for the house by her now ex-husband as had been the norm, but something was different on this spree.
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She told Briefly News that she went to the supermarket, put everything she needed in the trolley but did not buy any of them.
"When I got to the electronics part, something just into me and I dropped the trolley with the house hold items. I bought a small convectional oven, hand mixer, and went back home without the shopping," she disclosed.
It was a decision that got her into trouble with the husband, but she is lucky he embraced the passion and even bought her a huge oven plus everything she needed to start off.
COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise
Like many businesses, curtains came down on Asunta's shop in May 2020 as she was unable to pay rent and had to retreat back to the village, not after being auctioned of a few things.
A few months later, the now-single mother of two girls got a job in Utawala and reignited communication with her previous clients.
It was the lifeline she needed as she was able to save and start Drips n Cream Bakery in June this year, based in Thika's Ngoingwa estate.
She has so far managed to bake for big corporations and public figures, something that keeps her bakery growing.
Corporate clientele
Her big break came when she did a cake for comedian and radio presenter Muthee Kiengei's dad's birthday, as it is opened doors for her.
"The very first time I baked for him, he posted about it and it has been a series of referrals since then," Asunta noted.
She added that most of the events she has delivered cake to have been on live coverage and she gets recognised, which gives the business publicity.
The other thing that has helped Asunta's entity grow is her prowess in making alcohol-themed cakes for people who drink.
"Long story short, I am a proud 25-year old single mom of two who is taking the baking industry by storm after turning her cravings into a career by the help of YouTube," she concluded.
Her next frontier is to open a baking school that will empower youths and give hope to single mothers wallowing in self-pity that they can achieve their dreams if they put their minds to it.
'Beautiful': Local baker wows with amazing Heritage Day cake, SA impressed
Earlier, Briefly News reported that citizens are making made the most of Heritage Day by serving up magnificent culture-themed creations.
A local baker is getting massive attention on social media for a beautiful Heritage Day cake that he's made. A Twitter user @Nthapeleng__ headed online to share the brilliant baker's creation.
Source: Briefly News
Stefan Mack (Editor) Stefan Mack is an English and history teacher who has broadened his horizons with journalism. He enjoys experiencing the human condition through the world's media. Stefan keeps Briefly News' readers entertained during the weekend. He graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2010 with a Bachelor of Education (BEd), majoring in History and English. Stefan has been writing for Briefly News for a number of years and has covered mainstream to human interest articles.
Kelly Lippke (Senior Editor) Kelly Lippke is a copy editor/proofreader who started her career at the Northern-Natal Courier with a BA in Communication Science/Psychology (Unisa, 2007). Kelly has worked for several Caxton publications, including the Highway Mail and Northglen News. Kelly’s unique editing perspective stems from an additional major in Linguistics. Kelly joined Briefly News in 2018 and she has 14 years of experience. Kelly has also passed a set of trainings by Google News Initiative. You can reach her at kelly.lippke@briefly.co.za.