Can Cupcake Baking Be Entrepreneurial?
At first, I was skeptical, it’s a mini-cake. Not to mention it comes in a range of colors and designs which make it seem slightly laughable. There is nothing serious about a cupcake.
Yet, there are hundreds of online groups dedicated to cupcakes, tons of blogs who comment on every type of bakery and millions of fans who munch on cupcakes daily. However, can the creation of a cupcake really fall under the definition of entrepreneurship? Is the design and production of a cupcake innovative, creative and profit making? Does it really provide social value?
Well, cupcake bakeries are averaging over 6 figures a year. People are creating cupcakes in new ways: “Cupcakes with shooters. Cupcakes-a-Go-Go. Deep fried cupcakes. Looking for a cool alternative to a birthday or wedding cake? Try a cupcake tower” wrote one cupcake shop owner. The cupcakes can also be glutten-free, organic, or packed with “superfoods”. They look little to anything like the one’s your Mom made for your 8th birthday….
Luigi and Salvatore LoBuglio, 27 and 24, have started a successful New York bakery called Little Cupcake Bakeshop. They are creating profits, selling their cupcakes online and are contributing to the overall cupcake industry. Lauren Reece, 27, also has opened a successful bakery using new media, fresh ingredients and a simple business strategy. Perhaps the intrinsic lack of seriousness leads to success.
The question I then pose to you, readers, is can a cupcake business be entrepreneurial? Or is it merely a form of replicative entrepreneurship where the same goods are being produced for the same population without addressing new challenges?
From my point of view, on days when I really need a cupcake- I’m glad someone is running a successful bakery where cupcakes smile back at me as pandas, flowers, and ladybugs while being glutten-free, organic and maybe even a little bit healthy!
Tags: baking, cupcakes, innovation, young entrepreneurs
