The cake fairies!
Tue, 07 Aug 2012 11:51:00 BST
Debbie and Sharon go beyond the bun to build their business
Below: Debbie Hyde (right) and Sharon Escritt (left)
FIRST there was the good old British bun... but then, from across the Atlantic, came the cupcake – much larger and with extravagant toppings.
“It’s a kind of extreme bun really!” says Debbie Hyde. She works in the Admissions and Records Office of the University of Huddersfield. But in tandem with her friend Sharon Escritt [– a business studies graduate of the University – she has established a company named Fairies in the Kitchen. And it aims to satisfy the new-found British appetite for cupcakes.
“They have become really popular and at a birthday or some other event such as weddings, it can be nicer to give out individual cupcakes rather than a slice of cake,” says Debbie.
She and Sharon, who both live in the Huddersfield district, met as students at Greenhead College. They began to set up their stall at car boot sales and Sharon suggested making and marketing cupcakes.
“We both liked baking when we were children, but never thought about taking it up seriously before,” says Debbie. “It turned out that we were quite good at it”.
Their cupcake venture was a success and soon developed further. The two women tapped into the advice on offer from the University of Huddersfield’s Enterprise Team, which gave them useful information on aspects such as insurance and marketing.
“It was really helpful,” says Debbie, whose kitchen – now inspected and certified by Kirklees Council’s Environmental Health inspectors – is used for their distinctive range of cupcakes.
“Our selling point is the fact that we do a wide range of flavours and we can do fondant toppings for all occasions, such as flowers for a wedding.”
Fairies in the Kitchen Cupcakes have sold well at markets in both Huddersfield and Holmfirth, offering flavours such as chocolate orange strawberry and dream and luscious lemon. The business can be contacted through its website at www.fairiesinthekitchen.co.uk.
Email: enquiries@fairiesinthekitchen.co.uk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FairiesInTheKitchenCupcakes
Twitter: @FITKCupcakes
