If the way to a client’s heart is through their stomach, Aga Burnat has found the most delicious and direct route imaginable.
Aga founded Sweets and Cakes by Aga almost four years ago and the business has been based in Milton Keynes for the past year and a half. Although by her own admission she was, at the beginning, no expert baker and more than once needed guidance and encouragement from her friend Aneta, what began as something to relieve the boredom during maternity leave has turned into a successful business venture.
She produces cakes and sweet treats for all occasions, from baby showers and birthday parties to Christmas gifts and Halloween novelties, and she’s recently turned her focus to the corporate market, providing a stylish and tasty way for local companies to promote their business.
“I worked in hospitality for years and it was always fast-paced and stressful,” said Aga. “Then I went on maternity leave and I was so lucky, I ended up with a baby that slept a lot and was easy to look after, and I found myself looking for a hobby. So, I started thinking about what I could do that would fit in with looking after my daughter.
“I’d always loved cooking but I had no idea about baking – you wouldn’t believe how many things went in the bin during those first few months – but once I’d mastered it, thanks to learning techniques from YouTube videos and the support I had from Aneta, who has stuck by me all the way through this journey, I eventually found that I just loved creating beautiful cakes.
“I set up a Facebook page and started putting photographs on there, and once people tried them, the orders started to come in. Around a year after my daughter was born I officially launched my business and it’s grown from there.”
Aga has harnessed the power of social media to showcase her talents, imagery-led platforms like Facebook and Instagram have proved the ideal way to provide potential clients with a gallery of options of what’s available from Sweets and Cakes by Aga. More recently, with an eye on the corporate market, visitors to LinkedIn are also likely to found their mouths watering at the sight of Aga’s creation.
The range of styles and colours can be adapted to any occasion and theme. In the past couple of months alone, Aga’s orders have included a spread in white and gold for a wedding; boxes of cakes personalised with teachers’ names for end-of-term gifts; mousse cakes in all shapes, sizes and colours; cupcakes; Wimbledon themed tennis desserts and, it goes without saying this summer, a Barbie-themed cake for a six-year-old’s birthday party. That’s not to mention all the cheesecakes and macarons, of which Aga has made thousands over the past few years.
“Although I do get asked to do a lot of standard birthday cakes, I really love the fact that the modern trend is for a spread of lots of smaller items because it means I can be so creative. It means you can choose lots of different cakes and sweet treats in lots of colours and flavours and people can just help themselves,” said Aga.
“While I love creating beautiful cakes for special occasions, this year I have really worked hard on building the corporate side of my business. Cakes are an excellent and really memorable way to send a gift to someone to promote your company, or to say thank you, or mark an anniversary.
“I’ve done large corporate events where a table of cakes of all colours and sizes really makes a great impression. I always deliver the order and set it out myself, using my own platters and dishes and cake stands to make sure it always looks stunning.
“Sweet tables are also proving very popular. These can be any size and are perfect for a party at home or at a presentation or celebration, and can include cakes, sweets, mini desserts and meringues – all laid out for your guests to help themselves.”
Decorations can be tailored to a specific theme, sometimes relating to the client’s busi- ness or the occasion, and in colours that reflect the company’s branding. Edible printing means that logos or images can also be incorporated into the design.
Christmas looks set to be a very busy period for Aga, particularly as it’s traditionally the time when business start looking for some- thing new and original to give to staff or clients as festive gifts.
“Everyone likes cakes and sweet treats and sending something that is personalised is a great gift,” said Aga. “We can make up boxes with any number of cakes, in all kinds of designs and themes that are great to give as a gift.
To find out more about Sweets and Cakes by Aga call 07582 035737 or email sweetsandcakesbyaga22@yahoo.com
