Rainy Days to Sweet Success: Kawaii Cakes' Early Journey

 

From Rainy Days to Sweet Success:

The Early Journey of Bringing Kawaii Cakes to the World. Welcome back to the Kawaii Cakes story! In my first blog, I shared how I invented my dream cake shop, and in the second blog, I described the exciting yet challenging process of opening it. Today, in my third blog, I’m thrilled to take you through the early stages of bringing my delicious cakes to the world, navigating challenges like post-COVID struggles, rainy seasons, and the rise of online cake delivery in Chennai. Let’s dive into the journey of how Kawaii Cakes started making its mark!

A New Beginning After the First COVID Wave:

After opening my cake shop near VIT Chennai University in 2020, I was full of hope. I chose this location because of its vibrant student community, believing they’d become my loyal walk-in customers. However, even after the first wave of COVID, VIT remained closed while other colleges gradually reopened. This was a setback, as I relied heavily on foot traffic. To attract customers, I launched an irresistible offer: Black Forest 1kg for just ₹399. I put up two banners outside my shop and personally pasted 300 posters across local areas during my free time. Rainy days made this task tough—Chennai’s monsoon brought heavy rains on alternate days, and the last week of the month saw continuous downpours and power cuts. As a result, walk-in customers were almost nonexistent.

Preparing for the Festive Season:

December brought new opportunities with Christmas and New Year approaching. My brother, who’s been running his cake shop for four years, suggested introducing dry cakes like Premium Plain Cake, Cashew Cake, Walnut Cake, and the ever-popular Christmas Plum Cake. Since plum cake requires soaking fruits for six months, I hadn’t prepared in advance. Thankfully, my brother shared his soaked fruits and recipe, allowing me to create authentic, rich plum cakes. I displayed these festive treats in my shop with a small “Christmas Special” banner at the entrance.

Initially, customers inquired about prices but left without buying. I reached out to friends, promoting my Christmas special cakes, but the response was slow. As Christmas neared, orders trickled in, especially for Rich Plum Cakes. A nearby church placed a bulk order for Premium Plain Cake, which was a big win! By the end of Christmas, almost all my stock sold out with minimal wastage—a huge relief for a new shop.

New Year’s Eve was a turning point. On December 31st, my shop saw back-to-back customers for the first time! Since it was my first year, I was cautious about overstocking to avoid wastage. My chef prepared fresh cream cakes on the spot to meet demand. While I wasn’t fully prepared for the rush, the day was a success, and it felt amazing to see customers enjoying Kawaii Cakes.

The January Slump and Exploring Online Opportunities:

January and February are typically slow months for cake shops, with fewer birthdays and weddings. Walk-in customers dwindled to just 2-3 cakes sold per day—sometimes none. Rather than waiting idly, I explored ways to sell my cakes online. I sent emails to online cake delivery platforms but received no replies. Determined, I onboarded my shop with Zomato and Swiggy. Zomato was quick to approve, while Swiggy took longer. These platforms became a lifeline for my business.

Navigating the Second COVID Wave:

By March 2021, the second COVID wave hit, bringing partial lockdowns, weekend restrictions, and limited shop hours (11 AM–3 PM and 6 PM–9 PM). Many competitors closed their shops entirely, but I stayed open during permitted hours. Customers, hesitant to step out, began calling for home delivery cakes. This was when Zomato truly shone, delivering consistent orders while Swiggy brought in fewer. Zomato and Swiggy riders became familiar with my shop, boosting my visibility.

Around May, online cake delivery partners finally responded, seeking vendors to prepare and deliver cakes on their behalf. I scaled up production cautiously, as wastage is a major challenge in the food industry. Delivering cakes without damage was critical—any spillage or mishap meant no payment and a hit to my vendor rating. By focusing on quality and careful delivery, I built a strong reputation with these platforms. By the end of the second wave, I was a trusted vendor, receiving steady order flows.

Lessons Learned and Sweet Success:

The first seven months of running Kawaii Cakes were a rollercoaster. For the initial 5-6 months, I barely broke even, managing the shop with just two employees. But persistence paid off. Through Zomato, Swiggy, and online cake delivery partners, my cakes reached more homes in Chennai. I learned the importance of minimizing wastage, preparing strategically, and delivering flawless orders to maintain customer trust.

Today, Kawaii Cakes is growing steadily, thanks to the lessons from those early days and the support of platforms like Zomato. My journey from rainy days with no customers to festive rushes and online success is just the beginning. Stay tuned for my next blog, where I’ll share how I expanded my menu and built a loyal customer base in Kelambakkam to Vandalore Road!

Order Your Favorite Cakes Today!Craving a delicious cake? Visit Kawaii Cakes in VIT Chennai or order online via Zomato or Swiggy for quick home delivery. Try our signature Black Forest Cake or indulge in our festive Plum Cake—there’s something sweet for every occasion!

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Call to Action: Follow my blog for more updates on Kawaii Cakes’ journey and exclusive offers. Share your favorite cake flavors in the comments below, and let’s connect over our love for sweets!