COVID lockdown motivates UG student to establish dessert shop

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, 20-year-old Kayleen Smith found the courage to start her own business baking cakes and other sweet treats.
The successful entrepreneur shared that it was during quarantine when she had a lot of free time on her hands that she seized the opportunity to launch her business “The Sweet Spot” on August 2, 2020.
“Baking and pastry making has always been a passion of mine ever since I was 13 and I’ve always dreamed of opening a business to share my creations with others but pre-COVID I was unable to find the time since I’m a student at the University of Guyana studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Health, however when the quarantine started like so many teenagers and young adults I had a lot of free time on my hands and I felt I had to occupy myself with something so I decided that I would finally take the leap and officially start my business,” Smith told Guyana Times.

She shared that during the initial phases of her business, perfecting her recipes was her number one priority, adding that she dedicated a lot of time to trying various combinations and techniques until she formulated the recipe that was just right. Smith also shared that following that, her next step was to work on her brand’s image.
“The next thing to do was to work on the brand image so I had to consult a designer for my labels and fliers and also get the package that would complement each individual dessert, and during this time I used this opportunity to check to see what my competitors were offering because whether or not I was going to offer the exact desserts as another business it was important that the items on my menu stand out from others.”
According to Smith, “This is why I came up with 4 different styles of cheesecake including one of our customer favourites, ‘Cheesecake Jars’. The final step was to start putting my fliers and logos on all my social media platforms to let everyone know that something big was coming.”
This ambitious young woman further told this publication that as time progressed, she expanded her services and started to cater for more events, as her clientele grew.

“When I first started…we were only offering 4 different styles of cheesecake but as time progressed, I started to diversify and I added birthday cakes and wedding cakes to the menu along with some other popular desserts, those being brownies and cookies.

Recently a catering menu has been developed with items such as cake pops, chocolate-covered strawberries, and pastries perfect for weddings, parties, and other special events.”
In the future, this self-taught baker is aiming to expand her business and have “The Sweet Spot” become a household name. Smith shared that she started using YouTube and recipe books for guidance at the tender age of 13. Since then, her skills have developed and she is currently at a stage where most of the techniques have become second nature for her.
“My reason for starting a dessert shop was to share my passion with everyone and to make gourmet desserts available for all to indulge in, in the comfort of their own home. I am constantly working on growing and advancing my craft. My future plans involve producing a select few of my products on a large scale with the hopes of getting on the shelves at supermarkets and that one day the name The Sweet Spot will become a household name.”
Additionally, Smith shared that her main challenge has been balancing her business with university, especially since she is the main person dealing with all business-related activities. Nevertheless, she is determined to find balance.
“I have found it is much easier to plan everything in advance and set a time limit for each activity in order to stay organised and efficient,” she remarked.
“The Sweet Spot” offers a wide range of services for all events, including birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, baby showers, and more. Anyone interested in booking their services can contact them via Facebook or Instagram at @thesweetspot.gy or on WhatsApp at +592 697-9993. Pickup is available at Farm, East Bank Demerara, and deliveries are done for those who are unable to pick up.