By Utamu Belle
While some people might be demotivated by restrictions put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, 35-year-old Linden mother of 3 Onika Paddy is utilising this time to work on establishing her own cupcake business.
Today, “Love at First Bite” cupcakes is quickly becoming a household name for those seeking unique and delicious cupcakes for any event.
“I never really had the time to put all my passion and my love into it because I was working. So, now that I am home I decided to just go forth with it. I was very overwhelmed with the support that I got from my friends and my family, so I continued”, Paddy told the Sunday Times Magazine.
Baking has been one of her pastimes ever since she was a little girl. It is a skill which was taught to her by her mother who also enjoyed baking and being around the kitchen.
“I started baking bread and my mom, she always instilled these things into us since we were like around 12, 13…she too has some catering experience and she would teach me a few things like making pastries”, Paddy related.
When asked about the catchy name behind her line of cupcakes, the businesswoman explained that it was created through input and inspiration from one of her close friends.
“I came up with a name and then I threw it to her and she advised me that when you’re naming a business you name it with an affirmation… and so she just changed it around a bit and we started to call it ‘Love at First Bite’ and indeed it ended up being love at first bite”, she noted with a chuckle.
Paddy aims to be unique and creative in the presentation and flavour of her cupcakes. Customers have the opportunity to choose their own unique designs and colours as they see fit and can place orders the day prior to delivery. They also have an option of ordering alcohol-infused or just regular cupcakes.
“I try to be more colourful and try my best to do my own designs and stuff… I operate from within my own kitchen. At first, I started selling drinks and then I decided to start baking and selling”, she explained.
The mother of 3 hopes to one day expand her services outside of Linden as she has her eyes set on offering services to areas such as Georgetown and Berbice. This move, she explained, presently has its challenges owing to the pandemic. In the meantime, she is organising and exploring the possibilities with the help of a friend. She is also working on having her own establishment and to also incorporate the usual cakes into her line of work.
“I’m really trying to be different, like stray away from what everybody else is doing… So I’m trying my best to stick to cupcakes but I see myself in the future doing cakes as well, in a more different and fun and creative way. I’m just giving myself some time to develop a little bit more and then everything else will fall into place”, Paddy said.
For anyone with a passion that might be pondering with their ideas, the mother of 3 advises them to be encouraged.
“My advice to them would be to believe in yourself. As long as you have the vision, the only way that it can be manifested is through you. So just take one step. Sometimes you may not get the results that you’re looking for the first time, but just continue pushing, continue believing in yourself and continue trying. Eventually, you will get there, but first of all, ask God to guide you”, she said.
