"Girl, you have to see these cupcakes! They even have glitter! Who knew yuh cuda eat glitter! Ah still licking meh finger! They tasting good!" These were the words of comedienne Rachel Price as she described Jenna Khal's signature cupcakes. "Pricey" had recently ordered some for her daughter's birthday and she was "blown away." So much so, she picked up the telephone to ask if I would consider writing a feature on Khal, since her work was "amazing!"
When I sat down to chat with the 25-year-old entrepreneur at her Westmoorings home recently, I found out that Price's sentiments were shared by hundreds of her clients. I also found out just how Khal's successful business was started. "About two years ago, my cousin was having her baby shower and asked if my mother and I could make her a cake. I'm not the domestic type, but I went to the store and got all the ingredients and decided to give it a try," she recalled.
"I had no idea what the design would be but I went for it." Using her natural artistic talent, Khal created a cake in the form of a "cartoon baby" which was a major hit among the guests. "I was stunned at what I did. I looked at my mother and said, 'I could make money from this. I could start a business.'" That very night, the Maple Leaf International School graduate created a Facebook group and logo for her company, which she decided to call Piece a' Cake.
"I immediately began making cakes with different designs and I would post all of them on my page."
Within two months, Khal's fan page had more than 400 members, most of whom had already become hooked on her signature "swirl and glitter" edible treats.
Her passion
Noting that her passion has now become her job, Khal said her cakes catered to just about everyone-even vegetarians and health buffs. Her prices? Cupcake prices range from $120-$240 and customers can pay anywhere between $300-$5,000 for her signature cakes. "It really depends on the size and colour combination, etc," she explained. "I try to keep my prices as affordable as possible.
I work within my clients' budgets because I never want to turn down anyone" A stickler for detail and perfection, Khal is "very particular" about her works of art. "I have to do it until I get it right. It has to be perfect...Absolutely nothing comes from a box. I do everything from scratch."
Do what you love
Khal's friendly and engaging personality is an added bonus. She greets each client with a smile and believes that great customer service is the key to success. "I have developed a good relationship with my clients. Most of us have become very close. I like to take the business out of it and keep things casual," she asserted. Khal, who has sold her signature desserts to companies such as Guardian Life, Witco and Digicel, said she may soon have to expand her business, which she now runs from her kitchen, to satisfy the growing demands of old and new customers.
Flashing a bright smile, she said, "I'm doing what I love so it doesn't feel like work. I would tell anybody to do what they love. Forget about the money. What's important is going after your passion, the rest would fall into place."