The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Nothing Bundt Cakes about ‘giving joy’
The slogan of “Giving Joy, One Cake at a Time,” is being discovered at a much faster rate in Lorain County than thought of by operators of Nothing Bundt Cakes, as the almost yearold bundt cake shop in Avon continues to grow.
Co-operators Janette and Dennis Looney said they have introduced the bundt-cake-sensation to the community through marketing strategies and attending events for brand awareness. And they say they have received a great response.
Each day staff and employees at the Avon location are baking and icing hundreds of bundt cakes of different sizes and flavors for numerous occasions, Janette said.
The national franchise was brought to Avon last December by the Looneys, who are Las Vegas, natives but now live in Bay Village.
Nothing Bundt Cakes was first created in Las Vegas by two best friends in the late 1990s and grew to become a phenomenon in the area by the mid-2000s, Janette said.
When she heard about it she said she knew she had to get involved in the franchise and spread the joy and sweet treats to more people.
The pair had no baking experience, but with a month’s worth of training, relocating twice for Dennis Looney’s job and a couple attempts at opening a shop, a home was later found at 35925 Detroit Road.
The Avon bake shop is the 269th franchise facility out of about 270 in the nation.
There are others located in Strongsville, Columbus and Cincinnati, Janette said.
She said areas of Lorain County were not as aware of the shop, so she wanted to introduce something new with a variety of options to
the community.
Nothing Bundt Cakes offers four different sizes of cakes in 10 different flavors, including a gluten-free option, and 40 different decorations. There are featured flavors, also.
The cakes come as Bundtinis, similar to a mini cupcake-sized cake; Bundtlets, which are a more personalsized cake and top-seller that can be stacked as Bundlet towers; and two bundt cakes made at 8 or 10 inches, which can be can be tiered.
All cakes are topped with a cream-cheese icing that can be decorated two different ways.
Janette said all cakes are consistently prepared the same way and ready to go in no more than 20 minutes for multiple occasions such as weddings, showers, birthdays and other events.
There are also may themed retail items provided through the franchise’s approved vendors sold at the shop.
“Since we’ve kicked-off, business has been tremendous,” Janette and Dennis
Looney said. “We’ve received a great response and I think it’s better than we’ve expected.”
The two said they’ve had help with a great team who some may seem like family while others are actual family.
Their daughter Haley Looney, 22, works alongside the family as a manager. They also have a son, Evan Looney, 25, who will be moving from Oregon to stay with the family.
Both Janette and Dennis said Nothing Bundt Cakes’ overall staff care about their jobs and as operators their goals are to instill diligent values to become great employees and people.
As a team, they feel as if they’ve really connected well with many businesses, communities and their residents.
“It’s been good because we’ve been very fortunate to be able to connect with the local community,” Dennis said. “Lots of schools, lots of fundraising, charitable organizations; we’d like to think we’re generous
when it comes to working with them, too.”
The pair said the shop provides a number of organizations with donations of cakes to not only be a good neighbor but to continue to spread word of the shop.
Janette said they want to continue to introduce themselves to more in the community for their growth, while sticking behind their goal of creating happiness.
“With the awareness we’re spreading, we’ve grown greatly,” Dennis said of their values. “I think we’ll grow for years and years.”
He added they’re a unique shop compared to others because they are simple, fast and consistent.
“One thing about our business is that we’re simple,” he said. “It’s effective where we can come in at a reasonable hour and come out. We always have some (cakes) frosted and ready to go and they can be made quickly.”
Both added the cakes are convenient for guests because they can be ready for any occasion without a month’s notice in advance.
Janette mentioned all cakes come out the same way with no customization, which can make some customers upset, but it is an overall easier experience for both parties.
“It’s very consistent,” she said. “You can’t always do some of that customization you want to, but it’s always going to taste great and it’s always going to be ready for you when you need it to be. We’re a lot of the time a relief for people.”
She stressed their intent to bring Nothing Bundt Cakes to Avon was to bring joy to the community, while happening to make cakes.
“One of our main goals is to have a great work place where we’ll all feel empowered to make our decisions; whether it be between our bakers, frosters and utility (staff),” she said. “We want them to grow and learn everything so they can and have a fun time and our customers can have a great experience.”