Freshly baked business started as a hobby

AN OPEN heart and a willingness to lend a hand when her sister baked for family gatherings has seen a once-unemployed and impoverished Empangeni woman open her own business and become one of the most successful bakers in her community.

Phumzile Buthelezi, 26, had no idea that being thrown in the deep end during demanding preparations for major family events would prepare her for the livelihood which now distinguishes her from others in her neighbourhood.

She owns Grace upon Grace Bakery, which she started last year and which, with each day, is growing from strength to strength.

Her speciality is baking for celebrations such as birthday parties, baby showers, anniversaries and weddings.

Buthelezi said she had “a deep conversation” with herself about her ability and love for baking and concluded that no event was complete without a cake and, with the skills she possessed, she could capitalise on that.

She then sought professional training from an organisation called Hope for the Future which offered classes in the local community hall to enhance her skills and learn how to create a business.

Her first order was for a wedding cake.

“I was not sure if I was going to get it right, but I gave it a shot and, surprisingly, it was a success,” she said with a sparkle in her eyes.

“From then, people took note of my skills. The baking business never really runs out; the only change is the different designs one has to come up with for different occasions.”

The enthusiastic baker creates all this magic in her family’s kitchen, where she has to negotiate a schedule with other family members who also need to eat – and not necessarily cake.

This was temporary though, she said, as she had a plan to find another space which she could use solely for her business.

Buthelezi has also mastered the trick of getting the best ingredients and material for baking at reasonable prices by searching for the best bargains without compromising on quality.

She mainly buys from Empangeni Rail, which sells in bulk. She also uses a gas oven that enables her to put in four trays at