Omg I Could Be Doing This Full Time!!!
Decorating By Cathy26 Updated 31 Oct 2009 , 2:59pm by cylstrial
So excited!! Ive been a registered caker now for a year (its actually the anniversary of my first fondant cake on Monday!) and have been working fully time as a legal secretary and caking once my hubby goes to bed at 9pm (hes a lorry driver up at 4am).
been doing well with a few flyers and mostly word of mouth and repeat customers and got a website up and running and everything was going smoothly, the extra cash was nice for our NYC holiday fund, i was more and more confident about trying different cakes, etc and although tiring working two jobs everything was nice and steady.....
then.... my husband rings me a work and says look you only live once, why dont you try and open a cupcake cafe/cake shop. it was something we talked about like a pipe dream in the future but never seriously so i was really suprised - i have a good job, 9-5 monday to friday, a pension, sick pay, holiday pay and yet my hubby had enought faith in me to say about risking everything for me to follow my dream...
well to cut a long story short, after having worked like crazy the past couple weeks working out pricings, profit margins, staff costs, electricty, insurance, trying to find premises, looking at employment law, finding an accountant and working out how to find finance, shop fit out costs, start up costs, etc etc .....yesterday we found out that we have been approved for a £20,000 unsecured loan for the start up business which only works out at £484 a month for 5 years AND its looking positive that we could get the premises we want which are in the university area of Belfast which is buzzing.
There are no cupcake or American style bakeries/cheesecake/cupcake cafes in Northern Ireland so im hoping that this alongside my made to order cakes will really work....
so excited, actually cannot believe I could have my own shop and not be wishing 9-5 away every day!!!!! fingrs crossed that we get good news on the premises!! 
That is so awesome and exciting. Wishing you the best of luck. I hope you keep us posted on your progress. Happy baking.
You're making me tear up. sniff
I'm very happy for you--wow you can feel your jubilance and your hard work coming through the computer jumping out of your words.
Multiplied Congratulations!!
Stay focused.
<insert clapping hands wildly smilie face>
thanks for your support everyone, im really realy excited, really hope it works out - have so much riding on it but can really picture it with bags of fudge, cookies (not iced ones -lol im a disaster), macaroons and sweets at the till tied up with ribbon plus all my fancy cupcakes behind a glass counter and hopeully loads of cake orders!
am planning the shop to be a vintage, Cath Kidston inspired shabby chic decor with lots of cream painted wood, a wall with really funky pink floral wallpaper, a hugh ornate gilt mirror and loads of those shabby chic cupcake prints and paintings and then shelves behind me with lovely cupcake inspired china and pink scales ...oh i could go on STOP ME!!
really want something different to a branded minimalistic coffee shop but also something really funky and different to an old fashioned bakery to make it a fun experience to come into and have a really lovely non intimidating atmosphere - cant wait to hear back from the estate agents!!
Oh I'm soooooo happy for you!!! I think we have the same brain as when I rebrand this year I'm going all Cath Kidston too 
(don't worry I'm in Yorkshire). My best friend's husbands family lives in Bangor and I will tell them to get theirselves up to your shop whenever they visit Belfast. I can't wait to get to this stage myself, GO GIRL !!!
Congratulations and lots of best wishes for much success. If yours will be one of the first cupcake shops in the area you should do tremendously well! Your ideas for the shop sound amazing - keep us all posted.
You only live once, so live your dream!! GO GIRL!!!
And so close to a Uni is great. The college kids might not be able to afford a custom cake, but a 1/2 doz cupcakes for a friend's b'day is right up their price range.
And don't forget ... POST PICS! Take all kinds as you renovate and then when you open. And share, share, share!!
Best of luck - after all, you DO have The Luck of the Irish behind you on this. 
HUGE congratulations Cathy. Sounds like your dream is about to become a reality.
And you've made me remember all the great times I've had in Belfast - excellent food-scene! It's an awesome city, and around the uni is a great place for a cake shop. I wish you all the luck in the world.
Keep us updated as you progress!
Emma
Congratulations!!! I know how thrilled you must be.. Good Luck
Congrats for being brave enough to do it and smart enough to do your homework beforehand and weigh the costs/benefits So happy for you Where I live it seems there are as many cupcake shops as there are Starbucks so I know my hobby will remain just that - a hobby
So exciting! Everything crossed for you that you get the shop you want. Love how you described your vision for it, definitely somewhere I would go for coffe and cake! So many of us think about it - what an awsome husband to take that leap with you! Good luck - keep us posted! 
Thanks Justdarling - just looked up your site...im glad your in Yorkshire, wouldnt want the competition!!!
Thanks Cathy I love your cakes so I'll take that as a big compliment. All the best and keep us posted I can't wait till it's my turn! x
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