YEDaily: Jenna Placey

Jenna Placey is a 27-year-old entrepreneur who took her love of baking and turned it into her career. She started The Investment Baker in January this year, and since has made a bevy of cakes for some notable clientele. Find out more about this delicious YE in today’s feature.

Elevator Pitch: Describe your business in a nutshell.
Almost anything you can imagine made into a cake, cupcake or cookie.

Why did you start your business, what was the inspiration?
I’ve always loved to bake – even as a kid. But I hated having a boss! So with the encouragement and support from friends and family, I started The Investment Baker.

What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part is watching people, especially kids, enjoy what I’ve made for them. The most challenging part is that almost every order is unique. There’s no “cookie cutter” (no pun intended) process, which I find to be both challenging and rewarding. There’s never a dull moment!

Where do you see your business going in 5 years?
I’d like to keep my business somewhat small, and niche. I like my customers to feel like they are always getting something personalized and home baked. I am, however, open to eventually hiring a few helpers.

investment baker

What does success look like to you?
Success to me is making sure I have customers that are always happy and will continue to come back to me for all their special occasions. And of course, money helps too!

What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
I’ll always remember my first tiered cake that I made for a customer that wasn’t a family member or friend. That was almost two years ago and I’ve made several cakes for them since.

Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Always accept help and support from your friends and family. They are the ones that will be there with you even when you have to work all through the night.

Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Many charities have large events and I’ve had the opportunity to provide my baked goods for a number of them. I try to be as diverse as possible when choosing the charities I support.

What is Notable to you?
Notable is seeing what is already been done, knowing you can do better, and having the guts to do it.

Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
Blackberry all the way.