Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Marks.
Hi Kimberly, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Kim, owner, designer, customer service representative, decorator, and delivery person known as KcCakelady, with some help from my husband, who had no idea this was going to be part of our journey.
What started as a job to help support my family eventually became a career I never could have imagined
My cake journey began in 2000 when my children were young and I needed a job that would work around their schedules after we moved to Stanley, Kansas.
I walked into a local grocery store looking for work, and they asked, “Do you know how to decorate cakes?” My response was, “I think so!” That simple question ended up changing the course of my life.
Over the years, I worked for several grocery stores and bakeries, learning something new everywhere I went. With each position, my skills grew, my confidence grew, and so did my customer base. At one point, my clientele had grown so much that when I took a vacation, I had to make cakes weeks in advance so the stores could freeze them while I was gone.
I loved creating display cakes that would stop people in their tracks. Customers would come into the store just to look at them, take photos, and ask, “Are you KC Cake Lady?” I was shocked. That was the moment I realized my work was becoming recognizable, and it encouraged me to start photographing my cakes and building my own portfolio.
Customers often asked if I made cakes from home. At the time, I didn’t. Eventually, finding a traditional bakery schedule that worked while raising four children became increasingly difficult. I tried a few more bakeries, and some even told me I wasn’t good enough. Looking back, those moments of rejection were some of the best things that ever happened to me because they pushed me to believe in myself and take a chance on building my own business.
I’ve always believed that when someone tells you that you can’t do something, you have two choices: believe them or prove them wrong. I chose to prove them wrong. Even today, I occasionally hear criticism, although much less than I used to. Instead of discouraging me, it motivates me to keep learning, improving, and challenging myself to create something even better.
Today, KcCakelady has been creating custom cakes for over 25 years. I specialize in one-of-a-kind designs and love bringing ideas to life that clients never thought possible. Every cake is an opportunity to learn something new, and after all these years, I’m still excited to take on the next challenge.
Beyond cakes, I’m a wife to a USMC, Army veteran, a mother, grandmother, and now a great-grandmother. Over the years, I’ve lived everywhere from San Diego to Savannah, Georgia, and even Germany before eventually returning home to the Kansas City area.
Running a cake business, especially one centered around weddings and special events, means working when everyone else is celebrating. For more than 25 years, that has often meant weekends, holidays, birthdays, and family gatherings spent in the kitchen, delivering cakes, or setting up events. Unfortunately, there have been many times when cakes had to come before family. It’s one of the sacrifices that comes with owning a business, and it hasn’t always been easy.
There were years when I worked long hours, stayed up late finishing cakes, and missed events I wish I could have attended. Building a business while raising a family required sacrifices from everyone involved. Looking back, I’m grateful for the support my family has given me throughout the journey.
At the same time, I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities this career has given me and for the amazing people I’ve met along the way. I’ve been fortunate to create cakes that became part of some truly memorable moments in Kansas City history.
One of the most exciting was creating a 40-inch-tall Lombardi Trophy cake that was taken to the Kansas City Power & Light District on February 2, 2020, for the Chiefs’ first Super Bowl win in 50 years. We didn’t know they would win that day, but the experience of carrying that cake through a massive KC crowd and being part of such an unforgettable moment was incredible. It was also my granddaughter’s birthday and the day before my husband and I celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary, making it even more memorable.
Other memorable projects have included creating a cake for Hostess’ 100th Birthday celebration featuring a 16-inch Hostess cupcake, a retirement cake for the legendary Skid Roadie from 101 The Fox, a number 5 birthday cake for Kansas City Royals legend George Brett that included a surprise appearance by Garth Brooks.
More recently, I had the honor of creating a groom’s cake for Denny Matthews, the legendary “Voice of the Royals.” Denny has called Kansas City Royals games since the team’s inaugural season in 1969 and is one of the longest-tenured announcers in Major League Baseball history. Being trusted to create a cake for someone who has been such a significant part of Kansas City sports history was truly special.
These days, when I’m not making cakes, I try to spend as much time with my family as possible. Because weekends are still my busiest time, I don’t attend many vendor socials or networking events. Instead, I focus on my clients, my family, and continuing to create cakes that people remember long after the celebration is over.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is simple: don’t let anyone else decide what you’re capable of. Some of the people who told me I wasn’t good enough unknowingly gave me the determination to build the career I’ve had for the last 25 years. Every challenge, every setback, and every criticism helped shape KCcakelady into what it is today, and for that, I’m grateful.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey certainly wasn’t without struggles. Like many small business owners, there were times when I questioned whether I could keep going. I’ve worked through economic downturns, rising costs, family responsibilities, health challenges, and the uncertainty that comes with being self-employed. There were slow seasons when orders were scarce and busy seasons when I barely slept trying to meet deadlines. Building a reputation took years of consistency, hard work, and determination. As a one-person business for most of my career, every success and every mistake fell on my shoulders. Those challenges taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of never giving up on something you truly believe in.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart is that I genuinely love the challenge of creating cakes that have never been done before. After more than 25 years, I’m still learning, experimenting, and pushing myself creatively. I don’t want to make the same cake over and over again—I enjoy taking a client’s idea and turning it into something unique.
I’m also not a large bakery with multiple decorators. When someone orders from KCcakelady, they’re working directly with me from the first conversation to the final delivery. I design the cake, bake it, decorate it, answer the emails, and often deliver it myself. That personal connection allows me to understand what my clients are looking for and create something that reflects their vision.
I think my grocery store and bakery background also gave me a unique foundation. I learned not only how to decorate cakes, but how to work efficiently, solve problems, meet deadlines, and create cakes for all kinds of budgets and occasions. Over the years, I’ve combined those skills with a passion for detailed, one-of-a-kind designs.
Most importantly, I care. Whether it’s a birthday cake for a child, a wedding cake, or a cake celebrating a major Kansas City event, I understand that I’m creating something that becomes part of a memory. Long after the cake is gone, people remember the moment, and I’m honored to play a small role in those celebrations.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Honestly, my greatest resource has always been learning by doing. When I first started decorating cakes, YouTube didn’t exist, social media didn’t exist, and there weren’t endless online tutorials available. Much of what I learned came from working in grocery stores and bakeries, watching other decorators, asking questions, practicing, and sometimes learning from my own mistakes. I can be my own worst critic
Today, I still find inspiration everywhere. I enjoy looking at architecture, nature, art, fashion, and even everyday objects that can spark an idea for a cake design. Social media has also become a valuable resource because it allows me to see what decorators around the world are creating and helps keep me inspired to continue learning new techniques.
More than any app, book, or podcast, I think perseverance has been my greatest tool. Every challenge, every difficult cake, every mistake, and every success has taught me something. After more than 25 years, I’m still learning, and I believe that willingness to keep growing is one of the biggest reasons I’ve been able to do what I love for so long.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kccakelady.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/kccakelady_
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/kccakelady
