Meet Brianne Vail of Cake Stuff, Inc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianne Vail.

Hi Brianne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
My mom started a bakery 32 years ago, and I started working for her at 12. Several years later, she and my dad decided to open a second business selling cake decorating and candy-making supplies. They started in a less than 1000 sq ft building and learned quickly that they needed a larger space. They made two more moves over the years, and when I took over the family business just 8 years ago, I knew we needed to expand again. We are now located in the same shopping center we have been in for over 20 years, just a little down the hall from where we previously were, in a 6000 sq ft space. We started in a tiny little space where we didn’t even have a classroom, and now we carry everything you could imagine for making cakes, cookies, and candy. We also teach classes on cake decorating, cookie decorating, cake pops, kid’s classes, and camps, and we also do candy-making classes near the holidays. And as the trends constantly change and we always bring in new products, I joke with my mom (who still stops in occasionally to help) that we need a bigger store. We have an excellent staff who is eager and excited to help our amazing customers and work hard to help out those non-profits in our community so they can continue their amazing work. My father instilled in me the importance of giving back to the community that supports us daily by choosing to shop small. I am so proud to own this incredible little gem in West Wichita.

Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect.
A small business always has challenges, but most of the years are smooth. Then, covid happened. We are still working every day to make up for the losses incurred during the shutdowns, and we are still working every day to pay off the debts that accumulated during that time. We are finally at a place where we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but the last few years have been rougher than expected. Each time I see another small business close, my heart breaks. We are truly blessed that we are still able to push through it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Cake Stuff, Inc?
We are a small business specializing in cake, cookies, and candy. It’s a pretty “sweet” gig. We offer items for beginners to professional bakeries. We have the country’s largest selection of cookie cutters and a wall of over 60 feet long and 7 feet tall of candy molds. In addition to products, we also teach classes on how to use all the items in our store. We have cookie and cake decorating classes and classes on cake pops. We also offer kids’, kids’ camps, and Mommy and Me classes. During the holidays, we even fit in candy-making classes, and my absolute favorite a Cookies for Santa Kid’s Class every Christmas Eve. We also do Gingerbread open houses during the holidays, where families and friends who purchase their gingerbread kits with us can sign up for a time slot to come in and decorate as a group. The event is complete with a candy bar and hot cocoa bar, and best of all, we assemble the houses before the event and take care of all the cleanup. We also offer many other events throughout the year and are always trying to find new ways to bring people into this amazing hobby.

The one thing that sets us apart from the big box stores is our team. Everyone on our team has experience with baking and decorating. You can come in with 100 questions, and we will answer all of them. You need help finding that. My favorite item in the store, and one that we sell a ton of, is our buttercream frosting. My mom created this recipe over 30 years ago, and though it has undergone some changes here and there, it is the most incredible icing you will ever put in your mouth! We also have an astonishing chocolate buttercream, and this summer started carrying flavored icings such as strawberry, raspberry, orange, lemon, and key lime. They are to die for! Another thing that sets us apart is that if we come in looking for something, and we don’t carry it (it happens sometimes), we will either find a source or order it if we can. Or we’ll make it custom. We print custom cookie cutters and cake toppers regularly on our 3d printers. Even if you’re not big on baking, it is fun to come by and walk around our store. Where else can you find more than a 30-foot sprinkle aisle of sprinkles and our very own medley bar?!

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Truly caring about your customer’s needs and always prioritizing giving back to your community has been the true basis of our success.

Contact Info:

• Website: cakestuff316.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cakestuffwichita