The Cheesecake Affair: A Home-Based Business In The Twin Cities
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your baking business The Cheesecake Affair.
I did my undergraduate in Business Administration and took up MSc HRM later on. The zeal and fervour to be an entrepreneur was always there; a little spark was needed to ignite it! However, getting married in 2012 redirected me to an entirely different path. It took me eight good years to realise I could still do it...it wasn’t at all easy for a woman like me to decide on finally dividing my time now between the two: family (which includes my husband and children) + household and work. I was never good with cooking or even baking. But the cheesecake was a dessert which I just kept on experimenting, even long before I thought of taking it to another level as business.
2. What was one of the biggest obstacles you faced whe first starting out ?
I would say, Alhamdulillah, nothing at all! It’s not that setting up a business is so easy but talking about real obstacles, not even for a moment I felt it was impossible. I was lucky to have the best support system: family including my husband and even kids.
3. What skill would you say is most important on your line of work?
I think what literally any job would require is being organised! As far as my work at The Cheesecake Affair is concerned, yes doing customised cheesecakes clearly requires being organised as well as good time management skills keeping in mind the nature of the cakes I do.
4. During the design process how do you bring in new inspiration in your cheesecakes? And where do you get your inspiration from?
So far, the range of cheesecakes that I have created up till now, I have tried to step outside my normal boundaries of creating a standard cheesecake. I put in a lot of time and effort in the customisation of cakes from mini cheesecakes to standard sizes with the available resources. Most of it was my own innovation but yes, I get my inspiration from The Cheesecake Factory.
5. How do you set yourself apart from your competitors?
I haven’t yet figured out my competitors and this is not how I take my direction of work. Although businesses is a lot about money but for me it’s more about passion and innovation, indulging myself into new recipes and coming up with something worthwhile every single time. The Cheesecake Affair has let me explore my talent and that’s how it sets me apart!
6. What flavours do you offer? Which cheesecake has been a fab hit?
So far, Kitkat and Oreo have been our hot sellers! We are offering a certain range of flavours which include:
Classic Cheese
Blueberry
Raspberry
Lemon
Oreo
Lotus
Kitkat
Twix
7. You have a passion for interior designing too. When did you realise this?
Growing up in a house where interior changes and revamping was always a thing, this did have a significant influence on my aesthetics and interest in interior designing. As a teenager I would always be looking for lamps, cushions and other decor accessories for my room. However, I did not pursue it as my career.
8. How do you balance your time between the two?
I haven’t taken up interior designing as a profession as yet. So far I have been doing it for family and friends only.
9. the first thing that catches your eye when you enter a room? (Empty or not)
Furniture and lamps.
10. How can one contact you if they need some revamping or consultancy?
Through Instagram or email.
