Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffini Soforenko.
Hi Tiffini, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I spent 16 years working at Universal Studios Hollywood. I worked my way up from a Tour Guide to becoming the first female Director of Operations and even being part of the opening team for Universal Studios Japan. By the time I left, my son was 2 and I was looking for opportunities that allowed me to spend more time with him. I visited a wholesale bakery in New York while visiting family and had some amazing lemon cupcakes. I wondered why there were no bakeries in Los Angeles with great cupcakes. I had just read an article about how a bakery in NYC was making about $30,000 per week after the main character in Sex and the City enjoyed a cupcake on the show. I thought perhaps I should open a bakery and only sell what was making the money – cupcakes. I told my husband and my Mom about the idea, and they were quickly on board.
At the time, there were no other cupcakes only bakeries. We found a location in Burbank and opened with just over 40 flavors on our full menu and 15 in the bakery each day. We had lines down the street the very first day, thanks to word of mouth and a few popular bloggers. We soon opened locations in Santa Monica and Brentwood. We wanted to share what we had learned and help others to control their own schedules. We went through the process to be able to offer franchises. We then opened franchised locations in Doha, Qatar, Kuwait, Pasadena, San Diego, Indiana/Notre Dame, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and multiple stores in Turkey. I was lucky enough to travel to the various countries to develop recipes and assist in the opening of those locations. I have been featured on many TV shows and in magazines, with my favorite being Food Network’s Unwrapped as. was always a big fan. I shot a pilot for a show on Food Network. They liked that I used creative ingredients to make my cupcakes. As a result, they ended up changing the show to a competition show called Cupcake Wars. I have had some amazing experiences since opening Yummy Cupcakes in 2004. Over the last few years, we have closed the various locations so we could go back to what we originally envisioned when we opened, being a local bakery with amazing products that the community embraces. We are so fortunate that Burbank and Los Angeles have been so amazing to us over the years.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not always easy. We were not only a food establishment but one with a concept that was brand new. I remember being at a bridal show and having people make comments about how dumb the idea of having cupcakes at a wedding was. Also, growing the business with three small children was a challenge. Running the three LA locations kept me away from my family more than I wanted. Franchising was also difficult. Trying to maintain the integrity of our product in shops we did not operate day to day was very hard. Ultimately, I had to find the balance that worked for me. Wanting to have tons of stores was the goal at one point, but my family was also what was most important. I feel like having one store that I own, where I can be creative, where the staff feels like family, where I have flexibility in my schedule, and where we can be a key part of the community is what’s important.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Yummy Cupcakes?
We have offered gourmet cupcakes and treats since 2004. We have expanded over the years to offer Vegan, Glutenless, and Glutenless Vegan cupcakes too. I am most proud of the unique flavors that we offer and that have local followings. We use great ingredients and are always looking to add new flavors and update our recipes if needed to ensure we are serving the best product possible.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am the type of person that likes stability and routine. I eat at the same restaurants and usually get the same thing. For me, just the act of starting my own business that I had no background in was a huge risk. Traveling alone to other countries to open locations was risk. Creating recipes that used ingredients and flavor profiles that were specific to that country was tough and I had to go on instinct. I have learned to take risks as a result of opening and running Yummy Cupcakes all these years. It is true great risks can lead to get rewards.
Pricing:
- Cupcakes – $4.25 – $4.50
- Vegan, Glutenless, Glutenless/Vegan Cupcakes – $4.50
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yummycupcakes.com
- Instagram: yummycupcakesLA
- Facebook: Yummy Cupcakes LA
Image Credits
Cathryn Farnsworth
