Journey of Passionate Cake Entrepreneur Sonam Pelden
Sonam Pelden is from Wangdue, Bhutan, pursued her education in hotel management, and earned a B.Sc in culinary arts from Chitkara University. She gained valuable experience as a Bakery Chef for two years at Tashi Taj in Thimphu before venturing abroad. Currently based in Perth, Australia, Sonam has embarked on a home-based business crafting cakes as a side hustle.
In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, she also serves as an Assistant in Nursing in aged care and as a support worker in disability services. Her diverse roles showcase her dedication to both culinary arts and caring professions, reflecting her versatile skills and commitment to making a meaningful impact in her community.
“Since a young age, I discovered my passion for baking cakes. As soon as I returned from school, I would eagerly start experimenting, melting chocolates and mixing flour. My father recognized my interest early on and became my biggest supporter,” Sonam recalled. In 2020, encouraged by her father and supported by her husband, who has been her staunchest advocate throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Sonam launched her home-based business.
Sonam shared her day as a home-based baker, “throughout the day, a home-based cake maker must be adaptable, as changes in order or unexpected challenges may arise. Have to be prepared to adjust my schedule to accommodate last-minute orders or changes. This might mean setting aside buffer time in our daily routine.”
To ensure a successful home-based cake business demands more than just baking skills. Attention to detail, time management, and creativity play crucial roles in delivering high-quality products and excellent customer service by ensuring that each cake meets the highest standards of taste and appearance of customers, Sonam added.
The Cake by Peday’s most orders typically revolve around significant life events such as birthdays, weddings, baby showers, and welcome celebrations. She shared that the price she charges for each cake depends on the cost of ingredients or expenses it requires and also by looking at other bakers.
She declared, “As of now, I make most of the cake with vanilla and buttercream frosting because I want to give the taste of cakes that people get in Bhutan. And Customers also prefer cakes that taste similar to those we get in our country or familiarity of traditional flavors remain irreplaceable for every Bhutanese living outside.”
Every entrepreneurship is a thrilling and challenging journey that requires resilience, creativity, and determination. Sonam explained that being an entrepreneur comes with its share of difficulties. The hardest thing for her to manage was time since she had to run a home-based business in addition to her job. Competition in the market and occasionally handling pressure and stress present additional challenges.
“Embarking on the journey of starting a small business can be both exciting and daunting. To navigate this path successfully, it is crucial to focus on key aspects such as developing a robust business plan, managing time effectively, choosing the right location, utilizing space efficiently, and building a strong online presence, particularly on platforms like Instagram and Facebook,” She shared on her note to the aspiring entrepreneurs.
According to Sonam, the word ‘entrepreneurs’ has a profound and sophisticated meaning. It embodies the essence of starting a business that not only grants the freedom and independence to make autonomous decisions but also allows us to pursue our passion. This journey is enriched by the opportunity to work on what one loves while engaging with a diverse range of people.
All in all, running a cake business isn’t just about selling cakes, it’s about sharing her passion with the world, and creating happiness through her delicious cakes. For someone like Sonam Pelden, who has pursued her love for baking since childhood, starting a cake business represents the realization of a dream and the culmination of years of dedication to mastering her craft.
