Unexpected Business Insights: A Months of Learning and Connections

Bold Questions, Big Opportunities: How My Partner Found a Wedding Planner for Me

One weekday in the morning, we visited one of our favourite café, Intra, in Campbell. As usual, we ordered their crispy chilli scrambled egg roll—a dish that always ends up with my hands covered in chilli oil. While I was savoring the meal, my partner suddenly got up and approached a well-dressed woman who had just entered the café. At first, I thought he had run into an old friend because they seemed to be having such an animated conversation.

When he returned, he looked at me sheepishly and said, "Sorry, I talked about your cake business... I know you're shy about it." My immediate reaction was to internally scream—was I even ready to discuss my cakes with a professional? But then he told me who she was: a wedding planner with an office right next to the café.

Apparently, he had casually bumped into her and asked about the wedding cake industry. She shared some incredible insights, including the fact that there are very few wedding cake experts in Canberra. Then came the real shocker—she said she could promote me on their website. What?! That was a level of opportunity I hadn’t even imagined yet. She also mentioned that classic wedding cakes are making a comeback, which aligned with my preference for elegant, timeless designs.

Looking back, I realize how grateful I am for my partner’s extroverted nature. I would have never had the courage to strike up that conversation myself, and yet it led to something that could be pivotal for my business.

A Fresh Take on Marketing: Advice from an Undercover Café Owner

Last month, while my partner and I were browsing a hospitality shop in the city for supplies, he casually asked the shopkeeper about starting a home bakery. What followed took me completely by surprise. The woman, whom I had seen countless times behind the counter and assumed to be the owner of the shop, turned out to be an undercover café owner—quietly running a trendy spot in Canberra while managing the hospitality store.

It was remarkable how effortlessly my partner found the perfect adviser. He had guessed she might have some hospitality connections, but she turned out to be much more than that—someone deeply embedded in both hospitality and retail. Maybe he has a sixth sense for spotting the right people to ask.

She shared some invaluable marketing advice: use Instagram strategically by taking high-quality photos of local cafés and tagging them to increase the chances of a repost. She also suggested visiting cafés with product samples and, most importantly, carving out a niche.

One insight struck me—Canberra’s food scene moves at a slow and steady pace, favoring timeless classics over fleeting trends. While sponge cakes are incredibly popular in many Asian countries, no one here is doing them well. That idea lingered in my mind. Maybe this is where Cakakouille could find its own space.

Before we left, she even recommended a well-known cake shop in Sydney for inspiration and suggested following local Instagram accounts like Her Canberra to engage with the community.

It was a brief conversation, but it left a lasting impression. I never expected such thoughtful guidance from a stranger, but her words helped untangle the jumble of ideas in my head and gave me a clearer sense of direction for my business.

From a Granny Flat to a Thriving Bakery: Lessons from a Bread Maker

A few days later, we stopped by Under Bakery in Mawson to pick up their incredible sourdough tin loaf—the best bread for soaking up rich, slow-cooked dishes. I had first tasted this bread at Sandoochie, a popular sandwich shop in the city that sells out by 1 p.m. most days. Their efficiency, great customer service, and vibrant kitchen energy make it one of my favorite spots.

At Under Bakery, my partner once again struck up a conversation with the owner—who happens to be his friend. And, once again, my business came up. (Fewuu... he's seriously the extrovert to my SUPER INTROVERT!)

The baker shared his own experience of starting small, operating from the granny flat behind his parents' house. Because he had been in the industry for years and worked in multiple restaurants, he already knew many hospitality business owners. When he launched his bread business, it was easy to share it with his industry friends, and his wholesale client base got him started. In fact, so many shops wanted to work with him that it quickly became overwhelming. He eventually realized that wholesale was too much work to handle alone and decided to focus more on direct sales.

When I mentioned that I had already registered my business, he was genuinely surprised. I laughed because, despite having my business legally set up, I hadn’t sold a single cake yet! But his words reassured me—every successful business starts somewhere.

A Few Months of New Perspectives

Reflecting on these past few months, I realized how invaluable these conversations have been. In just a few encounters, I gained insights from different sides of the industry—retail, wholesale, and weddings. More importantly, I learned that people are willing to share their knowledge and support those who are just starting out.

What I’ve understood from these outcomes is that you don’t need to find someone who is directly connected to your questions. Sometimes, it's more valuable to seek out someone from a completely different industry or at a different level than you. My partner firmly believes that if you can get an answer from the right person, it can solve any problem you have. And, as we saw with these conversations, his belief truly works.

Starting a business is overwhelming, but these unexpected moments have given me more confidence to move forward. Maybe, just maybe, Cakakouille is slowly taking shape.