EPISODE 56 - FROM LOOSING 80% OF HER BUSINESS TO BEING FEATURED ON THE FOOD NETWORK WITH RAVEENA OBEROI OF JUST CAKES BAKE SHOP

Raveena Oberoi of Just Cakes Bake Shop

Raveena Oberoi of Just Cakes Bake Shop

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE HERE:

On this episode, we have an inspiring guest: - Raveena Oberoi the founder of Just Cakes Bakeshop!

Just Cakes Bakeshop and The Jar Bar founder Raveena Oberoi is a pastry chef & entrepreneur who challenges the bound of the foodservice businesses. She pivoted strategy amid the pandemic and opened a second bakeshop and Canada’s first cake jar vending machine. She entered the commercial space with Fresh St Market stores across BC, as well as several other retail partners. As a South Asian woman in a competitive industry, she is aware and actively fighting off intersectional challenges faced by entrepreneurs and women. Through Just Cakes, Raveena also advocates for social causes. Moreover, Raveena is a Food Network winner - winning on an episode of “The Big Bake”, and now also a brand new judge to Food Network’s new series “Wall of Bakers”.

In this episode, Danielle and Raveena discuss her journey of building her business, the challenges that came with the pandemic and how she lost 80% of her business, to then pivoting creatively to then being featured on the Food Network!

We hope you enjoy this inspiring conversation!

Key Takeaways:

  • Raveena shares about where Just Cakes Bake Shop is now, and reflects a bit on the 13-year-journey it took to get there.

  • Danielle asks Raveena to share what inspired her to start Just Cakes. Raveena shares how her story starts in high school, when she found herself in the kitchen, developing a baking hobby. Fast forward to studying psychology at UBC and realizing, in a dorm without a kitchen, how much baking was an important outlet for her. When she moved into an apartment, her weekends were full of baking, and by the time she was graduating, she was spending more time on baking than school. Her perspective for her “life plan” changed when a professor opened up an understanding of being called to more than just one thing. Post-grad, she worked hard utilizing her degree as a behavior interventionist while also being a full-time cake baker from her kitchen. After two years, she applied to and attended a pastry school in France and never turned back!

  • Danielle remarks on the relatability of Raveena’s story and the decision to go all-in as an entrepreneur and asks Raveena if she wrestled with the decision to take the leap and she responds that she is a huge believer of positive uncertainty and the law of attraction - how we can reframe uncertain events as opportunities or experiences instead of being afraid of them. Ask yourself “what energy am I putting forth in the process of this decision. Danielle remarks that if you don’t have the right mindset, none of the other stuff matters!

  • Danielle asks Raveena what are the things that have helped her scale, grow, and stay sustained in her 13 years of business? Raveena shares that not only is mindset important, but community is crucial! She shares that you need to be able to let go to scale! Detach from your ego, be humble and open with your skills and knowledge. 

  • Danielle asks Raveena to share about some challenges Raveena has had in the light of the pandemic. Raveena shares how her first year was great, but the following years have challenged her acumen, particularly learning how to pivot in the last two years. She shares how she saw that a particular product had the potential to soar during the pandemic, and how she pivoted her business to grow and serve said profitable product and how it allowed her to bring back her staff and continue to grow! She talks about the silver linings from the hard stuff - like being forced to move entirely online with ordering/admin actually has saved her and her team time and allowed them to use their time to grow the business! It’s all about MINDSET!

  • Danielle and Raveen talk about the difference between hustle culture and working from a place of purpose. Danielle asks Raveena how she sets boundaries in her business. Raveena talks about prioritizing tasks that actually serve the “why” of her business. She shares about burnout in the past, and how it has motivated her to build “non-negotiable” boundaries to protect her time. She shares how her friend schedules out his week with three different types of days -  Free Days(2/week), Creative Days (2-3/week), Focus Days (2-3/week). 

  • Danielle asks Raveena to share about how she got the chance to appear on the baking shows she’s had the opportunity to be on! Raveena shares how she made goals based in her dreams and how that led to her opportunities and how those opportunities led to connections that led to more opportunities! She said this experience of being a South Asian on TV speaks to her “Why” that representation MATTERS! Raveena talks about something she heard on a podcast long ago - how your reputation influences your reach, which influences your revenue. And this points back to her love for baking and her big WHY. 

  • Danielle asks Raveena to share what she would say to someone who is questioning their business. Raveena says to take some time and think about WHY you started. Find highlights, write them down, and if those outweigh your discouragement, it can help you determine your drive to continue. The journey is not perfect for anyone, eliminate comparison and make time to reflect!

Connect with Raveena:

Instagram: @ravthechef

@justcakesbakeshop

https://www.justcakesbc.com/

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Danielle Wiebe