Pawprint Chats is a series where we chat with our friends, clients, and peers in our local Colorado community. It’s a chance to check in and see how everyone’s doing, in business and in life.
Today we’re talking to Linda Sudowski, owner at My Make Studio.
YellowDog: Hello! Give us the “elevator pitch” version of what your business does.
Linda Sudowski: My Make Studio is a decorate-it-yourself cupcake and cake studio specializing in complete decorating kits. It’s cupcake and cake decorating made easy so you can make it look difficult! We can ship kits nationwide, or you can come into our creative space to craft confections (and we’ll take care of the mess).
YD: What has been your biggest win in the past year?
LS: Our biggest win this past year has without a doubt been our Cupcake and Cake KITS! Pre-COVID, we were a 100% in-person activity, and we now have kits that can be shipped nationwide for everyone to enjoy in their homes. It’s quite a clever pivot if I do say so myself.
YD: This year has been a learning experience for everyone. Anything you’ve learned about your business in 2020?
LS: I feel like I built an entirely new business this year. What haven’t I learned?! While I knew that Denver embraced our edible craft, I learned that the whole country has a true love for cupcakes, just like us. I learned how to pivot my business overnight and run an e-commerce website for the first time. Connecting with customers was different than I knew how, so that was a learning curve too. We learned how to bring our small business charm to our professional kits — with the packaging design help of Yellow Dog, of course!
YD: What has been one of your proudest moments as a local business owner?
LS: When the original stay-at-home order hit Denver, I cried, let all of my employees go, and cried some more. Then I got busy. Within a week, Chayla Turner (the greatest cupcake designer EVER) and I had designed our entire kit concept. The first week we launched, we were able to bring back most of my employees. Within a few weeks, we were shipping kits nationwide and I brought back the entire team and even had to hire someone new. Then I cried some more — this time in a good way. I’m so grateful for my team. I wouldn’t be anywhere without them!
YD: If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about your business, what would it be?
LS: Hmmm I would wave my wand and have a warehouse now! We invested in a space to host IN-PERSON events right when COVID hit. You can guess how that worked out! We now use that space to house all of our materials for kits once we made the pivot. I would definitely work my magic to turn that small space into a large warehouse so I could order my materials in greater bulk. I just had no idea my life would have gone in this direction!
YD: Describe your brand in three words.
LS: Whimsical. Creative. Edible.
YD: Love it! Now for some friendly rapid-fire questions:
Are you a dog person or a cat person?
DOG! I used to train guide dogs for people who are blind.
Early bird or night owl?
Early bird. I have four kids. It’s not an option!
Favorite local beer?
Barquentine Brewery! Check ’em out in the Edgewater Public Market. You can even grab a beer from them and mosey down the hall to My Make Studio so you can decorate cupcakes WHILE YOU DRINK BEER!
What’s your best party trick?
Are people having parties right now?! I miss everyone!!!!
What show are you currently binging?
The Queen’s Gambit. Soooo good!
Any book you’re currently reading?
With four kids and a business during COVID, I ain’t got time for that! Suggestions would be appreciated though 😀
What do you miss the most about pre-pandemic life?
We are a bit crazy and jumped ship when the pandemic hit. We moved to an island. Yup. We did. And I have 20+ family members on this island. C’mon down to Hilton Head if you want to grab a beer and take your dog for a walk with me on the beach! Don’t worry though – My Make Studio will never leave Denver and I am back every month!
YD: Thanks Linda. It has been a joy to watch your business grow and change this year, and to follow all your cupcake creations. Now I’m hungry for blue frosting.
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