Meet Mariama Sallah | Luxury Cake Designer & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariama Sallah and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariama, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting a cake business involves careful planning, and considerations. At the outset, I embarked on this journey with limited resources, knowledge, and experiences. While I was pursuing a triple major in college I found myself seeking an elective course to complete my culinary arts degree requirements. As a result, I enrolled in an intensive eight-week cake decorating class to delve into the intricacies of cake artistry. Initially, my intentions revolved around crafting cakes exclusively for my daughters’ birthdays over the years. I envisioned it as delightful and cost-effective because I wouldn’t have to pay someone else to do it. However, midway through the course, my younger sister approached me with a proposal from a friend in need of a two-tier baby shower cake and 50 cupcakes. I was hesitant due to my perceived lack of confidence and readiness to produce a professional cake, but my sisters persisted, urging me to accept the order. Despite my anxiety I moved forward with it which left the client ecstatic with the finished product. Much to my surprise, requests began pouring in, stemming from the initial baby shower cake. Shortly after, I realized that my passion for cake artistry grew far beyond my passion for culinary arts. As a result, I made the life-altering decision to give up my career as a Chef and wholeheartedly pursue the artistry of cake design. Looking back, the growth and success of my business have exceeded my wildest expectations.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart is my vibrant, personalized, and delectable cakes, complemented by my personable approach, which clients truly appreciate.

How did you get to where you are today professionally?

Mentorship programs played a pivotal role in providing guidance during my journey, but the true breakthrough came when I learned to step beyond my comfort zone and tackle several uncomfortable tasks, such as appearing on camera, engaging in face-to-face sales, networking with fellow wedding professionals, and conversing with clients over the phone. Perhaps the biggest challenge was becoming at ease with quoting substantial prices to clients.

This difficulty stemmed from a past experience where someone close to me suggested I was overcharging for my cakes when, in reality, I wasn’t even covering my costs or making a profit. This notion of overpricing haunted me and created doubt. Nevertheless, I had to overcome this mental barrier. Transitioning from offering cakes at $60 to quoting $300 and beyond for similar-sized cakes required me to assign value to my creations and transform them into unique experiences. The key take away here is that your success lies in your hands; you can’t let others tell you what you are incapable of, because anything is possible as long as you put in the work.

This journey has undoubtedly been far from effortless, there has been numerous late nights, inevitable mistakes, moments of self-doubt, and even occasional hopelessness. The thought of quitting regularly crosses my mind, but I persistently remind myself that challenges are a part of the process. My constant belief in my purpose fuels my determination to continue.

I want people to know that my greater purpose is to bring joy through my art, making lives sweeter. Building my brand has been a testament to hard work and dedication.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a foodie so I can tell you more food places than anything; I am also very introverted so I barely go out. Here are a few of my favorite places and places I would explore.

Another Broken Egg

Fresh Local Ice Cream

Layered Croissanterie

Yard House

Saltgrass Steak House

Cary Crab House

Gym Tacos

Alpaca

Dave & Busters

Mystery hill (history museum)

Bowling, painting and rock climbing also sounds fun

Fitness connection to work out because we have to burn all those calories after all.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe a significant debt of gratitude to my sisters, who played a huge role in persuading me to follow my calling when I doubted myself. Their firm belief in my potential, even during moments of my uncertainty, deserves acknowledgment.

I must also extend my appreciation to Janelle and Eddie Copeland, my initial mentors, who were influential in shaping the trajectory of my business.Their guidance not only led to rebranding of Delectable Cakes but also instilled in me a deep understanding of proper pricing strategies and the art of attracting ideal clients. Perhaps most significantly, their mentorship made it possible to transform my mindset and build more confidence.

In addition, my fiancé has been an unwavering source of support, standing by my side through the most challenging phases of this journey. His willingness to provide financial support for my educational endeavors, even when I doubted myself, and his consistent encouragement on days when things seemed overwhelmingly difficult have been absolutely necessary.

Website: www.delectablecakes.info

Instagram: https://instagram.com/delectablecakesllc?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delectablescakes/

Image Credits
Aaron Lurie Chara Densmore