Konsepto Cakes: Reinventing the idea of selling cakes

Who knew a personalized cake business would thrive in a rustic town? Well, it proved to be within the realm of possibility in Bayambang, at least in the urbanized Poblacion area.

The name of the local business? Konsepto Cakes.

Unlike in mass-produced cakes, the main selling point is apparently the uniqueness of the cake using one-of-a-kind personalized designs.

The brains behind it are Beverly Diane M. Dominguez and Ms. Venus Mae Malicdem, and the place where they spin sweet magic is at #136 Brgy. Magsaysay.

“Quality not quantity” is their rallying point, the secret behind their staying power at 4 years and counting.

They do custom cakes, cupcakes, fondant cakes, icing cakes, christening/dedication cakes -- name it, they can do it. They adopt a wide range of designs, from Disney characters to Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Sanrio, and DC Comics and Marvel characters.

Their designs have been invariably described as creative, sassy, diverse, and magical.


How they started

Konsepto Cakes has become an official enterprise since its Department of Trade and Industry registration in July of 2015.

Both sisters reveal that they have been baking enthusiasts for the longest time. “Baking was really just a hobby for me and my older sister. We started home baking before we registered the business. Then we tried selling our baked goodies to our relatives, friends, and office-mates.” Both were then working in their respective companies when their little home business began to pick up.

Since baking is both their common passion, they decided to resign from their respective day jobs to go full time in conceptualizing their custom-made products. After starting from scratch by getting orders from relatives and friends, they thought of harnessing the power of social media. "We posted our cakes on Facebook, and orders just kept on coming!”

Why Konsepto?

“Our original name was actually Disenyo Cakes but when we registered it with DTI, someone else already got the name, so we decided to change it to Konsepto Cakes, meaning 'sariling konsepto' since customized ang product namin.”

Looking back, there are several other reasons how their venture succeeded on a level that will get startups and struggling entrepreneurs envious.

“Product-wise, we don’t compromise with the design and taste. A lot of our customers are ordering repeatedly because of the quality of our cake designs and the taste. Sabi nga nila, hindi tinipid, and worth it.”

They also advice would-be entrepreneurs to “Always think of customer’s satisfaction." "We didn’t actually have a hard time marketing the business because our customers are the ones promoting the business by word of mouth.”

They went on: “We value our staff and part-time bakers who are helping us reach our goals.”

Lastly, they credit the support they get from their family. "We thank God for having a family that supports us all the way, and they are also a great motivation for us to continue the business.”

How far they have come

The Malicdem sisters happily report that, right now, they have clients from all over Pangasinan and nearby provinces and cities.

One of their latest clients is the town's First Couple themselves, Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao and Niña Jose-Quiambao, who approached them to do the cake for their church wedding.

A lot of their customers, they say, are regulars, "and we call their children 'Konsepto Babies' because we have been making cakes for their children for the last 3-6 years.”

At the "Sweet Fantasy: A Fondant Cake Art Making Contest" staged by SM City Rosales on February 28, 2017, their work was hailed as the champion. And they got the third spot when they joined the same contest a year later on March 10, 2018.

The sisters’ passion for baking and cake designing may be what steered them into creating personalized cakes, but there is one other thing they reveal that keeps them going: “We are inspired whenever we see our clients’ faces light up upon seeing their orders. It tells us we did a great job."

(Visit their page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/konseptocakes/)