Whisk Management

By Blayre WrightArts Food

Whisk Management episodes

September 23, 2024S2. Ep. 11: Nurturing Your Goals, Business, Kids, and Community | Jill Davis, Drizzle Cakes & Bakes
Sometimes being a business owner makes us feel like a solo juggling act at the circus.
Four balls in the air was fine, but then we add another, and another, and soon we've got 15 going all at once!
Our guest today is learning how to become an expert "juggler" and is here to share her tips on how you, too, CAN and WILL earn a standing ovation from your audience. Whether its figuring out how to blend biz life and family life, finding ways to connect with the community around you, or setting small, attainable goals to get you where you want to go, Pastry Chef Jill Davis is focused on finding the perfect balance of them all.

Today we're talking about:
Jill's journey leaving her full-time baking job and figuring out how to provide for her growing family in the middle of the pandemic
The story of how Jill transitioned from selling at markets into her brick and mortar studio space, and her tips for what to know and focus on when your business takes that next step
How she found her stride and became sought-after in a small community, and how YOU can plug into your local area too!
More Halloween Baking Championship tea, of course
Support Jill:
-Visit the Drizzle website
-Follow her on Instagram or Facebook

Support the Pod:
-Follow us on Instagram
-Follow Blayre's business, Flouretta Sweet
-Leave us a 5 star review wherever you listen!
*And don't forget to tell your baker friends about the pod!*
1 hr 26 min
September 09, 2024S2 Ep.10: So Ya Wanna Be a Wedding Cake Designer?
Cake stands and sugar flowers and dowel rods, oh my!
The World of wedding cakes is strange, beautiful, and honestly a little daunting- especially if you're trying to break onto the scene for the first time.
In today's episode, I'm giving you all of my tips and tricks and telling you MY story of how I found my niche in the wedding industry as a wedding cake designer.

We'll Discuss:
My journey from culinary school to working in cake shops along the East Coast to now running my own wedding cake-focused business!
Ways to hone your skills WITHOUT spending years and tons of money going back to school or working for someone else
How I transitioned from working for someone else to working for myself
The mindset work it takes to push past your limiting beliefs and step into your awesomeness as a business owner
Mentioned in this episode:
Bayou Saint Cake's Dome Cake Class
Finespun Cake Academy- Sugar flowers and wedding business courses
Commonwealth Cake Co Mentorship Program
You are a Badass by Jen Sincero

Support the Podcast by leaving Blayre a 5 star review wherever you listen!
Follow the pod on Instagram
Follow Flouretta Sweet on Instagram
38 min
August 26, 2024S2 Ep. 9: Taking Risks & Giving the Extra 1% | Taryn Blake of Blake Events
"Do no harm, take no s***."
(Now that’s a motto I can live by!)
And it happens to be the approach our guest takes to running their business. Obsessed.
Today we welcome award-winning wedding planner, ultimate powerhouse boss-lady, and accidental badass entrepreneur Taryn Blake to the pod!
We’re talking about:
How she accidentally fell into the wedding industry and loved the freedom so much that she left her six-figure corporate job to pursue it
The obstacles she overcame (personally and professionally) that prepared her to run a successful all-female team with salaried employees and have a healthy work/life balance
Her advice for wedding vendors and cake designers on how to break into a new corner of the industry and how to best connect with planners
Her thoughts on The Engagement Gap, how to pull yourself out of a creative rut, and the future of the wedding industry

Support Taryn!
Blake Events website
Blake Events Instagram
Taryn’s Instagram
Vendor Club
Also mentioned in this episode: Buy Back your Time
Support the Pod:
Follow us on Instagram
Follow Blayre’s business, Flouretta Sweet
Leave us a review wherever you’re listening and share with your baker friends!
1 hr 16 min
August 12, 2024 S2 Ep. 8: Five Ways to Upgrade your Client Experience
As Beyonce once said, "lemme upgrade ya"!
If you really think about it, most of our time as business owners isn't spent doing the thing we actually are in business for. Instead, we're spending our time marketing, e-mailing, creating invoices- ALLL of that back end work that helps keep things moving AND keeps our clients HAPPY!
Today's episode is going to help you take a deep dive into your processes and hone in on some ways to better cater to the people who keep our lights on and keep our toolkits stocked with endless mini offset spatulas.
Mentioned in this episode:
-Dubsado - Blayre's Client Management System
-CakeMemes4U
-NoVendorMeal
-Bakey Bakes & Disco Sugar

Support the Podcast on Instagram!
Follow Blayre's biz, Flouretta Sweet!
39 min
July 22, 2024S2 Ep. 7: The Art of Sugar Flowers & Luxury Cake Design | Alexandria Carmona of Finespun Cakes
Luxury is in the details, and nobody embodies that more than today's guest!
On this episode, we're welcoming the supremely talented Alexandria Carmona from Toronto's Finespun Cakes. Not only is she a true sugar flower wizard, she's also an expert at creating romantic, flowy, and DELICIOUS luxury wedding cakes (and she can teach you how to do the same thing!).
She joins Blayre in the studio to discuss:
How she entered the whimsical world of sugar flowers and how she remains known for them to this day
How she grew her business and opened her brick and mortar studio in the middle of the pandemic
The way to build a trustworthy team
Her classes and tutorials and community through YouTube and her Finespun Cake Academy
Her tips on how to break into the luxury wedding space and how she builds luxury experiences for her clients
Support Alexandria!
On Instagram
By visiting her Website

Learn from Alexandria!
Finespun Youtube Channel/Free Tutorials
Finespun Cake Academy (use code WHISK30 for 7 day free trial + 30% of first month!)
Support the Pod!
On Instagram
Visit our website
Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify!
1 hr
June 24, 2024S2 Ep. 6: Genuine Inclusivity Pt. 2 | Listening to and Learning From Queer Clients
WE'RE BACK WITH PART TWO OF THE PRIDE MONTH SERIES!
Last episode we talked about some changes you can make in your business to make your space safe and more inclusive. This week, we're inviting Blayre's past clients (and friends!) Calvin and Orin Macon Phillips onto the pod to hear about their experience planning a wedding as a Queer couple.

We're discussing:
The good, the bad, and the ugly of searching for inclusive wedding vendors
Calvin & Orin's tips for planning a wedding that was unique and special to them
What you can do to show allyship to clients in minority groups
How to celebrate and uplift Queer love and joy
Contact Calvin with your questions!
Support the Pod!
On Instagram
Online
Blayre's Business Instagram and Website
1 hr 8 min
June 11, 2024S2 Ep. 5: Genuine Inclusivity Pt. 1 | Doing the Work As A Business Owner
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH, WHISKTAKERS!!!
Here on the Whisk Management Pod, Pride is 365, baby! And this month I'm bringing you not one, but TWO episodes that will help you foster genuine inclusivity within your business!
Today we're talking about the work you should be doing as a business owner if you want to make your business a safe space for Queer clients.

We're discussing:
Some basic Queer terminology that you might want to be familiar with so you're not making assumptions about your clients (or people in general)
How to practice allyship and center the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community
How to make your space (be it a brick and mortar business or the digital space in which you occupy) SAFE.
What to do when you face backlash for making a statement on where you stand (because trust me, it will happen!)
So get out your pencils, paper, gel pens, and glitter, because this episode is full of helpful tips and LOTS of homework.
Here are the amazing Queer Folx/Organizations referenced in this episode:
Tess Feiler, Sarah Katherine Davis Photography, Kim Williams Weddings, Dolly Jaye, Human Rights Campaign
Support the Pod!
On Instagram
Online
Blayre's Business Instagram and Website
35 min
May 27, 2024S2 Ep. 4: Mental Health & Finding Creative Inspiration Anywhere | Pastry Chef Aaron Davis
Today we introduce Pastry Chef and #1 fan of the pod, Aaron Davis!

Aaron is not only a wildly talented pastry chef, cake artist, and baker, but he's a personal friend of Blayre's and has so many awesome things to share with us today.

In this episode, Aaron and I are talking about:
His personal and professional growth since graduating in the middle of the Pandemic, and how he's honing in on finding what brings him joy in his career
His experience navigating his own mental health journey in an industry that stigmatizes it and how we can prioritize our own mental health
How it doesn't matter where you start in your career, it's the intentional steps that you take from there that will lead you to where you want to go
Ways to seek creative inspiration for your art from unique places
Aaron's experience on Holiday Baking Championship AND Holiday Wars and how they differ
Support and follow Aaron on Instagram!
Check out these mental health resources for Hospitality Professionals:
CHOW- Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness
The Burnt Chef Project
Focus on Health
Restaurant After Hours
Open Path Collective- Affordable Therapy for those without Health Insurance

Support the Pod!
Follow us On Instagram
Follow Blayre's business, Flouretta Sweet
Visit us online

Mentor Sessions are Here!
Click here for more information about how to work with Blayre one-on-one
1 hr 17 min
May 13, 2024S2 Ep. 3: "Girlbossed" Out- Thoughts on Capacity, Contentment & Growth
Sometimes, business ownership isn't all sunshine and roses. Today we're talking about what happens when you've girlbossed for so long that you can't possibly girlboss ANY LONGER.
May is Mental Health Awareness month, so I'm bringing you some episodes to help remind you that there's nothing wrong with a little pausing, contemplation, and focusing inward. So if you're feeling like turning off the alarm, rolling over and hiding back under the covers when it comes to running your business, this episode is FOR YOU!
In this episode:
Blayre shares how she's had to mentally (and physically) rearrange her expectations and priorities for 2024 after a VERY slow booking season and some big life changes
Commiseration for the wedding vendors, what the heck the Engagement Gap is, and how you're DEF not the only one experiencing low bookings (and it likely isn't your fault either!!!)
How to find contentment when things are hard, and what to do with a lull in business or a lack of work
Recognizing growth when what you thought you wanted has shifted
ALSO, MENTOR SESSIONS ARE HERE!
Maybe you've been wanting a extra set of eyes to look at your socials, branding, or website. Maybe you need help starting an LLC or discussing logistics about an in-home kitchen, finding your brand voice, or breaking into the wedding industry. Or maybe you've just been wanting to sit down and pick Blayre's brain! Now is your chance!

Book a free 15-20 minute discovery call here and fill out the inquiry form, then we'll chat about what it is you want to work on specifically! Can't wait to meet you!

Support the Pod
Follow on Instagram or visit our website
Check out Blayre's biz instagram or website
35 min
April 22, 2024S2 Ep. 2: Embracing "Failure" and Just DOING It | Crystal Arvelo of Colorful Macarons
If at first you don't succeed...
Learn from that shit and keep going!!!!!

In today's guest episode, we get to chat with a true Macaron Princess. Crystal Arvelo is no stranger to making things work (I mean, she chose one of the hardest confections in French Pastry, taught herself how to bake them in the middle of the pandemmy, and started a business selling them locally AND Nationwide).
We're talking about:
Client transparency and the art of pivoting when things aren't working
The story of how Crystal had to close her brick and mortar shop in order to find a better location to serve her customers
How to market depending on your own unique business model
Not being afraid to just START, but also being smart about business choices and how to learn from your failures and mistakes (hint: failure isn't bad!)
Stay up-to-date with Crystal and the exciting future of Colorful Macarons:
Follow them on Instagram
Follow them on Facebook
Check out their Website

Stay up to date with the pod!
Follow WMPod on Instagram or visit the podcast website
Follow Blayre on Instagram or check out the Flouretta Sweet Website
Join the Whisktakers Society!
58 min

About Whisk Management

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Whisk Management, the podcast for cakers, bakers, and sweet entrepreneurs! If you’re looking to run a sweet business that makes you money, allows you to express your creative voice, and…