Today we’d like to introduce you to Summer Cox.
Hi Summer, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started baking when I was very young. My aunt had gifted me a baking-themed cabinet for my 2nd birthday, and I still have it. It’s a mystery how she knew that this would end up being my passion! By middle school, I was selling cupcakes with my mom’s help, and I loved bringing cupcakes into school for my friends.
I’m a first-generation college graduate and graduated from a University in Michigan on 2021. Of course, there are no good kitchens in dorms, so I really couldn’t bake much while I was there. Instead of baking, I spent my time on the Michigan Marching Band as a flag member!
While in college, I met my now husband, who requested red velvet cupcakes on our second date after hearing that I like to bake. To this day, he still talks about how good they were!
Of course, the pandemic started in 2020, so I moved into his apartment, where I had access to a full-size kitchen. With remote classes, I was always home and could bake all the time, so I did.
With all this new time for baking, I started to do more research about selling baked goods from home. Once I found out that I could, I was really excited. My husband told me I should do it because he knew how happy it would make me. So, in March 2021, I opened up Summertime Baking Co. That summer, I spent time at the Tecumseh, Dundee, and Ypsilanti Farmers Markets.
Fast forward to now, I’m living in Livonia and have a full-time job with MDHHS! My baking business is focused on custom sugar cookies, cakes, and cupcakes for events, but I will be attending some vendor events with The Vintage Market LLC this year, which I’m really excited about! The first one is Lucky Junkin’ on March 12th at the Monroe County Fairgrounds. I hope to see everyone there!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. I had an exceptionally difficult childhood and faced many unfortunate, avoidable situations at home. Baking was my escape from that.
I was particularly damaged by something my father said to me when I won a baking competition that we had both entered into: “You only won because you’re a kid.” I was 12 at the time, and the imposter syndrome this sentence has left me with will stay with me forever.
In my baking business, this imposter syndrome follows me, and I often doubt my own abilities. However, I don’t let it define me, and I work every day to get better at what I do. The skills I have now were learned through countless hours of practice and not inherited. With that in mind, when customers order from me, they can be confident that they will get my absolute best work! Not only do the customers have to love it, but I do too!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Summertime Baking Co. specializes in custom sugar cookies, cakes, and cupcakes for personal and corporate events! Everything I bake is scratch-made with love and with the best ingredients available to me. I even made my website and logo from scratch!
My brand is simple: The best-baked goods under the sun, and I mean it. No corners get cut in my kitchen. Baking is what I love to do, and I only sell baked goods that I’m 100% happy with. If I don’t love it, I know customers won’t either.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is going to Mackinac as part of a yearly trip with my grandparents! They would take all the grandchildren in the summer for camping, swimming, and sightseeing. Even though Mackinac is small, it never got boring, and there was always something new to do. From biking the island to eating fudge in my pajamas by the campfire, I had the best time every time!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://summertimebakingco.wixsite.com/tastytreatshere/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/summertimebakingco?igshid=Yzg5MTU1MDY=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/summertimebakingco?mibextid=ZbWKwL
