THUNDER BAY — The decision to return to work after having children can be a struggle. Balancing a longing to cherish every moment with their kids with financial obligations creates a challenging dilemma for many mothers.
Kaitlyn Medendorp, a 38-year-old mother of two, chose to both stay home and go back to work when she launched a home-based baking business.
Medendorp is the creative force behind Shēk Custom Bakes, combining her love for baking with her artistic passion. Each cake and pastry she makes is a delightful treat that satisfies taste buds and showcases her unique baking artistry.
Before starting her own business, Medendorp started her career as an RPN, a job she loved very much. After getting married and starting a family, her priorities changed. Following the birth of her second child, she and her husband moved to Fort McMurray, Alta., where she embraced the role of a stay-at-home mom. Surrounded by the laughter and cries of her children, she faced the challenges of parenting with purpose and dedication, cherishing the special moments spent nurturing her family.
Medendorp has a deep passion for baking and delights in creating stunning cakes for her children's birthdays. Each year, she envisions unique designs and flavours, pouring her heart into making beautiful and delicious treats that make their celebrations truly special. No one challenges her baking skills more than her children with their birthday requests. Every year, they come up with creative and challenging ideas for their birthday cakes.
For instance, last year, her son asked for a Lord of the Rings cake featuring the good characters painted on the front. He also wanted a dragon on top that could breathe fire. After many hours of research, she was able to figure out how to make it a reality.
Even though she never thought about baking as a career, her passion was clear in the care she took with each treat. At that time, baking for others wasn't on her radar; she focused solely on caring for her family.
As her kids enjoyed their delightful treats, word quickly spread among her friends. Impressed by her amazing talent and creativity, they eagerly reached out to her, asking if she would make special cakes for their celebrations. Each request fuelled her passion further, sparking joyful energy in her baking endeavours.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Medendorp experimented with different food colourings. She embarked on a colourful journey, using these colours to craft intricate designs on her culinary creations. With each brushstroke, she transformed ordinary pastries into spectacular, edible works of art. This creative outlet brought joy to her baking and filled her home with a burst of colour, creativity, and imagination during a challenging time.
Initially, she lent her creative talents to a friend’s baking business, specializing in cake decoration. Her passion for baking grew as she transformed simple cakes into beautiful works of art.
In 2020, just before returning to Thunder Bay, she took a bold leap of faith and decided to enter a decorative pie competition. The event was hosted by a renowned pastry chef she admired on Instagram, known for their stunning creations and innovative techniques.
With a mix of excitement and nerves, she prepared to showcase her artistic pie design, eager to make her mark in the culinary arts industry. To her surprise, she was selected as one of the winners. This experience boosted her confidence and motivated her to turn her hobby into a small business.
After her family moved back to Thunder Bay in 2022, she took a significant step toward starting her own business by obtaining her kitchen license. This pivotal moment allowed her to launch her baking business from her home kitchen, where she could showcase her unique creations and bring joy to her community through delicious treats.
At the outset, Medendorp sought a unique way to help her business stand out among the numerous talented bakers in the community by blending her passion for art with baking.
"Baking has always been a love of mine," Medendorp said. "I also love painting and any form of art. During the lockdowns, I was curious if I could combine these two interests, and I had plenty of time to experiment with different ways to do so."
Despite the challenges, Medendorp enjoys running her own business. She loves that there is always a new challenge, which motivates her to push the limits of her baking skills.
“With the popularity of baking shows, people are developing intriguing concepts that motivate me to learn new techniques,” Medendorp said. “I enjoy creating new recipes at home with my kids and receiving their honest feedback.”
Medendorp showcases her culinary creations at various local markets in the city alongside her children. They enjoy accompanying her to the markets and are familiar with the products, as they help her develop every recipe she uses. Her favourite part of these events is having her children by her side and observing how they interact with customers. They look forward to seeing the other vendors and the repeat customers they know, remembering everyone’s favourite products.
Since launching Shēk Custom Bakes, Medendorp has received enormous amounts of feedback on the stunning beauty and delicious flavours of her desserts. Each compliment inspires her, as she ensures every part of her intricate designs is edible. For Medendorp, a dessert should delight both the eyes and the taste buds, providing joy for her customers in every bite.
As the business continues to flourish, Medendorp hopes that customers truly value the experience of indulging in custom-made desserts that embody their styles and tastes. She is eager to engage with each client, working closely with them to bring their imaginative ideas to life, ensuring that both the appearance and flavours of their desserts are tailored to their specific desires.
Although she doesn't consider it as a specific five-year goal, Medendorp aims to expand her customer base to facilitate the growth of her business. In the upcoming year, she plans to diversify her offerings by introducing meat pies and other savoury options.
Living in the countryside, where food delivery options are hard to find, she envisions a vibrant local dining experience. To bring diverse meal choices to her community, she aims to broaden her offerings and ensure that everyone in the area can access delicious and convenient meal options.
Ultimately, Medendorp envisions Shēk Custom Bakes blossoming into a thriving family business. Her enthusiastic and eager children have expressed a desire to learn the ins and outs of the company. With their growing curiosity and passion for baking, she is more than happy to impart her knowledge and skills to them. Together, they can work side by side, nurturing the business and strengthening a strong family bond as they strive to take Shēk Custom Bakes to new heights.
More information on Shēk Custom Bakes can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
