Lady Cakery
Linnett Habeb-Amin: Driving force behind Lady Cakery
Linnett Habeb-Amin, the brain behind Lady Cakery, welcomes us into her sweet world of artistic and delicious (American) desserts. At thirty, she effortlessly combines running her bakery with parenthood, and she enjoys the personal contact with her customers, in person and via Instagram. Linnett also gets a lot of joy from nature, bees and flowers and a visit to the petting zoo. In this interview, she tells us all about her bakery: Lady Cakery!
From stewardess to baker
Linnett's path to the bakery was not the most common. After her training as a flight attendant, she ended up in the catering and hospitality industry. "And that was certainly useful in my career as an entrepreneur. Of course, it doesn't stop at baking, but you also have to be able to deal with problems or criticism. Which is also good for being able to grow."
The impetus to become an entrepreneur began at her daughter's first birthday. When she wanted to buy her a dairy-free cake, but couldn't find what she was looking for anywhere, she took matters into her own hands. "That's how Lady Cakery was born," she says with a smile. "I call it a hobby that got out of hand."
Lady Cakery: More than just cake
Lady Cakery, which opened its doors in Almere in 2023, is all about cakes, cheesecakes, and cupcakes. From classic red velvet cake to delicious carrot cake and San Sebastian cheesecake, Linnett guarantees tasteful creations. What she really loves is when customers give her the freedom to create a custom cake based on her creativity, resulting in stunning works of art.
The challenges of being a baker
Although Linnett loves her job, she acknowledges the challenges, especially rising inflation, which makes it difficult to reach customers with a smaller budget. Nevertheless, she focuses on the positive experiences: "The best thing is that so many people try my delicacies and like them. When I received all these compliments after opening last year, I didn't know what was happening to me. I lived in a daze for months. Unbelievable that I was able to make my dream come true!"
Tips & tricks for beginning bakers
For aspiring bakers, Linnett has some valuable tips:
- Striving for perfection: "Improve yourself every time until you have achieved the best product. That is how you will convince people to come back to you again and again.
- Listening to feedback: "Ask your customers for feedback. Even if it's negative, act on it! It's nothing personal."
- Grow step by step: "Start small and build it up at your own pace. Don't rush things! In addition to baking, you also have to make a profit and have enough left over for fun things!"
Instagram: An indispensable platform
Instagram plays a crucial role in Linnettâs entrepreneurial journey, engaging her followers and putting her treats in the spotlight. âInstagram is so important for my visibility! Iâve finally figured out the algorithm and can easily reach and engage people. I love posting short reels the most! As a team, we always get such sweet messages about it.â It also helps with the connection she has with the customers who come into the store. âIâm very socially active on my Instagram and therefore have a bit more personal contact with my customers and the neighborhood. I like to involve my neighborhood in new creations and all the holidays!â
Packaging: An important detail
Linnett emphasizes the importance of attractive and sturdy packaging that presents the product as a gift for each customer. Neutral colors and windows add extra charm to her products. "The most used packaging in our store are all cupcake boxes from the own line of cupcakedozen.nl. And we also use a lot of cone boxes for packaging our cake slices. I am also very pleased with the range of theme stickers that I can find online.
Tops & flops
For Linnett, ordinary cakes are a no-go and she doesn't have enough time for bento cakes, but she loves making children's cakes in all kinds of themes!
Future plans: More branches for Lady Cakery
For Linnett, the future is bright: she dreams of more branches, both in the Netherlands and abroad, where she can share her passion for baking with an even wider audience.
A sweet future
With her drive, creativity and love for baking, Linnett Habeb-Amin will undoubtedly win many hearts with her delicious creations at Lady Cakery.
