Local home-based bakery offers specialty treats to Lee and Cleveland community
It all started with an Ohio wedding and a longtime love of baking.
Since then, Kristen Goins, owner of Cupcakes and Gourmet Treats by Kristen, has been baking up success through her Cleveland home-based business for nearly a year and a half.
"My brother-in-law was getting married in Ohio and I wanted to come up with a way to help my husband pay for the trip, so I was like, 'Hey, I can bake!' and it exploded after that," Goins said.
Goins serves a wide variety of customers in places ranging from local businesses, offices and weddings. Orders can be placed through her Facebook page, where she also offers a weekly giveaway.
All of Goins baked goods are homemade, and she offers a variety of treats including cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries and caramel apples.
Goins offers a 10 percent discount to Lee students, and is willing to deliver to dorms as well as cater Lee events.
"[My favorite part] is meeting all the people. There's a wide range of people that buy from me," Goins said. "I have a lady that comes up from Atlanta every couple of weeks and then I just [deliver to] random people that just want sweets."
According to her Facebook page, she mostly sells four-count boxes and cupcake prices are determined on how basic they are. Goins currently features about 20 flavors of cupcakes, ranging from chocolate and red velvet to cookie dough and strawberry cheesecake.
With varying amounts of orders every week, Goins manages to keep her business running smoothly by baking and delivering to local customers. She often shares her gourmet treats with schools and offices such as Hopewell Elementary School and Regional Finance.
"[The orders] vary...some weeks I only do 10 and others I'll have like 30 or 40," Goins said. "It makes me feel good that people like my stuff so much that they keep coming back."
The Cleveland native plans to keep baking and hopes to potentially obtain a business space outside of her home in the future.
"Eventually I want to open up my own storefront and provide the best gourmet treats in Cleveland," Goins said.
