Sistah’s Place is celebrating Maggie’s Cupcakes Cafe, a Black-owned business run by a phenomenal Black Woman leaving her own mark in Black History. Black women like Rebekah Pierce are the foundation of not just the family but many small businesses. It takes faith, drive, passion, dedication, hard work, and long hours to bring their dream to fruition. We at Sistah’s Place strongly believe it’s important to celebrate women in business, especially our fellow sistas. During Black history month, we are shining the spotlight on another Black-owned business Maggie’s Cupcakes Cafe. Rebekah’s story will touch your heart as well as temp your taste buds. Get to know the owner and learn about Maggie’s Cupcakes Cafe‘ in our Q&A interview.
SP: What inspired you to start your business Maggie’s Cupcake Cafe?
Rebekah: My mother taught me how to make cookies and cakes from scratch when I was a little girl, and so I’ve always baked but only for my family. In 2010/11, I needed to raise funds quickly to pay for a production of one of my short plays that was accepted into a festival in NY. I thought about a bake sale. So, I went onto my Facebook page and launched a campaign selling pies, cookies, brownies, and cupcakes. I raised enough money to pay the cast and crew as well as for my transportation and accommodations. It was then that I realized just how important this gift (baking) could be for me because it had enabled me to work on my other gift of writing and producing. I officially launched Maggie’s Cupcake Café, however, in February 2020 right before Covid shut the world down. LOL!
SP: What was the inspiration behind choosing the name for your business?
Rebekah: Maggie’s Cupcake Café was named in honor of my dear friend and second mother, Maggie Maynard, who died of breast cancer in 2012. She was always so encouraging and supportive of what I was doing or wanted to do. I had known her nearly all of my life, so when I thought about a name, she was all that I could think of. I had the beautiful honor and blessing to be able to speak with her on the phone one hour before she died to tell her that I loved her, and she was able to tell me she loved me. I’ll never forget that gift. Every sweet treat we make is a reminder of the power of love and those shared moments with our big mamas, mamas, grandmothers, and aunts in the kitchen cooking up or baking a pot or cookie sheet of love.
SP: How did you define the services or products for your business?
Rebekah: I defined my services by thinking about my grandma and all of the mother figures in our lives who would always make us something to eat when we felt sad or had great news to share. Food is love, and so when I thought about what I wanted to provide, it was love in the form of a cupcake … or cookie … or a slice of cake. 😊 But I also understood that I needed to stay in my lane. We are not a high-end bakery. We bake simple, homemade desserts like grandma used to make but with a modern twist. That’s our tagline.
SP: Who is the woman behind the business?
Rebekah: Rebekah is a writer, speaker, teacher (and baker). I am originally from Stockton, CA, but now reside in Richmond, VA. I am here via the U.S. Air Force. I was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, VA (1994-1997) before returning home to finish my education and then returning to Virginia in 1999 to marry and start a family.
SP: What’s your favorite story or testimony from customers or clients regarding your products?
Rebekah: Wow! We have received so many great comments and reviews that this is hard to answer. But I do love it when people tell us that the dessert made them happy. One customer told me that the Sunday Table Cake we made for her (I think it was a red velvet cake) reminded her of the cake her grandmother used to make – it was that good! That was awesome because that is what we are aiming for: to bring folks happy memories.
SP: What was your “power move” to take your business to the next level that would allow you to grow and expand into the market?
Rebekah: We are still making power moves but I have to say that being the dessert vendor for Richmond Diner en blanc last year. OMG! That was an amazing experience! It opened us up not only to a new audience but it showed us that we could do more public events.
SP: Did you face any challenges or barriers being a Black woman in business? If so, how are you overcoming those challenges/barriers?
Rebekah: Mindset. It is absolutely a challenge to keep the mind in check because if I let it go, this thing will tear me to shreds. “You’re a writer, not a baker!” “You’re not a real baker! You didn’t go to school for this!” Those negative statements like to creep in and cause you to doubt. But I have learned to shut them up by focusing on the positives which is that at least I am trying. I am growing and I am open to new experiences and possibilities. Then, there’s funding. That is always a problem for new businesses because you have not established business credit yet for banks and formal lenders. So, you have to think outside of the box and be constructive. Finally, learning how to price items. I had to take a few baking business courses and join a few groups on social media to get the knowledge that I was missing because although this is not my first business, it is my first food products business. That is an ENTIRELY different ball game.
SP: If you worked for someone else, what was it that made you say, this is it I am opening my own business?
Rebekah: Being told I need to “play the game” and being at the mercy of other people’s whims. No ma’am! I am not doing either! I’ve come to learn that we are not here to carry other people’s pain. I am responsible for my thoughts, feelings, and behavior; I am not here to be an individual or corporate America’s whipping girl. And I have gifts and abilities that I can turn into a multimillion-dollar business without hurting people just to get a raise or promotion. That’s something I believe many people forget. They are so worried about moving up that they put their desires before others no matter who it hurts, including themselves. It’s hard to watch. But what finally got me out of the classroom for good is the deep understanding and acceptance that my time in that field/capacity was up. I had done all that I could do and was willing to do, which was a really difficult decision because guilt started to set in. Then I had a conversation with a former student and he said to me after I told him that I was contemplating retiring myself from education, “You are no longer a teacher of the four walls but the world.” That blew my mind! And it helped me to see that teaching is not about the building per se. It’s about the knowledge and the sharing of it. You don’t need a building to do that.
SP: Name someone who inspired you to take your dream to reality, how did they do this?
Rebekah: In 2019, I was approached about selling my cookies at a local barbershop. In fact, the owner had been asking me for several years to do it, but I kept turning him down because I thought it was ridiculous to believe that I could actually start a baking business. I mean, I’m a writer!! 😊 He finally won me over, and I had to give it a name, so I named it Maggie’s Cupcake Café in honor of my dear friend Maggie Maynard who died of cancer several years ago. I then hired a graphic designer to create the logo, and viola, I had a legit home-based baking business.
SP: How does it make you feel being a Black Woman running your own business?
Rebekah: I love running my own business because I can control my own schedule and provide services and products directly that I believe in. It is a lot of responsibility but with great responsibility comes great rewards and seeing people happy and enjoying our sweet treats is the BEST feeling.
SP: What type of impact do you want to have on your community, black women, and young black and brown girls? I have a mission statement/motto for my life and it is: “I am a problem-solving, soul-connecting, life-empowering Divine spark of God.”
Rebekah: What this means to me is that my light was meant to shine bright. I was not and am not mean to play small which is what I am here to empower women and girls to do: let their light shine. To be their authentic powerful selves because we are not here to carry other people’s pain. We are here to collect lessons (good and bad) and use them to guide ourselves and others to healing.
SP: What advice would you give the next Black woman dreaming of starting her own business?
Rebekah: You have everything you need inside of you to be successful. You now need to write down your vision and make it plain (Habakkuk 2:2-3). What this means is that once a thing is written down, it signals to the Universe to make a way for it. It becomes a reality. But you must put in the work. Put together your team. Who are they and what are their roles in your business? Identify their role and yours. Start learning by researching and networking but also don’t be afraid to jump into experimentation. Be bold and fearless in your learning, networking, and experimenting. Get a business and life mentor/coach. This will teach you accountability, responsibility, and openness. Finally, develop a prayer and meditation practice because you are going to need them both to get you through the good days and the “Jesus be a fence” days.
Thank you Rebekah for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us in our Q&A to learn more about your business as well as share you with all of Sistah’s Place readers. Our readers are going to fall in love with your delicious treats. Have you checked out Maggie’s Cupcake Café website? Be sure to follow her on all social media.
Social Media Links:
IG – www.lnstagram.com/maggiescupcakecafe / www.instagram.com/rebekahlynnpierce
FB – www.facebook.com/maggiescupcakecafe / www.facebook.com/rebekah.l.pierce
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/rebekahpierce
Twitter – www.twitter.com/rebekahpierce
Location:
Delivery ONLY throughout the RVA and Petersburg areas
Photos: All photos courtesy of Rebekah Pierce