Gigi’s Cupcakes: A Sweet Success Story
Since its doors opened at 1816 Broadway on February 21, 2008, Gigi’s Cupcakes has grown to a $2.5 million business with 14 locations in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Texas. Seven more stores, including debuts in Colorado, Georgia, Mississippi and Indiana, are set to open in the first half of 2010. Will Cheek and Paul Kruse have worked closely with founder Gina "Gigi" Butler in her business formation, expansion and franchising efforts, and credit her drive and determination, along with her gift for satisfying a mean sweet tooth, for finding so much success despite the recession.
How did she do it?
After first discovering her love for baking at four years old, Gigi got an EASY-BAKE oven for her sixth birthday and fondly recalls a summer in Arkansas when she learned how to pick, can, and, most importantly, bake blueberry muffins.
She came to Nashville for the same reason as so many -- to sing. She sang downtown by night and ran a cleaning business by day to pay the bills, a business she had first started at age 15 as a way to earn money and be her own boss.
While standing in line for over two hours to buy a cupcake at a famed New York bakery, Gigi’s brother Steve called with the idea that she should put her talent and love for baking into opening her own cupcake store in Nashville. Her friends questioned her sanity, but Gigi threw her heart, soul and life savings into opening the Broadway store.
On opening day, Gigi’s Cupcakes had $33 remaining in the checking account and one week to generate enough sales to pay the next month's rent, payroll, food supplies and other monthly expenses, but nothing to spend on advertising or promotion. Thanks entirely to word of mouth, eagerly spread by friends and satisfied customers, Gigi earned enough the first week in business to pay all the bills and put a $300 paycheck in her pocket. The business was off and running, its success a reflection of the hard working Gina "Gigi" Butler, who was recently recognized as a “Women of Influence” award winner by the Nashville Business Journal and a 2010 “Entrepreneur of the Year” by The Nashville City Paper.
While it may be singing that brought her to Nashville, it’s the EASY-BAKE Oven experience and entrepreneurial spirit discovered so long ago that is today bringing her fame.
Visit Gigi's Cupcakes online at www.gigiscupcakesusa.com.
