2 minute read
Entrepreneur
Taking the family business to the next level.
by Jill Abrahamsen
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Growing up in a family of bakers, Kevin Johnson had a lovefor the business. At his parents’ shop, his dad did the baking andhis mom decorated his creations while running the front counter.As a kid, he loved helping with the business, but didn’t love waking up at 2 a.m. to go to work. So when it came time for Johnson to start making a living of his own, he took his bakery experience and put it to work in a business where he could wake up at a more palatable hour.
Partnering with one of his brothers, Johnson started the Johnson Brothers Baking Supply Company in 1994. It flourished, and almost 20 years later, Johnson identified an untapped market to sell professional cake supplies at the consumer level, catering to hobbyists and small businesses. He opened a store next to his warehouse, and it was an immediate success. The next step was a brick-and-mortar shop in a retail location. He opened Over the Top Cake Supplies in March 2014.
A retail store with a party room, Over the Top Cake Supplies offers cake-decorating classes and parties for groups of all ages. They host kids’ birthday parties, scouting groups, and corporate team-building events.
Wildly popular, guests can bring their own wine to the Corks & Confections parties and enjoy a Ladies’ Night Out, Bridal Shower, or Bachelorette Party. Guests learn new techniques and get to take home their creations.
“The volume went through the roof, so we decided that scaling the business through franchising was the way to go,” Johnson says. Offering franchise opportunities since 2016, Over the Top Cake Supplies lets investors choose retail stores with or without party rooms. “Most people pick the party room, though. The margins are high, like 95 percent.”
You don’t need to be a baker to own this business, but a love for baking helps. “We teach franchisees everything they need to do to run this business. This is the only one of its kind. We are really excited about the possibilities,” Johnson says.
For more information, visit www.overthetopcakesupplies.com.
Entrepreneur Kevin Johnson identified an untapped market to sell professional cake supplies at the consumer level.
Over the Top Cake Supplies offers classes and parties, catering to baking enthusiasts of all ages.
