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Lauren Lavin:
For the Love of Cake By Natalie Slieter Photos by Maggie Sweets Photography
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n a back classroom at the old Hobby Lobby on 41st Street, Lauren Lavin took her first baking class when she was in middle school and discovered a passion that would lead her to starting her own business as a sophomore in high school and bring her to where she is today in running the business full time at just 21 years old. Born and raised in Sioux Falls, Lauren attended Sioux Falls Christian Schools and participated in Irish dance, debate, and horseback riding and was also a dance instructor. She went on to attend the University of South Dakota as the fifth generation of Coyotes in the Davis/Lavin family. She earned a degree in Psychology with minors in Economics and Business Administration, all in three years. She loved her time at USD, where she was active in Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, was a supplemental instructor in psychology, and participated on the Campus Activities Board. Her sorority allowed her to take on leadership roles and plan events, all skills that she utilizes in running Bakologie. “I tried to diversify what I did because I thought it would help develop me into a leader as a business owner.” After completing that first baking class, Lauren began making cakes and found that people were willing to pay her for her creations. Christmas was always the busiest time of year for her as she was flooded with corporate orders. In March of 2020, right when COVID-19 catapulted the United States into a pandemic, business for Bakologie took off. She says word of mouth has been her best friend when it comes to expanding her business. While the Hobby Lobby baking class propelled her into the world of baking, Lauren always had an appreciation for the artistry that goes into creating a cake. Picking out her birthday cake was always a highlight. When Lauren turned eight years old, she chose a two-tiered cake decorated with flowers arranged by her grandfather who was a florist. She knows it’s a small thing, but to her, that cake was a big deal. For Lauren, baking merges her interests of science and creativity. She comes from an analytical family – her father is a dentist and her mother a financial advisor – and Lauren even considered pursuing a career in
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SiouxFallsWoman.net | February/March 2021
