Meet Megan May | Manufacturer Sales Rep, Interior Designer, & Cake Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan May and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Interestingly enough I never intended to start a business. I began having issues with diabetes in 2019 so initially I started baking to understand alternative ingredients for myself. I figured before I start experimenting with alternatives such as plant based sugars and flours I should learn the basics first. That is when I realized I was a great cake decorator and had a passion for it. I loved doing it so I started out giving away free cakes to friends and family so I could test different baking techniques. Soon enough people started encouraging me to take that next step and it did not take long before I did. I also thought it would be a great idea to start selling cakes so I could fund my experimental keto friendly baking since the plant based ingredients are so expensive. I really hope to one day open a keto friendly baker. I love creating desserts that taste great but also do not contain much sugar, carbs, and exclude many of the most common allergens.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have a Bachelor’s of fine art degree in interior design. Interior design was great but I was overworked and it really felt like something was missing so, though still love love design I switched to sales. I’m naturally an introvert but there is this extrovert that lives inside me and comes out to play sometimes so, I actually really enjoy sales. Since I sale to interior designers it is sort of both of the best worlds. But when the pandemic hit I was home a lot more as things slowed down. I’m not a person that can easily sit still so, that is when I got into cake decorating. It really felt good going from an office job back to something very artistic. I want the cakes to taste wonderful but it is really fun for me to make them beautiful as well.

It was not easy to get where I am today. I had a pretty rough up brining and had a single mom with three children. We didn’t grow up with a lot so I realized at a young age that everything I wanted for myself I would have to get on my own. I moved away from my small town of Kingsport, TN and came to Atlanta to finish school at the Art Institute of Atlanta. It was not always easy being on my own and working two jobs and going to school but I knew what I had to do to get ahead. Starting a business is a risk but everything I had to do in life to get where I am was a risk. I worked hard and kept going until I finally got where I am today. I even had the challenge being diagnosed with diabetes when I decided to start this cake business. Over time I’ve learned no matter what life throws at you, you have to breathe and roll with the punches.

When I’m having a hard day or feel like giving up I practice yoga. My brand, Body Mind & Cake, is a boutique bakery that focuses on customizing cakes that not only look beautiful and taste good, but more importantly I strive to work with everyone’s dietary issues. The brand is so custom, I really work with each person individually to see what they need or what they should avoid before I start baking the cake. I take a much more personal approach to baking a cake for someone, after all what you are putting in your body is important. I’m all about customer service and making sure the client is happy!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I took one of my best friends on a helicopter tour for her birthday, I would do that again if someone were to come from out of town. It was awesome to see the city from up above and the tours are actually pretty affordable. I love that Atlanta is an urban garden so its great to go to some of the trails that are in the city as well as the beltline. I love the city but I also like to escape to the surrounding areas of GA that have some great ziplining spots and waterfalls to visit like panther creek falls, and Historic Banning Mills. We would then visit Imperial Fez Mediterranean restaurant, it is this awesome place with belly dancing and a very chill vibe with low seating and good food. Maybe after we could stop by the battery for games and drinks.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There were a few players who really pushed me to make this move. My sister is always there to push me and critique me. She is not afraid to tell me what is good and what is not! So, in those moments I may not always like it, afterwards I really do take her constructive critiques and change for the better. You definitely need that one person who challenges you. In fact, she is named after one of my desserts (Moriah’s Mantra) My keto friendly Match Mousse Cake! My friend David was one of taste testers and really pushed me to be more professional. When I had self doubt he was there to say, Just do it! He helped me get better with the photography and social media aspects for my business. My best friends Toya and Alexa get my constant messages and stress moments when something is going wrong in the kitchen they are super supportive and wish me well. My best friend of what feels like a lifetime Michelle is there to help me when I have tax or money questions. I really have a wonderful support team when it came to jumping into this business head first.

Website: www.bodymindcakellc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodymindcake/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bodymindcake