Meet Sai Shankar Sadhu | Small Business Owner & Cake Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sai Shankar Sadhu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sai Shankar, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The funny thing is that Cakesplosion started by itself; it wasn’t originally an intended and planned-out business; it just happened. During the early stages of the pandemic, purchasing store-made food was unadvised. People thought twice before choosing takeout for dinner and instead cooked at home. Most things could be made at home, so it wasn’t a big issue; however, one crucial thing wasn’t accessible to all: cake! Everyone had huge celebrations coming up and got blown off due to lockdown and quarantine. There was no other option but to opt for a more intimate experience with immediate family only. I was one of these people. As a 14-year-old middle school graduate, I was ready to throw the biggest graduation party ever. My birthday was also near my graduation date, so I was thrilled to have a combined grad birthday party.

Unfortunately, all those plans were left as Pinterest boards and imaginations. I didn’t even have cake, let alone a whole party. Most local bakeries were shut down during the advent of lockdown, and the only places to purchase cake at these times were grocery stores like Walmart or Publix. Like most individuals during this time, my parents were against buying food from large companies due to the risk of infection. Everything came crumbling down. I looked forward to this party, but now I can’t even get a cake for my birthday. It wasn’t just this; many things I looked forward to couldn’t happen because of COVID.

I got a major role in my school play. The show’s writers were coming to watch, I was invited to attend an award showcase, I was set to participate in many birthday parties, and now I’m left with literally nothing. I was tired at one point and just decided that enough was enough. If I can’t have a party, I can at least get cake; if I can’t, I’ll make it myself. And so I did. I have always watched shows like Nerdy Nummies or Cake Boss, so I knew something about cakes. I had never made a cake before but knew exactly how to make one. It turned out quite impressive for the first time, and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. When my mom decided to be like any other mom and post about her kids’ creations, she received much attention. It turns out that many people were in the same dilemma I was once in: a birthday coming up with no cake to cut.

My mom soon got many inquiries from neighbors and friends asking for a homemade cake for their kids’ birthdays. People were more willing to trust a homemade baker rather than a large company with their cake order at this time. Orders started pouring in, and I soon got busy. One by one, my cakes started improving in looks and taste, so Cakesplosion began. It wasn’t always just me that led it. In the beginning, I had co-founders (retired now). The pandemic was such an eventful time, and many things were happening. I started a personal discovery of cake making, orders came in, and we were also moving to the dream home we built.

A new neighborhood started near the area we lived in, and since these were going to be newly constructed homes, the houses were completely customizable. We have always wanted to design a house, and this was our chance. To my surprise, by moving into this neighborhood, I wouldn’t just be getting a home but two incredible friends. When we moved, I instantly hit it off with my co-founders, who also shared the same passion for cake as I did, and it didn’t take long for our parents to team up and encourage us to merge and start one business together. That is how Cakesplosion began. We have made many cakes for so long, but my co-founders were older than me by a year, so they’ve graduated and left Cakesplosion for me to run solely. With Cakesplosion all under my control, I was still preserving the family bond that Cakesplosion created with all its customers. I could still uphold our policy for full customization because each cake is unique, just like the person who cuts it.

What started as a way to get back at all the disappointments I was once burdened with became a lifelong, passionate hobby and business. I have always been interested in watching cake decorating videos and everything about cakes. Still, I would’ve never imagined I’d one day be the one making the cakes instead of just watching them being made.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Dessert is always served last, not because it’s the least important, but because it’s the perfect way to finish your meal. You can’t just get up and leave after eating something salty or spicy; you have to cleanse your palate with something sweet. Just like how we eat dessert after the appetizer and entrée to get rid of the saltiness/spiciness, we always cut cake on special occasions to celebrate the new sweetness entering our lives and let go of the hard troubles and salty experiences we’ve once faced. We, Cakesplosion, give value to dessert; we provide value to cake. It’s not just a simple thing to cut to and sing around; it’s a unique object that brings everyone together. Everyone’s doing their own thing at parties, but when it’s time to cut cake, everyone gathers together. For something so unique, it shouldn’t be taken for granted, and that’s what sets us apart from other bakeries. Other bakeries have a premade design catalog that you can flip through and choose which one you like best. Sometimes, the only thing you can change is the message written on the cake. At Cakesplosion, it’s not the same. We work personally with our clientele to get the confection of their dreams. We work to make something truly unique to them and don’t make the exact cake twice. Each cake is as unique as the one that cuts it, and Cakesplosion takes that into account. Our customization services and our personal consultations set us apart from the competition. We work to make you feel special on your special day, and we don’t compromise when it comes to the most important thing at parties: cake! After all, a party without cake is just a meeting.

It wasn’t easy to get to where we are today; there was a lot of personal discovery and a lot of soul-searching. It took me a while to learn why Cakesplosion is just so unique and why it’s so appreciated. It started as an altruistic approach. Profit was not something I or anyone else had intended when starting Cakesplosion. I just understood the feeling of wanting something good at a dark time. I understood what it was like to have all your long-awaited plans fail because of something you cannot control. That is why I was so passionate about starting Cakesplosion during the pandemic. I didn’t want people to feel they couldn’t cut a cake on their birthday. It’s a special moment that everyone is entitled, and I took it upon myself to make it happen. In the beginning, it was very easy juggling Cakesplosion with school. Online school made it easy to handle everything in my own way and on my own time, but when the pandemic ended and schools slowly began to convert to in-person, things got just a little bit challenging. I am entering high school now, and on top of that, I have my own small business. It was too much to handle initially, but I got the hang of it after a year. I figured out how to manage everything and be a good time manager. Not only did it help me with Cakesplosion, but it also helped me excel in school and keep everything organized. It took a lot of calendars and a lot of planners, but I got there, and I’m so glad I did. Cakesplosion is a massive part of who I am, so I’m delighted to have it with me through the most significant time of personal discovery. Entering high school, discovering careers, and starting college soon was just a huge personal discovery time and a massive milestone for me. This journey has been so meaningful to me, so much so that even traditions were born. On one random day, I decided to have a picnic with my friends in my freshman year of high school. It was on a cold day with a slight drizzle, which was not ideal for a picnic but was the only day that worked for everyone. We decided to have a picnic every year from then on, and no matter how hard we try, every picnic we plan (one for each school year) ends up being either a cold day or a rainy one. At this point, we just rolled with it, and our senior year picnic is yet to come; maybe this year, it’ll be on a sunny day; who knows?

I’m just glad to have Cakesplosion at this time because I fell back on it for confidence and support. A big lesson Cakesplosion has taught me is that when one door closes, another one opens. During the dark stages of the pandemic, I was depressed to have everything I’d ever wanted taken away from me, from getting a major role in the school play to getting an award at a showcase to even having my grand graduation/birthday party. I wasn’t aware that life had extraordinary things in store for me that went way beyond what the pandemic took from me. I know now just how important it is to just trust the process.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in a small town in Georgia called Cumming, and although everyone jokes about how it’s so boring and there’s nothing to do here, it’s still home, and I would still miss it when I move to college. I’ve made many great memories here and am ready to make so many more. If my best friend was coming to visit, we’d definitely first go to The Collections at Forsyth. Yes, it’s the most common place in Cumming and a very basic choice, but I feel that outsiders would definitely want to visit it if they ever come to Cumming; even one of my friends who moved to Florida still comes back just to see the Collections because despite how basic it is, it’s still the place where everyone from here had had something exciting or special happen to them. It’s a great place to walk around and hang out. After the collections, we’d go to Kani House, my favorite restaurant here. I love hibachi food, and it sure makes any dining experience fun. We’d enjoy seeing the chefs do tricks with our food and cook us a truly delicious meal right before our eyes. After a good meal, we’d go to my friend’s cafe, Chu Chat, at Johns Creek. It’s the most aesthetically pleasing cafe I’ve ever seen, and it has the best coffee (a dessert that has combined features of a croissant and waffles). This is the best place for a little dessert snack to end the day. The next day definitely has to be dedicated to adventure and fun. One of my favorite things to do here is to go shopping. There’s a great selection of stores in my part of Georgia, primarily in Woodstock, Georgia. The Outlet Mall there is amazing. We’d get a great workout walking around the area and getting a look at some nice clothes or accessories to maybe buy. I, for one, am huge on bracelets. I still haven’t found the perfect bracelet because bracelets are a key accessory for anyone. Their simple but elegant nature can make an outfit look good. Still, to this day, I always look for the perfect bracelet, hoping to find it one day. The next day, we’ll continue entertainment by going to Warbington Farms. It’s a fun place to go fruit picking and visit the farm animals. It’s excellent during autumn because they have a pumpkin patch and other fall-themed activities. Fruit picking is a fun activity; although it may seem tedious, it’s actually the most fun thing ever with friends. Usually, when I go with my friends, we end up baking something together with the fruit we just picked out. I’d continue the next few days with the same sun activities by going to good restaurants like Carrabba’s Italian Grill or malls like MOG (Mall of Georgia). We cannot leave wherever we go without visiting the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. It’s the most magical place ever and is such a sight for sore eyes. I have always loved nature, so I was blown away by the radiance and beauty of the Botanical Gardens in Georgia. It’s the most ethereal place ever. One more must-visit has to be my favorite fast food restaurant, Zaxbys. I recently discovered that Zaxbys wasn’t available in the North; it’s only offered in a few Southern states, which was crazy to imagine. I haven’t always been a fan of Zaxbys, mostly because I’ve never been there. I always saw it as one of those “random” fast food places, and I never really gave it a shot. However, I’m so glad that I was craving fries one day, and the only nearby place available was Zaxbys. When I tried their chicken-loaded fries, it was terrific. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever had at a fast food place. I don’t know about all the Zaxbys, but the one in Cumming is fantastic. The fries are always golden and cooked, and the chicken is always crispy and tender. It’s definitely a must-visit if an outsider comes here.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
No one reaches a high stage by themselves, and I’m proud to say I’m no different. I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my large family. The one that I’ve built from scratch. The one that has my parents, friends, mentors, teachers, and everyone I care about. I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today if it wasn’t for their help; each person in that family has helped me in a way to reach my full potential. From my parents encouraging me to start my own small business, my friends supporting me by ordering, and my mentors guiding me through hardships, everyone played a key role in my success. Because of them, I was able to achieve things like having a business at 14 and even getting on the homecoming court. I was able to do it all with the help of my family. However, there’s one special person I would like to thank personally, my grandfather. He was the one that paved the way for my journey.

I was always invested in my mom’s side of the family from a young age. My grandfather, especially, was the one that led them to success. He started his business empire after marrying my grandmother, which made him a fortune. He started a luxury hardware company that still stands as one of the biggest in South India today. “Business is in our blood,” he used to say. As a kid, I was obsessed with my grandfather’s business. As a high-end company, it usually catered to an elite clientele, from politicians to movie stars, and my grandfather would often attend special client consultations in interesting, unique places to close deals. He would always tag me along, and it was so much fun. From the age of 7, I was a part of client consultations, acted in the company’s advertisements, and even accompanied my grandfather to our factories where things like tiles were produced. He soon identified I had an artistic eye from a young age, so he would often let me come with him to the design room, where we would design tiles together and so much more. As a 7-year-old, I didn’t realize how much talent I had in the business field, so it was great for my grandfather to push me in the direction that was meant for me. It wasn’t until 7 years later that I really understood the role I was meant to play. I owe it to my grandfather for giving me the wisdom and experience to excel in the passion I didn’t even know was my passion until later.

Website: https://cakesplosion.weebly.com/

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