"How are you going to make a store that only sells bundt cakes work in the healthy San Diego market? Are you crazy?"
Nothing Bundt Cakes Co-Owner Mara Fortin heard this comment frequently in 2007 when she opened the very first franchise location of this now hugely popular chain in Poway. Unfazed and slightly na?ve, Mara and her business partner, JP, did not hesitate to make the required sacrifices. Mara quit her successful law practice of eight years and moved herself and their two daughters, nine months and two at the time, from Las Vegas to Mara's hometown of San Diego.
"My mom and sisters thought that I had lost my mind," remembers Mara. "But I always believed."
Mara acknowledges that the first few years were rough and candidly admits that she did not know what she was doing at times. However, she always believed in the superior product. Even with the economic downturn and the 2007 fires, sales steadily increased and a second location opened in 2009 in Del Mar.
"The Del Mar bakery was an instant success. I knew then that our plan for global cake domination was a go," jokes Mara.
Maybe not global domination, but what about the San Diego market? Absolutely. Nothing Bundt cakes now has six successful bakeries in the county.
"We know how to open bakeries, it's what we do," says Mara. Along with Mara serving as the CEO and president, three additional women sit in top positions within the company. Jennifer Malcangio joined the company in the summer of 2010 and now serves as the Director of Finance. She runs all of the "back of the house" operations and makes sure the bills are paid on time and the company remains profitable.
Deidre Eues joined the company in 2011 and steadily promoted herself through the company and now serves as the Director of Operations. She oversees all six bakeries and the management teams. Samantha Mellor joined the company in late 2011. She also worked herself up into her current position of Director of Marketing. Sam handles all marketing related initiatives for the San Diego operation.
"We definitely have a strong male presence in our organization including, of course, my partner JP," adds Mara. "But at our core we have a culture of developing strong, resilient, hard-working women." Mara adds that she loves to watch young women join the ranks, shy and timid at first, and then over time develop into confident and strong decision makers. "We are not afraid to be tough and decisive when necessary," adds Mara. "We have to balance that with care and kindness as well."
Why is this dynamic San Diego team so successful? "We are successful because we believe in maintaining high quality standards, especially with the product and guest experience. We have a great team who believes in ongoing excellence," comments Mara. "When all is said and done, each morning I wake up and just feel so very thankful and am grateful for this wonderful group of women I have surrounded myself with. We can do anything!"
Nothing Bundt Cakes Co-Owner Mara Fortin heard this comment frequently in 2007 when she opened the very first franchise location of this now hugely popular chain in Poway. Unfazed and slightly na?ve, Mara and her business partner, JP, did not hesitate to make the required sacrifices. Mara quit her successful law practice of eight years and moved herself and their two daughters, nine months and two at the time, from Las Vegas to Mara's hometown of San Diego.
"My mom and sisters thought that I had lost my mind," remembers Mara. "But I always believed."
Mara acknowledges that the first few years were rough and candidly admits that she did not know what she was doing at times. However, she always believed in the superior product. Even with the economic downturn and the 2007 fires, sales steadily increased and a second location opened in 2009 in Del Mar.
"The Del Mar bakery was an instant success. I knew then that our plan for global cake domination was a go," jokes Mara.
Maybe not global domination, but what about the San Diego market? Absolutely. Nothing Bundt cakes now has six successful bakeries in the county.
"We know how to open bakeries, it's what we do," says Mara. Along with Mara serving as the CEO and president, three additional women sit in top positions within the company. Jennifer Malcangio joined the company in the summer of 2010 and now serves as the Director of Finance. She runs all of the "back of the house" operations and makes sure the bills are paid on time and the company remains profitable.
Deidre Eues joined the company in 2011 and steadily promoted herself through the company and now serves as the Director of Operations. She oversees all six bakeries and the management teams. Samantha Mellor joined the company in late 2011. She also worked herself up into her current position of Director of Marketing. Sam handles all marketing related initiatives for the San Diego operation.
"We definitely have a strong male presence in our organization including, of course, my partner JP," adds Mara. "But at our core we have a culture of developing strong, resilient, hard-working women." Mara adds that she loves to watch young women join the ranks, shy and timid at first, and then over time develop into confident and strong decision makers. "We are not afraid to be tough and decisive when necessary," adds Mara. "We have to balance that with care and kindness as well."
Why is this dynamic San Diego team so successful? "We are successful because we believe in maintaining high quality standards, especially with the product and guest experience. We have a great team who believes in ongoing excellence," comments Mara. "When all is said and done, each morning I wake up and just feel so very thankful and am grateful for this wonderful group of women I have surrounded myself with. We can do anything!"