Life is What You Bake It

Over the past few years, the trend of celebrating various occasions has grown significantly, expanding the market for products. No celebration is truly complete without a cake and people are looking for more unique flavors and designs for their cakes.

Inspired by her passion for home baking, Tenzing Yangchean Tamang, who is originally from Kathmandu, launched her online cake business 'Tenzing Yangchean cakes' in 2017. “This business is an expression of my need for the creation of desserts- specifically cakes. It is both stepping out of the box – in terms of flavor, look, and understanding the client’s needs. It was also a search for my own definition of what works for me, what skill sets are my assets, and how I can use them to be creative and to sustain myself,” she says.

Originally introduced to baking by her mother, she was soon captivated and mesmerized by baking and wanted to explore more possibilities. She started baking as a hobby in her late teens and took it as a career choice after completing university as a Development Studies graduate.

She started by selling to cafes in Kathmandu and gradually developed her own clientele. “I am drawn towards cakes that are easy, cakes which can be enjoyed with pleasure. I believe that baking unites people and promotes a spirit of celebrating at home and sharing,” she says.

With motivation and the drive to achieve more, Yangchean set off on a journey to create visually pleasing cakes for her customers, which also reflects her personality.

She describes being an entrepreneur as both a challenging and satisfying journey. “I wouldn’t paint a perfect picture when it comes to being an entrepreneur. I seem to be excellent and productive some days, other days I lag behind. Each day is a new experience. As an individual, you grow to be more responsible and self-disciplined. However, staying focused while working is utterly important. But the most satisfying thing about this work is when your creations align with the client’s needs,” says Yangchean.

Being a small business, there are various aspects such as communication with clients, delivery persons, and suppliers which are very crucial. She adds, “It can go great when communication goes smooth, if not, unavoidable issues can come up. However, it's always solvable!”

Being a more creative person she also struggles with the dull administrative side of the business since she handles everything on her own. “But I have been improving and learning since the day I started and I think it is all a learning process,” says Yangchean.

Tenzing Yangchean Tamang can be contacted on her Instagram (@yanchtenzing)