Celebrity Cake Studio’s two decades of growth and success

February 10, 2023

This women-owned cake studio launched from a familial passion for baking and is now a fixture in the Tacoma, Wash. community.

Based in Tacoma, Wash., Celebrity Cake Studio isn’t your typical bakery. The family-run business opened in 1999, but has a baking history that goes back even further. The sister pair Odette D’Aniello and Mary Ann Quitugua, and their cousin Wallace Bolo, spent time in their family bakery in Guam during their youth, picking up a passion for making sweet treats. During the business’ 20-plus years, the team has been recognized with many awards and expanded far beyond their brick-and-mortar store. Here, CEO Odette D’Aniello shares insight about the business’ roots and growth over the past two decades.

 

How did you first become interested in baking?

“We’re from the Philippines, and my parents worked for my uncle who had a bakery on blocks — I grew up in Cebu, and I lived on top of a bakery. When I was 10 years old, my family emigrated to Guam and then we started working as a family for my uncle in that bakery. It was really hard work, because we basically did nothing but go to school and work in a bakery seven days a week. It wasn't fun, but I did develop a love for cake.”

 

What are some of the specialty products you provide?

“We offer wedding cakes and special occasion cakes in our retail store. We have a store in Tacoma and we have a showroom. We do beautiful work and we're one of the top cake designers in the Seattle area.

We acquired another brand called Dragon Fly Cakes out of Sausalito, Cali. in 2016. Their chocolate-covered petit fours are so delicious. They're all natural, with cage-free eggs, awesome ingredients and plant-based colors. We sell that to hundreds of stores nationwide, and that's what we specialize in. Dragon Fly Cakes is our national brand.”

 

What's your favorite type of cake to make?

“I like the styling of wedding cakes and custom cakes — it's our medium of art. My sister is now my partner and has been for the past the past 21 years. She and I are cake designers; that's what we love to do. I’m the CEO and my sister is the COO.”

 

How many hours go into the baking and the artistry of your cakes?

“It really depends on what we're making. Since we bake cakes into layers, there are many, many steps to it. It goes on for days, depending on what layer of cake we're doing. We bake the cake, we have to cool it, and then we make the fillings and build the cake. Then we ice the cake, decorate it (and then decorate it more) ­— then we freeze it. It takes hours. If we're doing a big wedding cake, it takes many days and many hands.

It’s all just a step towards creation — it’s a creative process. It's fun to see what you produce based on all those things. You don't really see it from the beginning, but at the end it's beautiful piece of art.”

 

Where do you find inspiration?

“At the end of the year, we research all the trends and see what's out there. Then we curate all the things that we love. It could be from anything — it could be from nature, current foods, experiences we've had traveling or from people bringing in photos. That's maybe 30 or 40% of what we do. The rest is inspiration from our customers, because they’ll bring in something and we riff from there.”

 

What have been the highlights of owning your own business

“It’s an experience of discovery every day — there's always something new and it's something fun, but you can't control certain things. I've been within this business for over two decades, and now we just know that things work out. We have to wait and see what happens and get excited about what the next steps are.

Our customers have really inspired us, and it's been a wonderful experience to have a business that is run with our family and our employees, who we call a family. We're a very tight, really warm and hospitable culture. Going to work, loving the people you're around and loving what you do is a gift. That's what we love about running a business.” 

 

Inspired by small businesses driving growth in creative ways? Read on to learn how this woman started and expanded her salon business beyond just hair.

Learn about U.S. Bank

Related content

Allowance basics for parents and kids

Community behind Elsa’s House of Sleep

How a family-owned newspaper is serving its community

30-day adulting challenge: Financial wellness tasks to complete in a month

High-yield bond issuance: 5 traits lawyers should look for in a service provider

Year-end financial checklist

Putting home ownership within reach for a diverse workforce

Administrator accountability: 5 questions to evaluate outsourcing risks

For small business growth, consider the international market

Easier onboarding: What to look for in an administrator

3 tips to maintain flexibility in supply chain management

Insource or outsource? 10 considerations

4 questions you should ask about your custodian

Refining your search for an insurance custodian

Service provider due diligence and selection best practices

Webinar: CRE technology trends

Complying with changes in fund regulations

Business risk management for owners of small companies

Evaluating interest rate risk creating risk management strategy

Webinar: CSM corporation re-thinks AP

Tech tools to keep your restaurant operations running smoothly

Webinar: AP automation for commercial real estate

Addressing financial uncertainty in international business

5 winning strategies for managing liquidity in volatile times

The future of financial leadership: More strategy, fewer spreadsheets

Digital banking and cloud accounting software: How they work together

Employee benefit plan management: trustee vs. custodian

Choosing your M&A escrow partner

High-cost housing and down payment options in relocation

Why retail merchandise returns will be a differentiator in 2022

Save time with mobile apps for business finances

Crypto + Relo: Mobility industry impacts

For today's relocating home buyers, time and money are everything

Webinar: CRE Digital Transformation – Balancing Digitization with cybersecurity risk

Empowering team members

10 tips on how to run a successful family business

How I did it: Grew my business by branching out

Making a ‘workout’ work out as a business

How a bright idea became a successful business (in Charlotte, North Carolina)

Making the leap from employee to owner

Business tips and advice for Black entrepreneurs

Tools that can streamline staffing and employee management

How to identify what technology is needed for your small business

Planning for restaurant startup costs and when to expect them

How to test new business ideas

The role of ethics in the hiring process

8 ways to increase employee engagement

How to reward employees and teams who perform well

How to hire employees: Employee referral vs. external hiring

Give a prepaid rewards card for employee recognition

Checklist: Increase lead generation with website optimization

Is your restaurant Google-friendly?

How small businesses are growing sales with online ordering

3 simple brand awareness tips for your business

How a small business owner is making the workplace work for women

The growing importance of a strong corporate culture

How small business owners can budget for the holiday season

Why credit cards should be the first choice for business payments

7 uncommon recruiting strategies that you may not have tried yet

How increased supply chain visibility can combat disruptors

6 common financial mistakes made by dentists (and how to avoid them)

Business credit card 101

Meet your business credit card support team

How to apply for a business credit card

What kind of credit card does my small business need?

Do I need a credit card for my small business?

How jumbo loans can help home buyers and your builder business

5 questions business owners need to consider before taking out a loan

How to establish your business credit score

Break free from cash flow management constraints

5 tips for managing your business cash flow

5 ways a business credit card program can grow your business

Building a business with a great product and a greater purpose

How running a business that aligns with core values is paying off

Meet the Milwaukee businessman behind Funky Fresh Spring Rolls

Improve online presence your business

When small business and community work together

How tenacity brought Taste of Rondo to life

How Gentlemen Cuts helps its community shine

How Lip Esteem is empowering women

Honey Luxury Beauté: growing a side project into an eye-catching beauty business

How Shampoo’ed is transforming hair and inspiring entrepreneurs

The San Francisco bridal shop that’s been making memories for 30 years

How Al’s Breakfast is bringing people together

In a digital world, Liberty Puzzles embraces true connection

Celebrity Cake Studio’s two decades of growth and success

How a travel clothing retailer is staying true to its brand values

How to build a content team

Use this one simple email marketing tip to increase your reach

How (and why) to get your business supplier diversity certification

Tips to overcome three common savings hurdles

5 tips to use your credit card wisely and steer clear of debt

Travel for less: Smart (not cheap) ways to spend less on your next trip

Real world advice: How parents are teaching their kids about money

How to stop living paycheck to paycheck post-pay increase

Practical money tips we've learned from our dads

6 ways to spring clean your finances and save money year-round

How to cut mindless spending: real tips from real people

How to increase your savings

5 tips to use your credit card wisely and steer clear of debt

How to spot a credit repair scam

5 unique ways to take your credit card benefits further

Disclosures

Start of disclosure content

Loan approval is subject to credit approval and program guidelines. Not all loan programs are available in all states for all loan amounts. Interest rate and program terms are subject to change without notice. Mortgage, Home Equity and Credit products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Deposit products are offered through U.S. Bank National Association. Member FDIC.