Many people start their own business because of their passion for the industry—whether it’s cars, food, flowers, coffee. But that wasn’t the case for Mignon Francois, owner of The Cupcake Collection and our guest on this week’s episode of Behind the Review.
She wasn’t driven by cupcakes; in fact, she didn’t even know how to bake when she started her business. What drove her was even more powerful: a passion and drive to succeed, to “make it.” She heard a story on the radio of someone paying off their debt by having a bake sale. That was her inspiration. From there, she got to work, creating a business that could get her out of debt and allow her to build generational wealth for her family. “I put these three-by-three signs outside of my house. They said, ‘Bakery coming soon.’ Then I felt like the whole world had seen it—I couldn’t back out now. I had to figure out how to bake.”
Mignon is a prime example of what can be achieved when you are truly dedicated to making it happen. She not only learned to bake, but learned to bake really well—award-winning well.
Our Yelp review comes from creative entrepreneur Monica S., who takes a fun and playful look at just how “overwhelmingly delectable” cupcakes can be. Her words were not only captivating, but they’re also a reminder of how much joy something simple—like a sweet potato cupcake—can bring.
This episode also covers pandemic pivots, but more importantly, we hear from Mignon on starting from nothing and turning a sweet dream into a booming success. Here are a few of the other insights you’ll get:
- Believe in yourself. It’s the most important place to start when you’re looking to build a business. For Mignon, no one believed that people would come to her neighborhood and wait in line for a gourmet item like a cupcake, but she didn’t let that deter her. That base confidence, mixed with hard work, is essential.
- Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time to build a business, trial and error, and you need to work to create a loyal customer base. Don’t expect instant success.
- COVID took a lot, but don’t let it take everything. Mignon acknowledges that the world is in disarray but says that special events are still happening, and we shouldn’t let them go. Just find new ways to celebrate them.
Interviews by Emily Washcovick; photos by Hannah Messinger and The Cupcake Collection
These lessons come from an episode of Behind the Review, Yelp & Entrepreneur Media’s weekly podcast. Listen below to hear from Mignon and Monica, or visit the episode page to read more, subscribe to the show, and explore other episodes.
The information above is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and may not be suitable for your circumstances. Unless stated otherwise, references to third-party links, services, or products do not constitute endorsement by Yelp.