Allie Ficker, a Senior here at Timpview, has turned her hobby and passion for cake baking and decorating into a thriving small business. Allie is also a hard working student and an AP Scholar with distinction. Here is a look into her life, and how she fits everything in.
Ficker’s journey into the world of baking began in middle school, inspired by seeing others fun cakes and desserts. “I tried making a cake for the first time in middle school because I thought it was cool,” Allie recalls. “I had seen cool cakes people had made, and then I just kept making them and getting better.” Her first major project was a groom’s cake for a wedding dinner which was the first thing to really get the word out about her small business. As word spread more people began requesting cakes, which prompted her to start an Instagram account showcasing and selling her cakes.
Her reputation grew even more after participating in the Beehive Bazaar, a local artisan market. Allie has participated twice, selling mini cakes in tins, which have become a crowd favorite. “It’s really good publicity and helps me get my name out there,” she says. “The Beehive Bazaar is really nice because it’s very low risk. For youth sellers, they don’t charge a booth fee and only take a cut of what you make, so if you don’t sell, you aren’t losing money. I also don’t have to be there, which is super nice during the school year.” Both times she practically sold out and grew lots.
One of Allie’s most memorable projects was creating a wedding cake and hundreds of cupcakes for a family friend. “It was kind of stressful,” she admits, “but it was so rewarding to be able to set everything up, make it look so pretty, and have the bride and groom love it.”Between her job at Quench It, involvement in student government, and role in the school’s journalism team, Allie stays busy. She uses her great time management skills to handle it all. “I do a lot of baking on the weekends so I can work on school during the week without too many distractions,” she shares. Her advice for others? “Get all homework done before the weekend so you can enjoy it without being stressed.”
For Ficker the most rewarding part of her business is seeing the joy her cakes bring to others. “I love dropping off cakes and seeing everyone’s reactions and the next day when they tell me how much it meant to them,” she says. As she prepares to graduate Allie has big plans for the future. She is set to attend Brigham Young University where she hopes to pursue a career in medicine. “I want to go to med school and eventually become a pediatric surgeon,” Allie shares. While she doesn’t plan to continue her cake business as seriously during college and medical school, she will always have a passion for baking. “I love baking and will probably make cakes and treats forever.” Allie encourages others to follow their passions and try something new. “I would say just go for it. There’s no time to start like now,” she advises. “Sell at markets and get yourself out there because that’s what has helped me the most.”
As Allie prepares to leave high school her cake business stands as a testament to her creativity and diligence. While her focus will shift to college and medicine, Allie’s love for baking will remain a cherished part of her life, a passion she can carry with her wherever she goes.
