CAPALABA business Cordies Cake Supplies is in the running to be named Australia’s best after taking out two Queensland titles at the Australian Cake Decorating Network Awards.
The business won Queensland Retailer of the Year and Queensland Cake Teacher of the Year at the October 24 awards and will now be judged against state winners nationally, with the result due at the end of November.
It follows another honour in September, when Cordies Cake Supplies was named Best Small Retailer by the Australian Cake Artist and Decorators Association.
Store owner Kirsty Cordwell said she was both proud and amazed by the recognition.
“It is a great honour. We are only a small store,” she said.
Ms Cordwell opened the business with husband Tony in 2017, combining her cake-decorating experience with his baking background.
“I am a cake decorator and Tony is a baker,” she said.
“We wanted to do something different and now we have incorporated both of our skills.
“Tony is now the store manager and I run the classes.”
The store has become a popular destination for budding cake decorators, with classes generally held on Friday nights and Saturdays.
During school holidays, there can be two classes a day.
“The classes are for kids, but the adults reckon these are the most fun, so there are often adults there too,” Ms Cordwell said.
“The classes are popular. Every class is sold out.”
Ms Cordwell said the growing interest in cake decorating was helping people build confidence and learn skills they had long wanted to try.
“It’s a chance for people to become more confident and often gain the skills to do something they have always wanted to do,” she said.
“It’s a lovely hobby.
“The kids coming to classes have often shown a passion or an interest and their mums book them in.”
While celebration cakes remain a centrepiece of the business, Ms Cordwell said cupcakes and cookies were increasingly popular for school birthdays, office events and other gatherings.
“They can be custom designed,” she said.
“It’s not unusual for people to have a bit of competition at office parties, for example.
“It can also be cheaper.
“You will find that people struggling financially can come in and make the cake of their dreams.
“It’s more affordable and they develop new skills as well.”
Ormiston customer Helen Lowe said she had picked up plenty of “tips and tricks” through classes at the Capalaba store over the past few years.
“I love the creativity it brings,” Ms Lowe said.
“Kirsty is amazing, so explicit in her instructions, and so inspiring.”
Birkdale customer Judy Buckler said met Ms Cordwell as a fellow school mum before seeing one of her elaborate creations.
“She came to school with an Alice in Wonderland cake,” Ms Buckler said.
“From then on, we all signed up for classes.
“Kirsty knows how to run a class and she’s very patient with me and the children.”
