Today we’d like to introduce you to Bess Charles.
Hi Bess, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Oh, you want the story behind the frosting! Grab a cupcake and pull up a chair.
I began as a home baker in 2005, working out of my tiny kitchen with big dreams and a whisk that never seemed to stop spinning. What started as a side-hustle for friends and family quickly turned into something more, because every cake was a little love letter… and word spreads fast when love tastes like buttercream.
By 2014, I’d outgrown the oven next to my fridge, so I opened the first LadyCakes storefront in Cape Coral. The community embraced us with open arms (and open mouths), and within our first year we were partnering with top resorts and designing cakes for weddings that turned into lifelong memories. The business kept growing, expanding three times in that original space, each expansion like another tier added to our own cake.
Then life handed us a plot twist: in 2024 we were given 90 days to relocate. It was stressful, chaotic, and sprinkled with doubt, yet somehow the batter still rose. After ten months of persistence, paperwork, prayers, and probably too much caffeine, we reopened in early 2025 on Cape Coral Parkway. The new location unlocked everything I’d dreamed of: more space, more creativity, more events, more community!
Along the way, I also discovered that stories can be the sweetest treat of all. That led to writing my children’s book series, “The Adventures of LadyCakes,” which blends lessons in kindness and courage with a scoop of imagination. I’ve fallen head-over-spatula for the process of inspiring kids and families through books, events, and characters that leap right off the page.
Today, LadyCakes is more than a bakery. It’s a community hub, a celebration factory, a place where delicious meets delightful every single day. My mission has never changed: deliver joy, one slice at a time, while showing others—especially young entrepreneurs—that courage can look like frosting-stained aprons and late nights chasing a dream.
The story isn’t finished. In fact, we’re just pre-heating.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Here’s the part of the story that doesn’t always make the highlight reel. Growth isn’t linear. It’s messy batter splatters, burnt batches, and starting over when you thought you finally had it all figured out.
LadyCakes has weathered some serious storms, both literal and figurative.
COVID hit the wedding and event industry like a wrecking ball. Our orders vanished overnight, yet the bills didn’t. I stood in an empty bakery asking myself how I could keep my team employed, my customers served, and my dream alive. We pivoted, hustled, and baked through the uncertainty, because joy was needed more than ever.
Then came Hurricane Ian, a storm that didn’t just flood homes—it soaked hearts and communities. We weren’t spared from the damage or the fear, yet we turned our ovens back on as soon as we could. We handed out treats to first responders, fed families who had nothing left in their kitchens, and remembered why we do what we do. LadyCakes isn’t just a business. It’s a neighbor.
Through all that, life continued behind the scenes. Raising kids while managing 4 a.m. bake times and unpredictable challenges sometimes felt like trying to decorate a cake while it’s still in the oven. My children needed stability. My employees depended on leadership and paychecks. The community counted on us as a place of comfort. Every day required choosing courage, choosing resilience, choosing to show up even when my knees were shaking.
Relocating our bakery after being forced out of our original space was another mountain to climb. Ten months of bureaucracy, construction delays, and sheer willpower tested every ounce of patience I had. Providing for my family while reinvesting everything into a new location wasn’t glamorous. It was grit. It was tears in the car, pep talks in the mirror, and unwavering belief that this next chapter would be worth it.
Through every storm, I learned this: LadyCakes rises like a well-made loaf. Strength comes from heat. Growth comes from pressure. Community gives us flavor and purpose.
Today’s success sits on top of those struggles like a beautifully piped rosette. Every setback shaped us into a bakery that doesn’t just sell cake… it serves hope.
As you know, we’re big fans of LadyCakes Bakery. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
LadyCakes is a bakery built on joy. Every day we craft custom cakes and scratch-made treats that turn life’s ordinary moments into celebrations worth savoring. Weddings, birthdays, gender reveals, graduations, Tuesdays… if there’s a reason to smile, there’s a LadyCakes dessert that fits the moment perfectly.
We’re known for designing cakes that feel personal. Not just pretty or trendy, though we love a good buttercream swirl. We get to know our customers, listen to their stories, and turn those meaningful details into edible art. That personalization extends to every corner of the bakery. Whether someone wants a towering wedding cake, a single cupcake, or a cookie to cheer up a tough day, we treat every order like the most important one.
What sets us apart is the heart behind the frosting. We show up. For our customers. For our community. For the people who rely on us. LadyCakes isn’t just a counter full of sweets. It’s a warm hello, a “we’ve got you,” a safe place to celebrate who you are. We’re proud to be a women-owned, community-rooted business that invests back into Southwest Florida, supporting local nonprofits, hosting family-friendly events, and finding every opportunity to sprinkle kindness around like confetti.
Brand-wise, I’m proud that we’ve built something instantly recognizable and beloved. The purple hair, the whimsical creativity, the consistency in quality. Our brand isn’t just visual; it’s an experience. Guests walk in and immediately feel welcomed, excited, even a little giddy. Sweetness shouldn’t be serious. It should feel like coming home.
Beyond the display case, LadyCakes also brings stories to life through our children’s book series, “The Adventures of LadyCakes.” These books reflect the same values we bake into our business: courage, kindness, belonging, and the joy of being uniquely you. Whether a family experiences LadyCakes by eating a cupcake or reading together at bedtime, the message is the same… you matter, you’re loved, and you deserve celebration.
So here’s what I want readers to know: LadyCakes is here for every sweet moment of your life. We pour passion, creativity, and a whole lot of heart into everything we do. When you choose LadyCakes, you choose the best. You choose community. You choose love in dessert form.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Oh yes, plenty. Starting a business is a bit like baking without a recipe: exciting, terrifying, and guaranteed to make a mess before something beautiful comes out of the oven.
Here’s the advice I’d share, if we were chatting over coffee and cupcakes:
1. Courage comes first, confidence follows.
You won’t always feel ready. Do it anyway. Growth happens in motion, not in waiting for perfect timing.
2. Be obsessed with your “why.”
Hard days will come. Hurricanes, pandemics, sudden relocations…life throws sprinkles and hailstones. A strong “why” keeps you steady when every instinct wants to quit.
3. Learn the business side…even if you love the creative side.
Art gets you noticed. Systems keep you standing. Don’t ignore finances, logistics, and operations. They are the oven that makes your dream rise.
4. Community is your strongest ingredient.
Pour into the place you call home. Serve, support, show up. People don’t just buy your product, they believe in you.
5. Ask for help before the burnout arrives.
Entrepreneurs often try to shoulder everything. Your family, team, and mentors want to see you succeed. Let them lighten the load.
6. Celebrate every tiny win.
First sale? Frame it. New follower? Toast it. Each one is a step on the staircase you’re building with your own hands.
7. Don’t mistake failure for finality.
Cakes cave. Plans crumble. You’ll cry over things that feel huge. Then you’ll wipe your eyes, try again, and discover you’re tougher than you imagined.
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: trust your instincts and value your worth. You are building something no one else can create. Believe in that fiercely.
The beginning is supposed to be messy. The magic is in continuing anyway.
Pricing:
- • Custom Cakes Pricing varies based on size and design starting at: – $5 per serving for buttercream designs – $7 per serving for custom fondant designs
- • Wedding Cakes – Starting at $7 per serving – Custom design session and cake tasting appointment $35 per couple. Delivery and Design charges may apply.
- • Daily Case Treats – Gourmet cake slices: $8 each – Cupcakes: starting at $3.50 each – Specialty items and seasonal treats priced individually (rotating menu)
- • Corporate & Event Orders – Bulk pricing and packaging available upon request – Delivery available throughout Southwest Florida
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iloveladycakes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iloveladycakes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iloveladycakes
- Other: https://amzn.to/47fhRfe
