Cupcakes aren't just sweet treats - they're also a national franchise owned by two best friends and this month Tri-City entrepreneurs can learn their secrets.
Momcafé, a network for business-minded moms, is hosting Cupcakes' founders Heather White and Lori Joyce for a meet and share breakfast June 22 at 9:15 a.m. at The Boathouse in Port Moody.
"The real objective is to introduce local business owners with others who have had success," said Julie Nowell, regional owner of momcafé network, an event and web-based organization that provides networking and business coaching.
Nowell said guests will enjoy a light breakfast and learn about the importance of branding as well as ways to balance work and family life.
White and Joyce opened their first bakery in April, 2002 on Denman Street in Vancouver's West End, serving whimsical and elegant cupcakes to out-of-town visitors and Denman denizens. Four years later they opened their second location on West Broadway; they now have two corporate bakeries and four franchise bakeries across Vancouver's Lower Mainland, and another franchise set to open in Victoria this year.
Nowell's new business venture is much younger - she acquired the Tri-Cities-Maple Ridge momcafé network franchise this year and has held three events so far. The plan is to organize one networking event every six weeks featuring successful business women who will talk about specific areas of their business.
Upcoming presenters include two women who shucked their corporate businesses for pre-retirement lifestyles in Costa Rica and the Cook Islands and three women whose ventures were aired on CBC's Dragon's Den.
Since she formed the local branch of momcafé (www.momcafénetwork.com), 45 local professional moms, corporate working moms and entrepreneurial moms have joined up, Nowell said.
Many are attracted to the events which are timed to fit into a mother's busy lifestyle, Nowell said, but talk is all business - "We talk Twitter more than diapers" she says, and child minding is available upon registration.
It costs $99 plus tax to join the group, which entitles members to personal coaching and discounts, including reduced ticket prices for the networking events.
The June 22 meet and share breakfast costs $43 for non-members (plus child minding) and $34 for members,
Nowell said guests will be able to check out some promotional tables, before the networking and presentations begin and the morning will wrap up at 11:15 with some door prizes.
Visit www.momcafénetwork.com or email julie@momcafénetwork.com
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