Fly Female Entrepreneur: Miriam Milord

Photo Credit: Ira L. Black

In the custom cake business, “stay ready” (vs. get ready) is the modus operandi. When clients ask for wild and crazy designs they’ve never seen, but thought up in their vivid imaginations, Miriam Milord, owner of BCakeNY, simply smiles and asks, “How many?”

In 2008, Miriam baked a cake for a baby shower that was a hit among friends. At the time, she was using her education in art history and studio art as a designer at a gallery and only had a casual interest in baking. Fast forward to 2015, and Miriam is the beauty behind one of the hottest custom cake studios in New York City, with a client roster that reads like a “who’s who” in entertainment list with the likes of Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kourtney Kardashian and Taraji Henson. Today on In Her Shoes, Miriam takes a break from the bakery hustle to talk all things BCakeNY:

In Her Shoes: Tell us briefly about your journey. I know that you were working in the gallery world before you launched BCakeNY, but can you share with my readers what led you down this path?

Miriam: I have an art & design degree so I worked in the art world for over eight years. I have always loved creating both on the computer and with my hands, particularly scuplture. I was planning a baby shower for a friend (first & last baby shower I ever planned, ha!) and didn’t have a cake budget so I YouTubed and created one myself. Everyone loved the cake and as a result, I received numerous requests. After a few months, I decided to take the plunge into full time entrepreneurship!

In Her Shoes: Who was your first celebrity client and how did she/he find out about your business?

Miriam: Kourtney Kardashian. She found my cake online and featured it on her blog. Not long after, she ordered her first baby shower cake from us.

In Her Shoes: What’s the most “memorable” client experience you’ve had to date?

Miriam: There are so many. It’s hard to choose, but I think it would be the treats we created for a children’s hospital. My team was very moved and humbled by the project. Although it may sound corny, it was seriously life changing.

In Her Shoes: Has there ever been a time when you were ready to walk away from your business to do something else? If so, how did you work past that moment?

Miriam: Temporarily maybe during a severely sleep deprived hour.  Seeing the good in the bad, not fearing change, being optimistic, positive, and calm has helped me remain sane.

In Her Shoes: Tell us something about your career that most people would find hard to believe:

Miriam: Most people don’t know that I had a baby when I started the company. I basically raised two babies at the same time, my son & BCakeNY. They are both unruly, stressful 7-year-olds now that also bring a lot of joy!

In Her Shoes: What is a day like in your shoes?

Miriam: Long! Most days are very long and range from time in the kitchen and with clients, to time on the soccer field with my son. Having your own business is always a balancing act. You could technically work 24/7, but you have to find a way to let go sometimes and it took me a few years to learn that. The wedge sneakers work in social settings, the kitchen, & on the soccer field so they are generally my go to during the day.

In Her Shoes: When you do feel the most alive?

Miriam: Two very opposite situations, but first is on the beach. I love the beach, the sun and the ocean. The smell of the ocean makes me feel alive. The second is a very different scenario, which is the stressful adrenaline pumped feeling I get when I’m working and the relief that comes with completion and accomplishment after.

In Her Shoes: What have you learned as an entrepreneur that you really wish someone would have told you before you launched?

Miriam: I realized at some point that you can’t make everyone happy and that you can get lost in trying. You have to be confident and give 100% and just let the other variables fall into place.

In Her Shoes: What are three things you know to be true?

Miriam:

1. Kindness is key.

2. Hard work always pays off.

3. No short cuts allowed!

To learn more about Miriam Milord and BCakeNY visit bcakeny.com or follow the brand on IG @BCakeNY!