Palesa Moopelwa

What does your company do?

I run a warm and welcoming baking supplies store where home bakers and professionals can find everything they need from cake tins and sprinkles to food colours and packaging. We also make beautiful, custom cakes for all kinds of special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, baby showers, graduation, corporate orders and dessert cakes. One of my favourite parts of the business is hosting fun and educational baking workshops for kids. It’s amazing to see their confidence grow while they learn a life skill and express their creativity. For adults, especially women who’ve always wanted to learn but never had the chance, we offer affordable baking lessons that are practical, hands-on, and empowering. Whether it's to start a small side hustle or simply to bake for their families, I love helping women believe in themselves. We've even created our own range of easy-to-use baking premixes. Our premix range contains no preservatives, just real, quality ingredients — so that anyone can bake something delicious with confidence, even on a tight schedule or budget Everything we do is about making baking more accessible, joyful, and empowering, especially for the women and children in our community.

What is your biggest success?

As the founder of Palesa’s Bakes and Treats, I’ve grown my bakery from a home kitchen to a thriving business. I am a proud employer of three single moms who are the sole providers for their families. As a former teacher and mom to two children with autism, I combined my love for baking and teaching to create an inclusive space that offers custom cakes, baking supplies, and lessons for both kids and adults. One of my proudest achievements is launching a preservative-free premix range under my brand, making home baking easier and healthier. I'm also working on a baking recipe book to share my most trusted, beginner-friendly recipes. Beyond business, I lead community projects like the Shoebox Christmas drive for underprivileged children in Dunoon.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

The biggest hurdle has been funding especially for the retail side of my business. I started Palesa’s Bakes and Treats with no liquid cash flow just a passion for baking and a vision. Every cent earned was reinvested, from shelving to stock. There was no outside funding, just bootstrapping and belief. Because of limited cash, it’s been tough to keep our shop fully stocked. We can’t buy in bulk, which drives up costs and limits variety. Customers often ask for products we simply can’t afford to keep on hand especially the niche cake decorating tools and ingredients that set us apart. It’s frustrating knowing the demand is there but not being able to meet it. Still, we’ve built a loyal base and created a space where bakers feel at home. Winning this competition would be a game changer helping us grow our retail section, increase inventory, and finally give our baking community the range and quality they deserve.