Nicole Carter was 16 when she started her first business. Although plenty of time has passed, her entrepreneurial spirit has not. She’s now the proud owner of a cupcake business called Sweet Treats & Neats, reports Gloucester Township Patch.
A year ago, Carter made a teddy bear cake for a baby shower. Her reputation as a baker grew and Sweet Treats and Neats was born.
Carter attributes her growth to word of mouth—friends, neighbors and customers spreading the word about her cupcake creations.
“I think cupcakes are universal. You won’t ever meet someone who does not love a cupcake,†Carter said.
Carter has more than 30 different flavors of cupcakes, including the popular red velvet and the exotic pina colada.
Carter is a self-taught baker. She grew up baking with her mother, making and decorating Christmas cookies. Carter also remembers enjoying her grandmother’s special cream puffs. She continues to experiment with new flavors, using her children, husband and friends as taste-testers.
By day, Carter works in the mortgage industry and is also finishing up a degree in elementary education from Rowan University.
Photo from Sweet Treats & Neats