Showcasing Our Excellence: Rhonda Jenkins – Elevate the Cake

 Introducing Rhonda Jenkins of Elevate the Cake.

RJ: I’m a Cincinnati, Ohio native and from the time I was 16, I worked in the corporate setting. When I left Cincinnati, I had worked for Cincinnati Public Schools for 15 years as Lead School Secretary. I always had a interest in creative things like floral arranging, calligraphy, cake decorating, crocheting, interior decorating, but I never really had the time to pursue any of them and I never thought I would be good enough because I didn’t knnow how to draw or really done any creative things. I just knew I was always intriqued by the work other people did. I thought all I could do was type fast, file, and answer the telephone! My husband took a job at Ft. Benning in Columbus GA and that is what moved us out of Ohio. For the first time since I was 16, I didn’t have a job, and I didn’t want to get one because we had our six year old daughter and two year old son at the time. I was not going to let total strangers watch my children since I didn’t know ANYONE in Columbus GA. So I decided I needed to do SOMETHING because I was bored out of my mind. So I started taking cake decorating classes at Columbus State. I wanted to have a surprise anniversary party for my husband and make a three tier anniversary cake for the occasion. I was so proud of my cake so I wanted a special cake stand. Couldn’t find one that stood out anywhere, so I ended up buying a simple metal one from the local craft store. After the party was over, I still thought about how nice it would have been to have had a prettier cake stand to display my first real cake. I started googling and my mind was blown!!! I saw so many different types of stands! The rhinestone cake stands took my breath away and I had never seen anything like it! That’s when I decided I would look into cake stands! I knew if I wanted something pretty for my event, someone else would want it too.

Share Your Business

RJ: The name of my business is called Elevate The Cake (Chic Party Rentals). I hand-make cake stands, and I rent them out to anyone who want to elevate their cakes. I also do custom dessert table displays using my inventory. My business is for anyone having a special event.  Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Holiday’s, Corporate Events, Retirement Parties, House Parties etc. My mission is to help people affordably have events with high end products and looks without breaking the bank. I’m hoping my business grows and my clientele grows with it so that event planners, business coordinators, etc will see my work and want to Elevate their event with Elevate The Cake. I would love to open a store front because our inventory is growing. We offer throne chairs for adults as well as kids. We would love to add more as business continues to grow. Right now I’m a home based business, but I have plans to keep growing.

Discussion Topic Questions

TB: One of my areas of focus is decision making for women. I share the tips, tools and tricks women can use to make their best choices. How did you get clarity to decide what type of business you wanted to create?

RJ: I know I never truly enjoyed being behind a desk because I had so much more creativity always on my mind. I also wanted to be able to make my own schedule based on my family needs. If I went to work at a company again, I would not be able to do either of those because I would be on someone else’s schedule. My family was/is my priority and even still I have to balance my time with my family and running my business because it’s very easy for me to get caught up creating.

TB: What tools or strategies do you use to help you make your best business decisions? 

RJ: My biggest tool is my husband! He really helps me to think about ways to make my business more successful. He helps me to think outside of the box when it comes to making decisions about the business. There have been many times I just wanted to throw my hands up because I felt the business wasn’t moving as fast as I would like for it to. I was doing a lot of work, but not seeing any results as fars as new clientele or opportunitiies. I want to keep learning and challenging myself to create more!

TB: Do you have any tips for time management?

RJ: Prioritize! Prioritize! Prioritze!  Do not procrastinate! I just did an event in September, and I started working on that event in November 2018. Had I waited to start planning my vision and working on projects, I know I would have not have been as pleased as well as the organizer because it would have been sub-par work.  I’m a perfectionist and I like to give my best so I have to spend the time to make sure I give my best.

TB: Thank you for showcasing your beautiful work, Rhonda.

Visit Rhonda at the following locations:

• Website: https://www.elevatethecake.com
• Social media:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/facebook.com/ElevateTheCake
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elevatethecake
• Email: elevatethecakes@gmail.com
• Business address/Location:

  RJ: When a client uses my service to decorate their wedding reception or other party they definitely get items that are not normally used at other functions. I try to have unique items and I bring out what is not expected or on my website for rental. Only when my SERVICE is used for events. I do consultations for big events and I try to stay witin the clients reasonable budget. I do make custom bling items like wine glasses, wine bottles, wedding gym shoes.