the Khaykery

Aimee or Khay, as she is called by her family and friends, had not planned to put up a bakeshop. She started baking cakes and cup cakes in 2015 for special family occasions, including the birthday celebrations of her son. A favorite among the cakes she baked was Sans Rival, which has a similar taste to silvanas. Initially, she had sold her silvanas, cakes and cupcakes to friends, but it did not take long for her to expand her customer base.

Her top selling product then, and now, remains to be silvanas. According to Aimee, she started with selling 20 dozen a week which she made from a small oven, that eventually grew to 100 dozen in a few months’ time. As her customer base grew, she decided to look for a shop where she could bake and sell her products.

Perfect Location to Sell

Aimee finds herself very lucky to have been able to secure a space along the busy street of Robson in Downtown, Vancouver. the Khaykery, which used to be the site of a Moroccan restaurant, is conveniently located within the Robson Public Market. Their products are all baked and prepared in their shop, says Aimee. A small kitchen annexed to the main shop is where they start making these delicious desserts.

Opening a business comes with risks and the Khaykery had its share of problems. Aimee recalled that her oven had broken down a day before the opening of the shop in September 2019, which forced her to reschedule her opening date. A few months later, at a time when they were still gathering momentum, the Covid-19 pandemic hit and establishments were ordered closed. During the past year and a half, the shop was only used to prepare their products for delivery to customers and resellers.

Business strategy

“Passion and determination,” were her answers when she was asked about her motivation in pursuing this food business. The fact that she loves to bake for her family also inspired her to share her talent through the desserts she made.

Aimee puts premium in taking care of her customers. By ensuring that her products are always sold fresh, she is able to guarantee her customers’ satisfaction. Likewise, she treats her resellers as partners with the same stake in the success of her business. Currently, the Khaykery products are being sold in 6 other shops in Metro Vancouver.

Since starting her business, Aimee has actively engaged her customers and participated in community events, to the extent that time and resources would allow. Examples of past events she joined include the Maligayang Pasko Christmas Market organized by the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver and Magksama, A Modern Filipino Market. She was also the sponsor and cake artist at the US Consulate in Vancouver’s Independence Day celebration in 2019.

One of Aimee’s new business goals is to market her products beyond the province of British Columbia, something that she is excited to explore and embark upon. The challenge, she said, is how to bring her products farther from her base, without compromising their quality. But she is optimistic, believing that solutions are out there and that they just need to be discovered. Above all, Aimee puts faith in God knowing that all is possible with Him.

the Khaykery

A thriving Filipino bakeshop amidst the current pandemic.

Home to one of the Filipinos’ favorite desserts - silvanas.

Selling cupcakes and custom-made cakes, too.

Perfect Location to Sell

Business strategy

Products

More of her cake creations…