As businesses across Acadiana try to survive, some are realizing they have to shift their business model, but not reinvent themselves.
Piece of Cake Lafayette is rebounding to get back to work and make ends meet.
The bakery is known for its elaborate wedding cakes, grooms cakes and just about any other creative cake you can think of, including a toilet paper cake that is paying respects to the quarantine. With so many celebrations on hold, Piece of Cake had to think of something new and fun to get customers to continue supporting them.
"You have to be innovative, but we didn't want to do something that we weren't familiar with," said Morgan Cerone, owner of Piece of Cake Lafayette.
So, they stuck with the same recipe, but on a smaller bite.
During the first two weeks of the stay-at-home order, business was slow. Now, they're selling 100 to 150 cake slices per day which is helping them keep their doors open.
Return customer Dai'Shanae Sparrow is a manager at a local business and knows how important it is to shop local.
"Gotta keep the sweet treats rolling even if it's crazy outside. Gotta keep it positive and eat them sweet treats," Sparrow said.
Cerone said, "We've heard thank you for for providing the sweetness for us for comfort. We stick to our most popular flavors...Chantilly, fudge, salted caramel. People love to see what we'll provide for the next week."
Though Piece of Cake is surviving, they've faced some hardships along the way. The owner had to let two employees go and she's still waiting on money she applied for through the SBA and other loan programs.
"If we have revenue coming in consistently through the next few months, we will rehire everyone," Cerone said. "That's the goal and the most important thing is we have to keep local."
Sparrow said it's especially important to support mom-and-pop stores. "We have to keep the dollars local. The chains can survive on their own, but the local businesses is where we need to keep the money."
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