Novi Woman Dreams of Baking Biz Success

Noelle Anderson, of Novi and owner of Cakes by Lorelei, takes risks and dreams big. 

First, she left her seven-year nursing career to pursue culinary arts.

"I graduated culinary school this spring. I was going to work on a catering business and I was positive I wanted to do hot food," she said.

However, after taking a two-credit class at Oakland Community College on cake decorating, one she chose simply to fill her graduation requirements, she saw another opportunity. In January, Anderson — affectionately known as Lorelei — started her business Cakes by Lorelei.

"It was something that I fell in love with," she said.

Since her epiphany, Anderson has been filling orders out of her home kitchen for cakes and cupcakes, all of which she bakes fresh and decorates herself.

"If someone wants a cake that I don’t have a recipe for yet, I’ll make it happen," she said.

Anderson also wants to create wedding cakes but said she needs more classes to reach that skill-level. She could also use more equipment to make and take more orders. That's why she turned to GoFundMe, an online fund-raising website, for help.

Cakes by Lorelei owner needs more equipment

"I’m focusing on equipment, because right now I don’t have the ability to get everything I need. So if someone were to order a cake that I don’t have a pan for, I’d have to get it as I go," she said.

Anderson, who also keeps another job, said business is picking up. She's looking for $10,000, some of which she'll use to purchase items like a $1,300 12-quart stand mixer. Equipment like that will prevent her from having to make several small batches to complete her orders.

"I've had some people that wanted a few hundred cupcakes. I'd like to have the ability to rent a kitchen to make that in bulk and store them," she said.

A growing business for Anderson also means more ways for her to give back to the community. She said she donated cupcakes to the YMCA and to a fund-raiser for Damian Sutton, a Michigan boy who suffered brain damage after an alleged beating.

Whether for charity, her customers, or her friends, Anderson loves baking. 

"My ideal would be to not have to work a day job and just do this every day. If I could get to that point, I would be a very happy girl," she said.

Find out more about Cakes by Lorelei on its GoFundMe page.