STEPHANIE RUSSELL

THE IDEA:

Made-from-scratch bakery products

Baked goods are comfort food and can instantly take us back to another time and place.

Fort Wayne native Stephanie Russell’s business, 7th Heaven Creations Bakery, leverages that nostalgia. She operates as a licensed and mobile bakery in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. What started as a home-based business has grown in size and scope over the last few years.

Stephanie currently operates out of a commercial kitchen and prepares and markets her treats at local farmers markets. She also accepts orders for special occasions, wholesale/retail and partners with several other outlets, such as Davey’s Delicious Bagels on Broadway Avenue in Fort Wayne.

Everything is made from scratch, which is a point of pride. Of course, tasting is believing and Stephanie has earned many repeat customers. Her top two sellers are Buckeye brownies and lemon bars. However, sugar cookies with buttercream frosting, walking cupcakes (cupcakes in a cup), caramel pecan turtles and gluten-free options are also popular and keep people coming back for more.

Stephanie —  a seasoned food industry veteran — has found a niche in the 18-65 year old consumer market. She attributes her recent success to a robust social media presence. She makes a point to post pictures and updates with event locations and product selections consistently. She’s also committed to helping mentor other small business owners and help strengthen the local entrepreneurial community. Giving back is important to her and she wants to pay it forward.

It’s clear this food entrepreneur is in growth mode. She says she’s set sales records for the past three years and expects that trajectory to continue. She intends to develop a website presence to accept online orders. This development will allow her to target the corporate market and establish more credibility.