Meet Shena Jameson | Baker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shena Jameson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shena, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process for starting my business was to invest in my dreams and follow my heart. I have always loved to bake and be in the kitchen. I stepped out on faith and built a brand where I would be able to share my love of baking with everyone. I wanted my son to see his mother as a business owner and for him to have part ownership in my business. Since starting my business, I have made strides in my life and business that make me so proud of myself. The best is yet to come.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Baking Shenanigans is a small business that specializes in homestyle baking. I bake from my heart, it is more than just a job for me, it is my passion. I make bundt cakes, layered cakes, sheet cakes, pies, cobblers, and mini bundt cakes. I am most known around Columbus for my mini bundt cakes that I make in over 20 flavors. I first began only baking for family and friends, and have blossomed into so much more. Right before the pandemic, I obtained my LLC for my business, so it was hard to get things going initially because the world was locked down. After a few months went by I decided to begin to sell boxes of assorted mini bundt cakes and I had a safe system for people to pick up their orders without coming into contact. When everything opened back up I was able to go to different events around Columbus to set up as a vendor and sell my cakes. A customer can place an order at any time for a regular-sized treat, especially through the holidays. The reviews I receive are always positive, encouraging, and uplifting, which makes me never want to stop baking for people. Yes, I have some bad days, cakes don’t rise, they get stuck in the pans, something burns and it makes me want to quit, but that’s baking for you. I learn from my mistakes, fix the problem, and just get back to baking, the finished results are always worth it. There are so many things in store for my business that I am looking forward to, so hold on tight Columbus Baking Shenanigans is about to go to another level.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are many interesting, fun, and cool places around Columbus and the surrounding areas. Both the winter and the summer offer tons of things to do and beautiful places to see. Taking a visiting friend to the Short North is always a great idea, there are plenty of great restaurants and bars to choose from. We would drive by the Long Street Cultural Wall to show them the African American history behind Columbus, being sure to point out my Uncle the late, great Gene Walker, who is on the wall. The Commons always has a lot to offer whether it’s an amazing concert in the summer or the Christmas lights and free hot chocolate on a Friday during the winter. Columbus hosts some of the best festivals in the summer and I like to attend the majority of them. For a fun night on the town with laughter involved, I’d take a visiting friend to the Funny Bone or The Attic on Oak St. I always enjoy a nice relaxing evening at The Blu Note to listen to some jazz and grab a delicious meal, so we would put that on the agenda. On Saturday we would start the day off with brunch at Drunch, their food is amazing, then head to Panacea Luxury Spa for a few hours of pampering and relaxation. We would then end the night with the best cheesesteak sandwich in Columbus from Marlow’s Cheesesteaks in Gahanna. Sunday, it’s a must that we go to church at Faith Ministries Church, then head to Easton for some lunch and shopping. I would end the day and my friend’s trip to Columbus with karaoke, and dinner at CJ’s Soul Food in Polaris.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe so much of my success to the amazing people in my life, let me tell you about them. I could not be where I am today without the love, support, and guidance from my mother, Sharlene. Since I was a little girl my mother was always in the kitchen cooking or baking something. She has passed down her recipes to me and has taught me many things along the way about baking. My late Grandmother, Bertha Mae shared with me her famous, and my all-time favorite recipe, her famous pumpkin cake, that everyone loves. I owe a lot to her, she would always critique me on the things that I would make, and that has made me an even better baker today. Robert, my son, who calls himself my manager is there to help and step in whenever I need him. I am proud of the young man he is and glad to be able to show him how to run a business at a young age. Then there are my siblings Tia and Brian who are always right there to help, support, and cheer me on when I feel like things are too hard. Many others have helped me along the way, pushing me, recommending me, and supporting me, I am grateful for you all.

Website: www.bakingshenanigans.org

Instagram: @_bakingshenanigans_

Facebook: Baking SHENAnigans