A Barrie high school student has transformed sugar into cash.
Sophie Rennie started her new business, Sweet & Sassie Bake Shop, in the middle of quarantine. The business has now taken off, with the 17-year-old St. Joseph’s Catholic High School student filling roughly 20 orders per week and rising while also finishing her senior year.
“My family and I have always baked lots. During quarantine we were baking everyday, trying out new recipes,” Rennie told BarrieToday. “We would deliver it to family and friends. We realized it made people happy. So, I decided to start my own baking business to continue making people happy.”
Rennie started selling her baking in July 2020. Since then, her business has exploded. She estimates she fills about 20 orders per week, in addition to being a full-time student.
Her menu includes scones, cookies, muffins, cupcakes and cakes.
“It’s been easy to balance since we’re doing virtual school right now,” she said. “Before (school lockdowns), if I were in school I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill all these orders.”
Rennie notes she’s taken COVID-19 precautions to keep her patrons safe. She offers contact-less pick up, as well as following proper health and safety guidelines in her kitchen.
While many of her initial orders came from family and friends, she said that changed when the business really ramped up before Christmas.
“I’m now filling orders for people I don’t even know,” she said.
Rennie says her mother has a business background, and has helped her with business advice to get her business off the ground.
“My mom has helped me so much to start this business. She’s taught me so many things. She also considers herself the taste tester,” Rennie said with a laugh.
Rennie’s favourite item to bake is her Nutella-stuffed cookies.
“I know those are a lot of people’s favourites,” she said.
Rennie is planning to graduate high school in June, and has been thinking seriously about her future plans.
“At the beginning when this was more of a hobby I didn’t think much of it. Lately, I’ve realized this is something I want to do when I’m older and I’m hoping I can open my own shop here in Barrie,” she said.
“I love it so much. It never feels like a job to me. It makes me happy, and I know it makes others happy.”
More information on Sweet & Sassie Bake Shop, including a menu, can be found on Instagram here.
