"[I'm an] entrepreneur first, then a baker. If you want to be a baker, then go work for someone else," says 19-year-old Justin Ellen, who is making at least $100,000 a year with his cake business.Justin Ellen found himself at a difficult crossroad when he was 17 — should he pursue his passion for baking full-time, or go to college to further his education?
In March this year, he made his debut on Netflix's "Is It Cake?" — a baking contest where cake artists create edible replicas of everyday objects, such as bowling pins and sewing machines.for four weeks. It also raked in more than 100 million hours of views from around the world.. Sheer hard work and wise words from loved ones also helped prod him along.As a digital native, Ellen knew from the start that having a social media presence would be crucial in building his business.
"Honestly, it makes you more relatable. People want to know the person behind the brand and if they enjoy you, they're gonna want to spend money with you." "It doesn't even have to be a huge cake … just make something small because you don't know who's going to be there. Someone's going to eat it and ask, 'Who made this cake?'"