Snack Time Sweets Finds Its Footing in Wilmington

Cape Fear Community College’s Small Business Center works with hundreds of local entrepreneurs each year. One of them is Sara Baker, owner and cake designer of Snack Time Sweets in Wilmington.

“I’ve been baking since I was 18,” Baker said. “I’m 37 now, so this has been a long road.”

Originally from a small town near Roanoke, Virginia, Baker moved to Richmond and worked in a grocery store bakery before earning her Associate Degree in Pastry Arts. She spent years in kitchens across Richmond, eventually focusing on wedding cakes and learning to trust her creative instincts.

“I always got put in situations where people just trusted me to do my own thing,” Baker said.

In 2020, Baker and her husband decided to make a change. They moved to Wilmington, seeing an opportunity to build a wedding cake business of her own. That decision led to Snack Time Sweets, specializing in custom cakes and desserts for weddings and events.

Finding Support Through the Small Business Center

As her business began to take shape, Baker started looking for guidance. “I started researching free resources in the area,” she said. “That’s how I found the Small Business Center at Cape Fear Community College.”

Through the Small Business Center, Baker connected with director Jerry Coleman, who helped her think through next steps and long-term planning.

“It was one of the first places I went when I was trying to figure out what I needed to get off the ground,” she said. “It saved me time and some potential heartache.”

Earlier this year, Baker moved Snack Time Sweets into a dedicated kitchen space in Wilmington’s Cargo District. The space isn’t a storefront. It’s a small, functional kitchen designed for efficiency and growth.

“I wasn’t interested in taking on debt with a big bakery,” she said. “I’d rather start small and grow over time.”

Before settling in, Baker checked back in with the Small Business Center. “When I moved into this location, I went back to Jerry just to make sure I was doing everything correctly,” she said. “He helped line me up with a bookkeeper and helped me get organized.”

For Baker, having a place to turn when questions come up has made a difference.

“There were moments where I was having a mild panic attack,” she said. “I’d call Jerry, and he’d help steer me back in the right direction.”

Quality Over Quantity

Baker’s business continues to grow largely through word of mouth, Instagram, and strong relationships with local wedding planners. One of her biggest clients came from a connection she made with an event planner at an open house at the Brooklyn Arts Center.

“That really shows you how important networking is,” she said.

Even as demand grows, Baker is intentional about how she works. “I would much rather do quality over quantity,” she said. “I’m more interested in the artistry of cake design and the interaction with clients. I like to sit down with them and talk about what they like and don’t like,” she said.

“We want to give people exactly what they want.”

Looking Ahead

While Snack Time Sweets is still a one-woman operation, Baker is planning for future growth. “I know I need to start hiring,” she said. “I’m looking forward to slowing down in January and figuring out how to make things better next year.”

With a dedicated kitchen, a growing client list, and clear plans for the future, Baker feels grounded in her path.

“It’s been a long road, but I feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing right now. And it feels really good.”