Meet Ericka Frank

We were lucky to catch up with Ericka Frank recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ericka, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

Growing up, I always had a roof over my head and had parents who loved me, but we definitely had some “lean” times when dinner was boxed macaroni and cheese for multiple days in a row and our prayers were focused around the need for gas money to be able to get to school.

Despite being in a financially tight place for years at a time, my mom and stepdad were some of the most generous people I knew. Whether it was hospitality (inviting groups of people to our home for a big pot of chili) or more tangible giving of “things,” there was always someone who had less than us, and it was my parents’ heart to share what they had. I distinctly remember feeling sorry for the Angel Tree families we were buying gifts for because we couldn’t buy the name brand things that I imagined they would enjoy.

Regular Sunday afternoon worship gatherings with residents of one of the most poverty-stricken areas of my hometown and taking mission trips to Brazil during two of my high school summers gave me first-hand knowledge of some of the poverty that existed outside of my day-to-day world. My parents’ hands-on help of others naturally exposed me to people and places I otherwise would not have encountered.

In my home, giving time and material goods was simply a way of life and part of me that I carried into adulthood. Now, my husband and I both have a passion for giving, and we enjoy connecting with each other as we share our resources with others.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the founder and owner of The Cakery Bakery in St. Louis, MO and The Cup cupcake shop in St. Louis, MO and Edwardsville, IL. The Cakery (which will be 20 in March of 2025!) started as a primarily custom-order bakery but is now primarily focused on an array of pre-designed cakes that can be customized with various cake flavors, toppings and design elements as well as wedding cakes that are as luscious as they are beautiful. We also specialize in from-scratch sugar cookies decorated with our signature buttercream frosting for various occasions and holidays.

The Cup offers 12-15 varieties of cupcakes every day plus a small menu of specialty sweet treats. We have 8 every day Classics and many other flavors that rotate weekly, monthly and seasonally. We sell our from-scratch buttercream frosting by the pint at both The Cakery and The Cup and several local grocery stores.

We are dedicated to consistently providing cakes, cupcakes and cookies that rival your favorite sweets growing up as a kid – the very best versions of the familiar flavor combinations you love. Our mission is to help people celebrate life’s meaningful moments, and we do that through caring for people and providing exceptional cakes, cupcakes and cookies.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Caring for people. Both employees and customers. It has never been about just the bottom line. You have to care about the individuals you are working with as people first, not cogs in a wheel.

An absolute passion for your area of business (in my case, baking, cake decorating) because when things get hard and your patience and energy run out, you must be passionate to see past the challenges to keep going.

Foundational skill in your area. Though I had never had a paying job in a commercial kitchen, I had a Master’s Degree in Dietetics before opening my first bakery. While my change from dietitian to desserts seemed like a huge change, over the years, I realized that my education in Food and Nutrition gave me core skills that were incredibly helpful in problem-solving in the kitchen (measurement conversions, food science, etc.).

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber was foundational in my understanding of what my goal and relationship with my business needed to be in order to survive in the first few years and to succeed long term.

1. Delegating: Though I was passionate about decorating cakes and cookies, I understood that in order for my business to succeed, I would not be able to spend my days just focused on the art and production of the product.

Before I decided to launch my own business, I understood that I would need to hire and train individuals who could complete the technical work of creating the product as well as hire individuals who specialized in areas where I had no expertise (e.g. accounting, etc.). I think that has everything to do with the fact that we are still in business nearly 20 years later.

2. Create a consistent product and experience: People will return when they know what to expect. We have a small, focused menu, and we are diligent about consistency in our product and in our branding.

Contact Info:

• Website: thecakerybakery.net, cravethecup.com
• Instagram: @thecakerystl @cravethecup
• Facebook: The Cakery Bakery, The Cup – CWE, St. Louis, MO, The Cup – Edwardsville, IL

Image Credits

The Cakery Bakery, LLC
The Cup, LLC
Creative Entourage, LLC