Interview with Carrie Middlemiss of Bella Cupcake Couture: From Pink Slip to Pink Frosting

By on June 22nd, 2010 . Filed under: Accessories, Cupcake Ideas .

Carrie Middlemiss with her couture

I’ve written before on ATC about how cupcakes can make jobs and how cupcakes can be classy. Because of the success of Bella Cupcake Couture, purveyor of chic textile-inspired cupcake wrappers, I now get to write about how cupcakes can do both at the same time.  BCC founder Carrie Middlemiss, formerly a marketing and events rep at the now defunct Washington Mutual Bank, went from “pink slip to pink frosting” when she was laid off early last year because of the bank’s collapse due to the economic downturn.

Cupcakes by Sugar Rush Baking Company, sleeves by Bella Cupcake Couture, photo by Red Box Pictures

Carrie says that once she knew she would be leaving WaMu, she sat down and designed her perfect job around her strengths and the things she would like to do every day: “I like working with people, I like being creative, there’s always something to learn with the business aspect, and I love cupcakes.”  After a year of research and business planning, Carrie started Bella Cupcake Couture in March 2009.

Sleeves by Bella Cupcake Couture, photo by Cake and Cupboard

A little over a year after launch, Bella Cupcake Couture is selling  cupcake accoutrements  in over 25o stores and taking orders from as far away as Singapore. Many of BCC’s wrapper designs come from Carrie’s original research and some come from ideas from clients. Most of their designs are a mix of elegant hues like chartreuse, chocolate brown, citrus or soft pinks however Carrie says “We’ve had a lot of requests for skulls and crossbones. We have a design coming out with that, but still really elegant.”  I hear that particular design is supposed to come out this Halloween – I’ll see if I can’t get us a photo preview for ATC when it comes out!

A year later, Carrie’s still excited about her business: “I love how it makes people feel special..I love how it makes people smile and get excited.”  Here’s hoping for another good year for cupcake couture!

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