We had the good fortune of connecting with Bailee Cudmore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bailee, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
For me personally, success is not defined as an amount or number in my business account. It isn’t defined by sales or profit, publicity or how many likes I get on Instagram. I define success in my business by one word. LOVE. If something I made and gave blessed someone else or simply put a smile on their face, I consider that a success in my business. I bake with love, I decorate with love, I package with love- all with the hopes that my customers receive it to the full from the moment they look at it to the second they taste it. LOVE = Success for 5 Loaves Bake House and vise versa. The name 5 Loaves Bake House comes from the miracle found in Matthew chapter 14 of the Bible. Jesus took a little boy’s 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish and multiplied it not just to feed, but satisfy 5000 plus people. It is Jesus taking my, maybe little, business and multiplying it to something- something beyond and better than me or the baked goods- all so that others can taste and be satisfied beyond. That is the goal and purpose behind 5 Loaves with the driving force of love. The greatest success to me would be that every one of my customers will feel that- delicious baked goods just happen to be a great avenue for it!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I was born and raised in South Florida. I am a Florida girl through and through and will happily take an 80 degree Christmas, or sandy beaches and palm trees any day. I am first and foremost a professional dancer and performer. I am currently working as a musical theater performer for local Florida theaters. I also teach dance and guest choreograph. I began my training at Ballet Elite Dance Studio in Margate Florida. I moved away to train at the School of Pennsylvania Ballet. Living on my own caused me to discover my knack and love for baking. I discovered it as yet another fun outlet of creativity, now just outside of a studio and inside a kitchen. I love giving back to others through what I have been given. I have applied this concept with my performing, and have discovered it is very similar with baking as well! I create so I can then give away, in turn creating something for someone that lasts beyond just a delicious cookie! I created the company in October 2018 with the hopes to build up a nice little side hustle to pair with my performing career. The biggest challenge was probably getting started. I was excited, yet overwhelmed at the thought of launching a business. There was research that needed to be done which involved getting acquainted with what an LLC was, how to register with the state of Florida, talking with other business owners, entrepreneurs, and like minded people, as well as opening my business account, how and what that meant. And of coarse there are things to learn once the business is launched! I am far from knowing it all, and I still learn and grow everyday, and a lot is through trial and error. However, it is a process I seriously enjoy! Also, I realized it was a lot more big of a deal in my head than it actually was. It just took the initial step of moving and getting started, the rest has been a wonderful process, and its still in the making! I realized time is a huge thing in progressing forward. When we simply choose to take time to grow something we love, that’s when the magic can happen! I also have had to learn how to balance the bakery business and performing. It is crucial to know your limits and how much is too much to take on at once. Again, a process I am continually growing in, but enjoy nonetheless.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend Esther Marie was visiting me, oh man, we would have the best time ever. We’d probably spend the first day just hugging each other. It’s been a long time since I have seen her! After our day of hugging we would definitely spend time on the beach. I love commercial beach, There is a super bright, colorful and delicious ice cream and candy shop called “Sloane’s.” Their ice cream is amazing and when you walk in you immediately feel like you are in a flashier version of an old fashioned candy and ice cream shop. I would probably take her to a family favorite restaurant of ours called “The Field.” It is an authentic Irish pub, literally built around a huge tree. You know the pub in the Disney movie “Tangled”? Pretty sure that is The Field. It is located on Griffin Road in Fort Lauderdale. All forms of art are important and have significant value to me, and I know Estie enjoys them too. We would probably go to one of Miami City Ballet programs or a show at the Broward Center in downtown Fort Lauderdale. One of our favorite bands is “Colony House” so if they were playing at Club Revolution in Fort Lauderdale we would most definitely go, probably get the VIP passes and bring my brother. Esther also plays professional disk golf, so I would have her take me to a local coarse to try and teach me some of her ways, and also just observe her skills! Esther would probably bake with me a lot, haha- and maybe I could coax her into letting me try to teach her ballet. At some point we would go to a little special coffee spot of ours called “Carmela’s Coffee.” There are a couple locations- Parkland, Pompano, and Boca Raton. We would maybe hit up a vinyl record store on Atlantic by the beach called “The Record Rack.” We like thrifting, so YES to that. “Thrift City” is one of the best spots. Jasmine Thai and Sushi is a delicious and fun outing. Good food, good wine, good vibes. Located in Margate Florida- I believe one of the best kept secrets in South Florida. Maybe we would take a day trip to West Palm Beach for some shopping (probably window) or a day on the beach or jet skiing. OH, and for some reason I love the Zoo and have never been with Esther, so I would take her to Miami Metro Zoo in Miami! Lions? Tigers? Bears? Yeah, they got em all.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost thank you to the Lord. I am grateful to be alive on this earth and to share the gifts He has given me. I hope to be a channel of His love to others. Second thank you to my beautiful family, Mom, Dad, Samuel and my Grandma. Their endless support, encouragement and love mean the world. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude and appreciation toward them. Thank you to my fellow business owners Karen of Pure Pilates, and Sandy Ziya of Meridians and Marathons for being some of the first and most faithful customers of mine and for continually blessing me with encouragement and support. Thank you to the gals at all the “Hatch” events for teaching me some skills on how to grow my business, and keep pushing forward. Thank you thank you to the Great British Bake Show (I know!) for inspiring and spurning me on to create, learn and try new things- as well as maintain the integrity of ingredients, formulas and process behind and in baking.

Website: https://5loavesbh.weebly.com/
Instagram: @5loavesbh @baileecudmore
Facebook: Bailee Cudmore, or 5 Loaves Bake House
Youtube: Check out my Youtube channel for some dancing and singing!

Image Credits
Joana Forbes-Machado Samuel Cudmore

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