For 26 years, Piece of Cake has been a beloved part of the Downtown Evansville community. Founded in 1998, Cate Sisco opened her bakery with her sister Kristi. The bakery was born out of their shared passion for baking and decorating. Cate recalls that she “just wanted to share family recipes.” A prime example of this is the self-proclaimed ‘best cheesecake,’ a family recipe dating back to the 1920s. Gaining her talents and passion from her mother and grandmother has allowed Cate to turn her passion into a rewarding career. She shares, “I have been able to do what I love my entire adult life…I love what we do, I love being a part of the community.”
Operating a business is always challenging, and Cate has found that one of her biggest hurdles has been adapting to the ever-changing needs of her employees. Cate proudly states, “If you need a flexible schedule, we can do that for you.” Cate ensures her team has the flexibility they need, which partly contributes to her astounding employee retention, with some employees being employed for nine-plus years.
While employee retention is crucial, Cate understands that customer retention is just as
important to her business’s success and lasting impact. Reflecting on the relationships
she’s built over the years, she notes that many of her customers have been with her since
the very beginning. She proudly states, “I love knowing we did your first birthday cake and
now we are doing your wedding cake.”
When asked what advice she would pass on to aspiring business owners in the Downtown
Evansville area, Cate emphasized that consistency is key. She believes that a customer can
only give so much leniency, and that is why it is important to “be there” and “keep your
hours.” Cate also stresses the importance of managing expenses wisely, advising, “Keep
your overhead low, because a bad couple of weeks can put you out of business if your rent
is too expensive and product goes to waste.”
Website: https://www.pieceofcakebakery.com/
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10 AM – 2 PM
Sunday: Closed
Delivery Available Through Grub Hub
The quilters are incarcerated men in the Purposeful Living Units Serve (P.L.U.S.) Program at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility (WVCF), a maximum security prison in Carlisle, Indiana. There are some serious quilters in this group. The group has made quilts for the families of every Hoosier soldier who died in the line of duty.