Kerrobert’s youngest entrepreneur
If you have ever tasted a cake or cupcake made by Bria’s Treats in Kerrobert, you will be delighted by the flavour sensations. You will be even more delighted when you discover the young lady who creates all those delicacies. Bria Tuchscherer is 18 years old and was a 2020 high school graduate at Kerrobert school.
Besides participating in sports and doing her very best academically throughout the school year, Bria managed to run a very successful business in her spare time and has been working full time since graduating.
“I started when I was 14 in 2016,” Bria said nonchalantly as if starting a business at the age of 14 was something every 14-year-old would do. “I baked with my gramma a lot when I was younger. I always loved baking. Then I started a Facebook page, and that’s how I built my whole business. It’s just me, and my mom is the dishwasher,” she chuckled and noted her brother helps with the business end of things.
Bria’s mom also helps with the photography, and if you check out her Facebook page, your mouth will immediately start to water! The images are impressive, and the real product is exactly as pictured - absolutely amazing!
How much time does Bria spend in the kitchen? “Oh, gosh! During school, I tried not to take as many orders, but I would bake from 8 a.m. until midnight sometimes in the summer. I’m pretty full time - five days a week and sometimes on weekends.”
Yes, that’s full time, and then some. Bria has taken the required food handling course, but other than that, she is pretty much self-taught. “I look at pictures and get ideas, but lots I randomly make up,” Bria said.
For the past three summers, Bria posted feature cupcake sales once a week and took pre-orders. The flavours include chocolate overload, cookies & cream, orange creamsicle, death by chocolate, pina colada, Frappuccino, Twix bar, lemon shortbread and many more. After all the orders head out the door, Bria doesn’t have any problem selling any leftovers!
On Mother’s Day weekend in 2020, Bria made a whopping 798 cupcakes! “Baking has been my saving grace,” Bria said, referring to the pandemic, but her customers have benefitted from Bria’s extra time in the kitchen. “Sometimes, I leave my mom with a lot of dishes!” Bria laughed.
And when she’s not baking, she’s trying to run her social media presence, deal with messages, schedule, take orders, and give prices. “If you ask my friends, I’m always busy baking!” Bria said.
She’s been baking wedding cakes, mini cakes and birthday cakes. “I’ve made birthday cakes for some customers for the past four years. My customers are going to be sad that I’m leaving,” she said.
Bria is enrolled in the two-year Baking and Pastry Arts Program in Calgary, which was postponed in the fall until January 2021. “When I come home on breaks, I can sell cupcakes because my customers are going to be sad,” she said.
Bria’s thriving business has enabled her to buy more ingredients and put money aside for her education. Some day Bria plans to open her own bakery. If her past four years of hard work, delicious baking, talent, passion for her art, and satisfied customers are any indication, Bria’s future endeavours are guaranteed to be successful.
Yes, her customers will miss her, but I’m sure they will be excited to see what the future holds for this young, talented entrepreneur. All the best to you, Bria!
Photos: Kerrobert’s Bria Tuchscherer is enrolled in the Baking and Pastry Arts program in Calgary starting in January.