Sweet Success: How India Matlock Built Asia's Cakes from Scratch

In this episode, we sit down with India Matlock, the creative force behind Asia's Cakes in Holly Springs. India shares her journey of growing up in a family of bakers, the influence of her father's passion for baking, and how she transitioned from a hairstyling career to owning a successful dessert shop. We delve into the challenges and joys of running a family business, the community-driven ethos of Asia's Cakes, and managing the work-life balance with her entrepreneurial husband. Along the way, we learn about customer favorites, including the beloved Honey Bun Cake and the unique Banana Pudding Cheesecake. Join us for an inspiring conversation about passion, family, and the sweet rewards of hard work.

00:00 Introduction to India Matlock and Asia's Cakes
01:29 India's Family and Baking Roots
03:51 From Hair School to Baking Passion
04:56 Entrepreneurial Journey and Family Support
07:51 The Birth of Asia's Cakes
10:52 Finding the Perfect Bakery Location
14:33 Managing High Demand and Teamwork
16:08 The Importance of Teamwork in Baking
18:02 A Day in the Life of a Baker
20:26 The Honey Bun Cake: A Family Tradition
22:50 Balancing Business and Family
27:51 Favorite Treats and Special Recipes
29:44 Challenges and Unique Requests
31:34 Training the Next Generation of Bakers
33:06 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Creators and Guests

Host

Melissa

Host of What's Up, Wake + social media manager + writer + travel editor

What is What’s Up, Wake?

What’s Up, Wake covers the people, places, restaurants, and events of Wake County, North Carolina. Through conversations with local personalities from business owners to town staff and influencers to volunteers, we’ll take a closer look at what makes Wake County an outstanding place to live. Presented by Cherokee Media Group, the publishers of local lifestyle magazines Cary Magazine, Wake Living, and Main & Broad, What’s Up, Wake covers news and happenings in Raleigh, Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, and Wake Forest.

35 What's Up Wake - Asias Cakes
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[00:00:00]

Melissa: Today I'm sitting down with India Matlock, the Mastermind behind Asia's Cakes and Holly Springs, where cookies disappear faster than they're baked, and cakes are literal works of art. We'll talk about the sweet and perhaps not so sweet sides of running a dessert shop. The secret behind some customer favorites and maybe settle the age old debate is carrot cake, technically a health [00:01:00] food.

I vote yes. She's here to prove that life is what you bake it and you should always be willing to take whisks. Please welcome to what's up. Wake India Matlock, owner of age's cakes. Oh, hi India. Hello. Thank you so much for having me. I am so excited to have you here. I've been excited to meet you since there, there was a feature in our may issue of Man and Broad Yes.

With, with you and your, your bakery in it. In the feature, it mentions that you are one of 12 children is first of all, is that right?

India Matlock: Yes, it is. I the second oldest actually. The second oldest, yes, I

Melissa: am. So. How did you start baking? Did you bake for your family growing up? My dad is a baker.

India Matlock: Oh, okay. Yes. This is where, um, it all starts.

Um, okay. My dad is a baker. He had a nine to five like everyone else. Mm-hmm. Um, worked for McCormick, um, the Spice company. Okay. Um, [00:02:00] my mom was a stay-at-home mom. And so on his free time, he enjoyed baking. He would bake for the neighborhood, he would bake for our church. Mm-hmm. And he would just give it away.

It was literally his passion. Okay. Um, we probably have eaten two to three cakes a week.

Melissa: And look how

India Matlock: tiny you're, um, we would, he would always be in the kitchen. And of course we would be like his taste testers. Oh, on everything. I want that job. Yes. But it, it was, it was a true passion of his money wasn't, um, an issue when it came to it.

Um, like I said, he would give it away for free. Yeah. Know. It was his, his hobby. It was his hobby, it was his passion. It was where he, the kitchen was where he felt most, most comfortable. Mm-hmm. And you could. Literally it would bring a smile to his face even when he was getting up at 5:00 AM in the morning going to work.

Yeah. You know, coming back home. And we are family of 12, so of course, you know, my dad's the only one working. My mom's a stay at home mom. Mm-hmm. So he always made sure that we had food on our table, clothes on our back, you know, and that, you know, I'm so, so. And cakes Yes. And cakes. A cakes to [00:03:00] eat all the time.

So, you know, I always honor my dad in that. Mm-hmm. He's probably one of the strongest men I know. Nice. Um, when it comes to him. So it get a little bit teary when I think about, I'm sure when I think about how strong my

Melissa: dad is and I'm sure he is so proud of what you have created. Yes.

India Matlock: He never got a chance to really live out his dream and full.

Mm.

Melissa: Yeah.

India Matlock: Um, so when he comes to the bakery and sees me, it's always, oh my gosh, I'm just so proud. Yeah. I'm so happy, you know, so I'm just super grateful to be able to live that dream for him. Absolutely.

Melissa: Good for you. So, excuse me. Did you, did you grow up helping him? Yes. So we were like, did you always know you wanted to do this?

We were like his sous chef. Okay. Yes. So my dad was, you probably did the prepping and the cleaning. Yes.

India Matlock: All of us. We did the prepping, we did the cleaning, you know, hammy, this extract heavy, this mix. We were his little mini shoe chefs in there. Um, so I didn't always. Think that I was gonna be a baker. I originally went to school for hair.

I have a degree in hair. Oh really? I did not know that. Yes, I have a degree in hair. Um, that was, um, one of my [00:04:00] first passions was doing that. Mm-hmm. I went there, um, I got my degree in it. Um, but then I realized that it wasn't really hair that I was interested in. It was more of the behind the scenes being in the classroom.

Part of it that I was more interested in. Okay. Okay. Um, so I didn't continue my education in that, but instead, even when I was in hairs school, I was baking for people in hairs school. Oh, okay. So they would always ask me to bring desserts, bring treats. Mm-hmm. And, um, that's what I would do. And then my husband looked at me one day, I've, we've been married for 12 years.

Um, he looked at me one day and he was like, baking is your passion and it's what you need to be doing.

Melissa: Yeah.

India Matlock: Yeah. So that's what I did. Um.

Melissa: But both the creative side of things. Yes, yes. Both the hair and, and cakes. Yes. It's both very creative. Definitely.

India Matlock: Definitely. So you were

Melissa: destined for something destined, something in the creative world.

Destined

India Matlock: didn't really know, um, what exactly where it was gonna take me. Mm-hmm. Um, but you know, we gave it a shot. We had a kiosk in Crabtree Valley Mall for a little bit. Um, we [00:05:00] did that all the meanwhile while me being a mom. Yeah, a mom, a wife. You've got three little ones. Yeah. Yes, we got three little ones.

So, you know, I'm just trying to figure out my path and everything. Just kept leading back to cakes. Mm-hmm. All the time. So we did the Crab Tree Valley Mall for a little bit. We did that for about a year, didn't go as well as planned, so we. Went back to the drawing board

Melissa: and it's expensive. It's to rent out a kiosk at Crabtree.

I was reading that recently. It's expensive and the

India Matlock: prices are going up, up, up. Yes. It's time consuming. Yeah. Um, because they have very strict hours. So we're there from the time the mall opens to the time the mall coasts seven days a week. Wow. Um, so I will be there in their daytime. My husband also is an entrepreneur, so he runs his own business.

He would come in at night mm-hmm. And be at the, at the kiosk. Yeah. But I'm home with the kids. Yeah. So we took time. We took turns every day. Seven days a week. Yeah. Doing that at the Yeah, that's exhausting. It was very exhausting. Mm-hmm. But then you get to the point where you kind of have to figure out what's more important.

Mm-hmm. And that's the point that we got to, we were trying to focus on our family, you know, raising them, raising kids, and [00:06:00] the business, the other businesses that we do have, you know, focusing on that. So we gave that a break. You know, I went back and, you know, our, now our kids are growing and growing and growing and then we started to, um.

Just focus on them.

Melissa: Yeah. You know,

India Matlock: gave it a, just gave it a break and then I started breaking from the house and I'm like, if it's meant to be, it'll be, mm-hmm.

Melissa: That's how a lot of successful businesses seem to start though. Yes. It seems to be a common denominator. Mm-hmm. With with my guests that. That are entrepreneurs.

Yeah. They, they follow their passion. Yes. And that's how success follows. Yes.

India Matlock: Entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Yeah. Those that are do it are those that do it are very strong. Mm-hmm. Um, my husband is a natural born entrepreneur. Mm-hmm. So. While I'm over here trying to stay with a nine to five.

Melissa: Again, you're the creative side though.

Yes. Yeah. While

India Matlock: I'm over here staying with the nine to five, he's pushing me. Mm-hmm. Hey, this is, this is what you do. This is what we do. Yeah. This, you know, this is what your gift is. Go to your gift. Go to your gift. 'cause like I said, he's a, [00:07:00] he's a natural entrepreneur. He'll tell you any day of the week that he's only had one job when he was younger.

And when he got fired from it, he said he never worked for another person again. So for, yeah. Yeah. So he's been an entrepreneur. Sense for as long as I can even think of. Mm-hmm. So, you know, having him in my corner helps me to be able to get through it, you know? Yeah. Those, those hard times as an entrepreneur, because a lot of times we see the bright pretty side on Yes.

Instagram, on Facebook, you know, the photos, the happy times, but there's a lot of, we see the end result. We see the end result. We the final cake. Yes. Yes. After we've got 'em off the ground and wiped our tears, uhhuh and brushed off our shirt. Yeah. You know, the public sees the end results. Mm-hmm. When behind the scenes, it's a lot of hard work, a lot of tears, a lot of days where I'm just like, do I really wanna do this anymore?

But then, you know, you get those days when it's like it's all worth it in the end.

Melissa: Asia's cakes is named after your daughter? Yes. Asia? Yes. Yes. Is she also into baking? Is she a

India Matlock: [00:08:00] creative soul as well? She's, she is. Um, my daughter is, she is so strong. She is so smart. Yeah. Um, she has been, oh, my, the first thing that she learned how to bake was cornbread, and she was probably, she was probably six years old when she done that.

Okay. I have videos and photos of her just. Baking, and that's

Melissa: one thing. It cornbread is either, it's either good. Or it's not good.

India Matlock: Right, right. And she shocks us. Um, every time she comes up, she's all, even at home now. She's like, I have this recipe. I wanna try. Oh, go ahead, Asia. Okay. Yes, yes. You know, and she's in there, um, on weekends with us.

She's right back there baking. She knows every recipe, like the back of her hand. I love that she can in there, she's S 12. I've been doing this for as long as I can remember. Mm-hmm. Even when we were doing at the house, she would be my little sous chef. Almost how my dad had us. She would be mine. Yeah. It sounds

Melissa: hereditary.

India Matlock: Yes, and, and we, and of course we have our moments as mother and daughters do have, oh yeah.

Melissa: But you know. You have something that also brings you [00:09:00] together it, which is beautiful. It does.

India Matlock: It's, it is, I'm super proud of her. You know, she goes to school, she plays volleyball, you know, she has an excellent work life balance, you know?

Mm-hmm. She gets up, she comes to work with me, you know, she's right back there with us and all the other bakers. Mm-hmm. And I'm just, I'm just super proud of the young lady that she has become, you know, trying to teach her that, um, you can. You can have it all. You can have whatever your heart desires, you just have to work for it.

Melissa: Well, and as a mother myself, I find it so inspirational that you're creating something that she can see that you're working hard. Yes. And you're building. Yes. You're building a brand. You're building a product. Yes. But it's also something that. If she wants it to be, it can be a generational Yes. Type of of gift for her.

Yes.

India Matlock: Yes. And that's, that's what I hope, that was my whole point of naming the business after her. Mm-hmm. And, um, starting it, that it'd be a hope for it be a stepping stone for her.

Melissa: Mm-hmm.

India Matlock: Um, you know, that if she ever decides, if she doesn't wanna do it, that's okay [00:10:00] too. Yeah. You know, she decides that she's gonna be a doctor when they're a lawyer.

Hey, that's okay too. Mm-hmm. But at least I'm, um, giving her the, the start, the head start for her. Um, it's a lot of. Um, we didn't have that when we were younger. We didn't have a headstart, you know, something that we could look back and call ours. So I'm hoping that this will be that for her. Yeah.

Melissa: Yeah. And maybe one of your boys, right.

Got two boys. Maybe one of them will wanna I do kick in and Yeah. You'll start creating Yeah.

India Matlock: They're in there. During the weekends you'll see them washing dishes or taking out trash or anything. Yeah. So it, it ages cakes is truly a labor of love. Mm-hmm. It is truly a. Family owned business. Yeah. Um, like I said, you'll see them in there just as well as long as you just as well as you see me.

Yeah. In there. So you'll see my husband every once in a while in there doing something. Yes. Yeah. We recruit everyone to come in there. It sounds like you do.

Melissa: So Asia Cakes is, is located right on Main Street and Holly Springs. Yes. And. What I, one thing [00:11:00] I love about it is that it's in an old garage space, right?

Yes. And on inspection centers. Yes. So you've got the big old garage doors. Yes. You do. You've got the bricks and, and the, the iron and, and all the old type of Yes stuff. But you also got. A lot of grass walls and murals and Yes. The whole, the whole vibe is different than a stereotypical bakery. Yeah. Yes.

So how did you see this space in particular and say to yourself, this is it, and then see the vision of how you wanted it to look in the end.

India Matlock: Um, so when we first came across this space, I was driving down Holly Springs, you know, down Main Street one day, delivering a cake to one of my customers at the time.

And, um, we came across this space and my husband is a, um, he owns a mobile detailing service in Holly Springs. He also owns a carwash in Durham. So, um, I called, I saw the four lease sign out and I said, babe, I called him and said, [00:12:00] call the owner. You know? Mm-hmm. Call it. I think it'll be perfect for your mobile detailing, which you're looking for him.

Yeah. I think it'd be perfect for you. That's what, what tech makes sense. Yes. I wasn't even thinking, like I said, I was comfortable with just doing it at the house, you know, and I said, if it's meant to be, it'll be for me. Mm-hmm. Um, so I wasn't rushing it, wasn't pushing it, um, but I told him, Hey, I think this would be perfect for you.

Give the owner a call. He gives the owner a call and he calls me back and he says, you need to call him right now. I said, what do you mean? He said, they don't want any more automotive. Items down here in the downtown, but he wants to put a bakery there. Wow. I said, shut up. What do you That is, are you serious?

He, that is a, a

Melissa: slap in the face from the universe right there. Right?

India Matlock: It was, it was like, it was like undeniable. Yeah. I said, he said the word bakery out his mouth. He, he said yes. He said the word bakery to me outta his mouth. Wow. That's what they want to put there. So I gave 'em a call. We talked numbers, you know, we talked everything.

Mm-hmm. And it was just like everything [00:13:00] fell in line. Yeah. It was easy. It wasn't hard. Well, in the beginning, of course. Yes. Yes. And then, you know, it just, everything dealing with the starting of this mm-hmm. It was easy. It just fell right. It almost fell into my lap almost. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm super grateful for that.

Um. And, uh, the concept itself, um, the build out when we were thinking about it. Um, one of my favorite places to go is Florida. My husband and I, we go there multiple times a year just to just get away from Yeah. Life in general. Mm-hmm. Um, and they have a lot of open concept restaurants mm-hmm. And bakeries and.

Coffee shops and things of that nature. Kind of like when you just walk off the street, meet your friends, hang out, you know, still be in open air. Yes. Still feel like you're outside. Mm-hmm. And just, uh, just a place for everyone of all ages to come to enjoy. Um, so when I had that thought, I'm like, I want ages, cakes to be that for this community.

Okay. I wanted to be a place where they can come, where they can relax. 16, 17, 25, [00:14:00] 40, 50. Yeah. I want all of that. I want it to be a place where they feel like's cakes is home. Yeah. So, and I feel like we've done a really good job at creating that in that

Melissa: space. You definitely have. It is, like I said, it's kind of like a laid back vibe, but it's also so beautiful and it's like.

That's where you're gonna go and want to take your Instagram pictures, you know? Yes. Holding your cup of coffee Yes. And eating your cake. Yes. Um, I, I love the look of the place. Yeah. Is it true that you make. 200 custom cakes a month. Yes. Is that, is, is that even possible? I was trying, math is not my strong suit.

Yes, yes, yes. But I was trying to do the math. How do you even manage such a task? Oh, man. It's

India Matlock: a lot of long days. Yeah. Early, early mornings, long nights. Mm-hmm. Um, I have an amazing, amazing staff. I have an amazing staff.

Melissa: So you found other creative people that are, are good at, at taking on the decorating part and

India Matlock: baking [00:15:00] part.

They are good at taking on the decorating part. They're good at taking on the baking part. Um, most importantly, they are good at teamwork. Yeah. Um, so I stress it all the time that I could not do this without my team. Yeah. Um, and I feel like I've, they've all been with me since day one, since we opened. So I'm super ex, super proud of them.

Super glad that I found them. Like I said, most importantly, the teamwork is there. Yeah. We've got each other's backs. If I can't make it, they can.

Melissa: And you've gotta be able to see each other's vision too. Yes. 'cause when you're, when you're trying to put together something that is so unique Yes. And each cake is so unique every last time, you've gotta, you know, I've gotta be able to understand what you're getting across and what you're wanting to see.

Exactly. Exactly.

India Matlock: Um, my head Baker Julietta, she is. Amazing. Mm-hmm. I can't even express how amazing she is. Um, she's there every time I need her. Um, she sees what I don't see. Yeah. Yeah. If I'm too busy over here, she like can read my mind almost. Yeah. Yeah. Um, so it, I'm, [00:16:00] like I said, our team is amazing and, um.

Even my daughter, she, mommy, here you are. Yeah, mom, here's this right here. Um, they know when I'm stressed. They know. Mm-hmm. So they, it's like they're, they're just, they're just, they just know. Yeah. They just know. So I'm, I'm super, like, I don't even, can't even explain how grateful I am to have them, and that's how we're able to kick out that many cakes a month.

Mm-hmm. That's how we're able to still. Kick out those cakes, but still maintain our bakery case. Still maintain a to-go case. Yeah. I mean, it's a full case

Melissa: too. It's not just custom cakes.

India Matlock: Yeah. Like I said, it's a, um, it's a big difference coming from baking from a home and just doing custom orders that come through on a website.

Yeah. Versus you having to handle a website. Plus orders that come through the door.

Melissa: Yeah.

India Matlock: Plus maintain a monstrous of a case that we have Yes. That has so many different items in that case. And a to go case for people to come in and take cakes as well. Mm-hmm. Um, it's, it's a big, it's a big thing

Melissa: to handle.

[00:17:00] [00:18:00] what does your average day look like? You mentioned the early mornings and the late nights. Yes. Do you. Do you go to the, the shop in the morning and start making the things that you need to put in the case, or do you get to work on the custom orders? Does it look like So it's,

India Matlock: it's a daily thing.

So every day, um, our bakers are there as early as 5:00 AM most mornings. Mm. Um, we're there, there as more as early as 5:00 AM. A lot of times I'll come in around that eight 30. 'cause of course I'm a mom, so yeah. Dropping kids off at school and mm-hmm. You know, making sure they're here and there before I get there is also priority as well.

Um, so they'll get there before me. They'll go ahead and they'll get started. You know, they get started on making sure that case is together, you know, making sure that we're ready to open at 9:00 AM 'cause we, we open at 9:00 AM sharp. Tuesday through Saturdays. Um, even Sundays we're opening too, but we just open a little bit later on Sundays.

Mm-hmm. Um, so they get there and they, they automatically know what to do. Yeah. Let's, let's go ahead, let's focus on this case. Um, we have a custom cake order board that has to be done and, you know, [00:19:00] we may start the week off with. 10, 15 orders, but by the time we get to Friday, that board is full.

Melissa: Yeah, I bet.

India Matlock: So we, and it's just a constant, every day we know what we have to do. Let's get in here, let's do it. Mm-hmm. Let's make sure that, you know, everything that leaves this place is a representation of us. Um, so I hire people that I know understand this. Yeah. And understand teamwork. Yeah. Like I said, I, we can train you.

To do whatever we need you to do. But I can't train teamwork. I can't train, you know, us trust too. Trust is, is not to be a big factor. Um, I, I stress it so many times to everyone that we hire on a team that we have to have each other's backs. Mm-hmm. You know, we are nothing if we don't have each other's backs in this.

Um, but that is what an average day looks like. 5:00 AM baker's getting there working every morning. Mondays we are off. So that gives the bakers a day off. That's the rest day. Reset. That's our rest day. The reset. There's a non-negotiable rest day. Good, good. You

Melissa: need that? Yes. 'cause we did try burnout would be,

India Matlock: oh man, that would be [00:20:00] pretty quick I would think.

If you don't have that. Yes. We were open seven days a week at one point. And the burnout was real. Yeah, yeah. Mm-hmm. The burnout was real, so we had to take that. Um. That step to be like, Hey, we're gonna close on Mondays. Mm-hmm. We're gonna get rest because we can't do this if we're tired, if we're burned out, you know, we can't, we lose our passion.

Yes.

Melissa: And our love for it. It becomes more of a job. It becomes a job than the fun side of it. Yes. You mentioned that your dad was also a baker or maybe still is also a baker. Do you have any recipes that have a special meaning to you that you still make? Maybe a family recipe or a tradition? Yes. Our honey bun cake, so that is our top, listen, I read about the honey bun cake and I was like, Melissa, don't you go to that shop.

We need to avoid. The honey bun cake. Yes, yes, yes. Our honey bun cake. I know my weaknesses. And that would be, that would be bad news for me. Yes.

India Matlock: Our honey bun cake is our top seller at [00:21:00] ages cakes. Is it really? It is. Okay. Yeah. Um, when I opened it, it is that, and our, and our banana pudding cheesecake, those two are top sellers.

We

Melissa: sell pans a day. I, banana pudding is one of my very top weaknesses too. So when I read Honey bun cake and banana and Cheesecake, listen, I. I, I'm so sorry, but I cannot come to Asia's cakes.

India Matlock: Yes. Um, that honey bun cake is a, a family recipe. My dad made that. I've eaten more than I should probably say. I've eaten this.

Yeah. Yeah. Um, from my dad, um, he legit baked that cake two to three times a week. Wow. For us. It was to the point where we were tired of eating it. Wow. Yes. It was one of the first cakes I learned how to bake. Mm. Um, so that right there, and I, I did not think it was gonna be our top seller when we opened.

Melissa: Really? I, I

India Matlock: had no idea. Um, because it's such a simple cake.

Melissa: Mm-hmm.

India Matlock: But like I said, it really holds a lot of, resemble a lot of. Love and, [00:22:00] and tradition, everything and tradition to me in that cake, even though it's so simple. Mm-hmm. It's so simple. Uh, you talk about a yellow cake with a cinnamon and brown sugar swirl and a glaze on top.

Woo. Something so simple that I'm pretty sure that probably any grandma could make. But it's breakfast. It is. It's dessert. Yes. It, it really, it checks some boxes here. Yes. We have so many people that come in and grab it for breakfast. Mm-hmm. We have so many. My husband is one that likes to eat it with ice cream, you know, so it can go both ways.

Yeah. Um, and I think that's what makes it so. One of our top sellers mm-hmm. At the bakery is because it's an all around dessert. It's just not sweet like a regular cake would be with all the icing and things like that. Yeah. It's something that you can enjoy for breakfast. Yeah. Snack. Have it with a cup

Melissa: of coffee.

Yes. Yes.

India Matlock: Yeah. So, um, the honey bun cake is one of those recipes that are, is from my dad that, you know, holds a lot of into my heart. Yeah.

Melissa: You've been in business now for just about a year and a half, right? At that location, year in May in 2024. Yeah. Yes. At the Holly Springs location. Yes. [00:23:00] So have you slowed down enough to dream about the future?

Think maybe five years out Yes. And, and envision where you would like to be.

India Matlock: Yes, of course. Um, of course when you first open it, everyone knows when you first open a business, everything is crazy.

Melissa: Yeah.

India Matlock: Um, on top of you getting this whole new clientele and everyone finding out about you, um, you're also learning business.

You know, you're learning a lot of stuff about

Melissa: business that I wasn't talked and artsy people. Business is not, is not at the, that, that's not our forte. It's not, it's not. So we, we like to deal with the art side and, and let somebody else deal with the business. But when you own the business, you have to, you have to learn.

All facets.

India Matlock: Yes. You're all hands in. Mm-hmm. You're all hands in. Um, and like you said, it's, it's not something that's at the top of our list. Mm-hmm. All I wanna do is bake. Yes. I just wanna bake. Yeah. Um, but of course there's finances. Mm-hmm. There's, now I have a staff that I'm in charge of. Yeah. And, um, hr.

All hr. Hr, that's all the things. Yes. [00:24:00] Taxes. Oh, taxes is a, yeah. Yeah. That's a, that's a real wake up right there. Yeah, I bet it's, yeah. You know, so it's all these. Things that, um, take precedence when you're in business and it's no longer just, oh, I can just come in the kitchen and bake. You know? So when we're, when we're opening in the first couple months, things are crazy.

Like I said, early mornings, we, we've now slowed down to the point where we have a schedule now. Like the bakers have a schedule. Yeah, I have a schedule. I can think a little bit more now. 'cause at first it's like. I can't even sleep at night because I, everything's crazy. Yeah. Your mind's going a million miles a minute.

The mind is going a million miles a minute and you know, you're trying to, you know, please everyone. On top of that, you're trying to maintain everyone. Like I said, I now have a staff that has become family, so when they have problems, I have problems. Yeah. You know, so it's taken on a whole, I. Staff of seven.

So you take on a whole nother family. Mm-hmm. You know, that is with you. And you know, as being the boss, you wanna make sure that everyone around you is okay. Yes. You know, we can't just go to work and act like it's like a mom. [00:25:00] They say a

Melissa: a mother is only as happy as our saddest child. So I'm assuming, you know, the workplace is also like that when you're

India Matlock: Yep.

Melissa: At least when you're a good caring boss in a way. Yes,

India Matlock: yes. And I've had, I've had. Nine to five jobs before. Mm-hmm. And you know, and I always vowed that if, if, if I ever was in that position where I'm a boss, you know, that would do things a little bit differently. And I feel like when your staff is happy, you know, they're more willing to do things.

Yes. They're more, you know, I can, I can call them up on any day and be like, Hey, go in the group chat and be like, hey. So-and-so is sick. Can you cover, and it's, it's a no brainer for them. Yeah. They do it. They come in, they come in when I need them to come in. If I need them to come in last minute, they come in, they do it.

I can count on them to, you know, be well with customers and to give their all, you know, because that's how I treat them. Yeah. You know, so I wouldn't treat them any. You did do it for them. I would do it for them. And they know, and I think they. Well, I hope they know Yes. That I would do that for them as well.

So, you know, it's, and if not you, your daughter would Of course. [00:26:00] Yes, of course. My daughter, um, like I said, our head baker mm-hmm. I call Juliet is literally our everything at the bakery. Yeah. She is the person that keeps me in, in check mm-hmm. When I'm spinning too much or

Melissa: we all need, we all need one of her.

We all

India Matlock: need it. We all need it. So I, like I said, I, again, my team, I am nothing without them.

Melissa: You have talked about your husband also being a small business owner in the area. He is.

India Matlock: He is. He is.

Melissa: What would you say between the two of you is the biggest challenge for a small business owner? Finding

India Matlock: that balance between life and family.

Yeah, between work and family. You know, trying to separate it. You know, and find, just finding that, finding that work life balance. Mm-hmm. You know, like I said, your staff becomes your family.

Melissa: Yeah.

India Matlock: So when you leave there, it doesn't end. When I leave Asia's cakes, I go home and, you know, there's still things that happen and things that have to be addressed, you know, so I feel like we've gotten to the point where [00:27:00] he's been a business owner way longer than I have.

So we've gotten to that point where, um, we kinda. Find that we've kind of have found that in trying to, you know, hey, this is this, you've

Melissa: gotten in a groove. This is

India Matlock: that we've gotten in a groove and um, you know, by us both being business owners, we get it. That is true. We get it. Yeah. So it's not, not if he's gotta get up and go, okay, I get it.

Yeah. If I've gotta go to the shop because so and so can't make it, or there's something going on, he gets it. Um, so I think that's what really helps us. Um, like I said, we've been married for 12 years. Mm-hmm. You know, so we, we, we get each other, we, we balance off each other. Good. We balance ideas off each other.

You know, we, we understand that also our family is more important than any of these businesses. Can be. Mm-hmm. You know, so it always comes back to our family at the beginning.

Melissa: Good. What is your personal, other than let's say the honey bun cake and the, the banana pudding cheesecake, which I'm going to [00:28:00] literally dream about that.

What is your favorite treat? That is in the case today? My, the red velvet. Ah.

India Matlock: So it is a lot of our customer's favorite as well. Mm-hmm. But that is also a homemade recipe. That's also a family recipe. Um, you don't find it often in the case because it takes time. I was gonna say red velvet is more of a time consuming.

It is very time consuming. So we get customers that come in there like, what are you gonna have it? And I'm like, I honestly can't tell you too busy today. But like, because between custom orders and making sure this case stays full, you know. That is something that when we do, I'm literally the only baker in that bakery that does that recipe.

Melissa: Ah,

India Matlock: that so that one,

Melissa: that one is definitely special. If you see it, that one is definitely grab it. Yes.

India Matlock: Mm-hmm.

Melissa: And I, my next question you just answered, I was gonna ask, what is the hardest, most conti time consuming thing you make? Is it the red velvet? I would say it's the red velvet. Mm-hmm.

India Matlock: It's our pound cakes.

That's another thing that you don't see [00:29:00] often. Yeah. But when you, we do have it. People grab it. Mm-hmm. And they're grabbing multiples at one time when we do have it.

Melissa: Well, pound cake is another all around. I mean, it is. And I know when my Memaw would make a pound cake, it's, it was always a special occasion because it does take time.

It does. It does. Uh, but it, it goes, you can put anything on top of it or leave it alone. It's. Yes. It's a, it's

India Matlock: an ALLIN one. I love a pound cake. Mm-hmm. I'm not a big icing person, which may shock people. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah. My daughter's the same way. I'm one of those folks that I'll grab a cupcake and I'll scrape the icing off.

Yeah. Because I just don't. Mm-hmm. I just don't You want the part, but I want the cake part. So a pound cake is that equal median for me. I can get that nice glaze on there, but it's still all cake. Yeah.

Melissa: Okay. It is time for our What's up, Roundup, where I ask a lightning round series of lighthearted questions before we say goodbye.

First question, if you could bake for any famous person, past or present, who would it be? Of course you can also sit [00:30:00] down and, and eat the cake with the person so you can get to know them, but who, who would you want to bake for?

India Matlock: Okay. This, I have two people off the top of my head that I can think of, and it might sound a little cliche, but Beyonce and Barack

Melissa: Obama.

Everything goes back to Beyonce somehow. I know. I know. But those two, those are, that is. But she's also a nice southern girl. Yeah. I'm sure she, and she enjoys and appreciates a, a good cake. Yeah. And I think it's more of

India Matlock: the

Melissa: picking the brain aspect of things that I would mean that I would love mean, talk about an entrepreneur.

You could really, you could really pick her brain for sure. Yes. What is the most unusual request you have gotten from a customer?

India Matlock: Oh, goodness.

Melissa: If you're even allowed to say it.

India Matlock: Oh my God. Oh, oh, yeah. Um, some, some, some designs we have to deny. Do you? Yes. Okay. So some things come in and you say, some things come in.

We're not that type of bakery, not that type of [00:31:00] bakery, you know, I, I, you know, hands up to anyone that does them, but mm-hmm. You know, uh. One of the things that I, um, pride ourself on is we are family focused. We are family driven, we are community driven, you know, and, you know, there's nothing wrong. Yes. But if you don't want your daughter seeing it, it's probably not something you're gonna bake.

Yeah. So then, like I said, there are certain designs that we do have to deny. Mm-hmm. Not because we're being judgey or anything like that. Yes. But just because of, like I said, our, um, our youngest staff member, besides my daughter in there is 15

Melissa: mm.

India Matlock: So that is one of the things that we do. Duet anxious cakes.

I, when we opened this place that it would be like a safe place for our teenagers, our, you know, for them to learn a craft that they may be interested in. Yeah. Um, our youngest baker right now, besides my daughter is 16 years old. Mm. And she's also one of our bakers in the bakery as well. Um, and our oldest there is 21 at the moment.

Wow. So we do hire young. Mm-hmm. And a lot of this is their first job. For a lot of our girls. So it's a, a training [00:32:00] opportunity as well. It's a training opportunity for them. It's a training opportunity for them to learn how to, you know, operate in a business setting, to learn how to deal with customers and you, we teach all of that.

We don't just hire and throw you in there. Mm-hmm. We teach all of that when you come to ages cakes, but don't be sitting, sending any, any nasty pictures in. Yes, we love all of our customers, but you know, some of them

Melissa: a little bit to the left. And finally, let's settle the debate once and for all. Is carrot cake, a health food?

It's got veggies. It's got raisins. It does. Which we'll call a technical fruit. It does. It does. It's got nut.

India Matlock: I guess it, so I'm saying yes. I guess it depends on the day of the week on once you're getting it. I love a good carrot cake. Mm-hmm. Too. I love a good cake, love good carrot cake. Uh, carrot cake is one of my top favorites up there.

So I mean, it depends on just how you look at it. Yes. It's a yes no. At Asia's cakes

Melissa: we're going to call carrot cake a a health food item. Yes. It's

India Matlock: [00:33:00] a much

Melissa: needed

India Matlock: health food item that you can order on our website as well. Anything of the week.

Melissa: Oh,

India Matlock: perfect.

Melissa: Well, thank you so much for being here today, India.

Thank you. Please give our best to Asia. I

India Matlock: will,

Melissa: I'll and everybody back at the, at the dessert shop. Yes. Thank you. And best of

India Matlock: luck with everything too. Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you so much.

[00:34:00]