It’s been a year since Kamilah Cannonier first opened the doors of her family run business, Sweet Saak Bakery, on York Road, St George’s.

During that time she got a crash course in how to run a business, introduced countless new people to her confectionery treats and even left a ‘just out of the oven’ smell wafting through the neighbourhood.

Now Ms Cannonier is ready to celebrate all the hard work — by hosting a series of fun community events this month.

“Over this past year I have grown myself as a baker, business woman and as a person,” she told The Royal Gazette.

“It’s a hard thing to open a business, so you kind of have to be a strong individual to go into this. I have learned I have to be willing to take risks and be willing to correct along the way.

“It’s also hard for us who are in to see how much we have grown. I wouldn’t say we are successful yet, but it’s rewarding to see others interested in our products and be appreciative and excited about what we have created. That’s the best part.”

Ms Cannonier said she was practically raised with a spatula in her hand.

In addition to watching other people in her family bake, she realised early on that she wanted to make a career out of cooking and always dreamed of owning her own bakery.

She said it feels a bit ‘surreal’ now that her dream has come true.

“It’s something that you definitely have to get up and work at every day,” she explained. “I wouldn’t say that I have completely accomplished what I am looking for, but I am having fun along the way doing so.

“My ultimate goal will be to make the brand recognisable Island-wide.”

On a typical day, Ms Cannonier gets up at 4am and is in the kitchen an hour later making scones, muffins, coffee cakes and Bundt cakes for their daily customers.

Sweet Saak also does special orders for cupcakes, special occasion cakes and birthday cakes.

Wednesdays are their most popular days for business as they are busy all day making fresh cinnamon buns, which are delivered Island-wide.

Ms Cannonier said: “People walk in and say it smells so nice when we bake our cinnamon buns, but we don’t usually notice it.

“Then on Wednesday I got to leave the shop for a bit and I could smell it all the way down by the police station.”

Although as the owner she serves as the main face of the bakery, she said it was entirely a family effort.

“Everyone gets to put their opinions in and it allows you to not only be creative, but get feedback from your family members,” Ms Cannonier said. “Each of us have a different role so we all play on each other’s strengths and weaknesses to help each other out.”

To mark the bakery’s first anniversary the business will be launching its website mid November.

They have also planned a host of new product roll outs, including a house-made hot cocoa mix, eggnog cake and a signature pumpkin spice cake, to be released in time for Thanksgiving.

Starting on Tuesday, they will be launching an Instagram Scavenger Hunt.

Seeing that the business has built a large portion of their fan base through social media, they wanted to engage people online.

Over the next week, they will be providing clues about an ingredient or baked good item and fans have to guess what it might be and take the picture next to the item. A winner will be picked at the end of each day next week.

From November 11 to 16, they will be making a different kind of cupcake each day for ‘Cup Cake Craze’.

During that week, the first customer to enter the bakery on the hour from 11am until 2pm will receive a complimentary cupcake.

Then on Saturday November, 16, they will be hosting a Cupcake Decorating Day.

Ms Cannonier said: “If you come in with your children you can purchase a cupcake and decorating kit and they can go upstairs and decorate it however they wish. That will be happening from 11am until 2pm.”

They are welcoming “anyone who is a kid at heart”, but adults can come along for the afternoon as well.

Ms Cannonier said they are making a point not to leave out older fans — and will be having a Senior’s Tea event on Thursday, November, 21 from 2pm until 5pm.

“We do a lot of the traditional baked goods, like banana bread, ginger bread, fudge and coconut cake, and it seems from what we have heard from seniors they can’t really find those items elsewhere.

“My aunts who work here are both retired and have a lot of their friends pop by, so I wanted to make sure I did something to include that age group as well.”

The last event, for invited guests only, is the ‘Sugar and Spice Soiree’ on November 30. The event serves as a ‘Thank You’ to loyal customers and friends who have supported the business since it opened.

The lucky guests will get the chance to sample some of Sweet Saak’s other offerings including mini plated desserts and petit fours.

To reserve a spot in any of the upcoming events call 297-0663.

You can also follow them on social media sites, including their Twitter account @SweetSaak; Facebook: Sweet Saak Bakery or Instagram @SweetSaakBakery.

Later this month you will also find information on their website: www.sweetsaak.com.