Elgin business Cheesecakes By Jess, launched in lockdown, off to flying start
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A MORAY woman who launched her own business after being made redundant during lockdown has said it is doing "really well".
Jess MacRae (24), from Elgin, was made redundant from her job working at a local garden centre's coffee shop and used the setback as an opportunity by launching Cheesecakes By Jess.
Despite the difficulties that have come with launching the business mid-pandemic, Ms MacRae said it is off to a great start.
Things are going so well, in fact, that her dad has helped her set up her own brand-new kitchen in the back garden shed at her parents' house.
Explaining how the business came to be, Jess said: "I've always enjoyed baking cakes and a little more than a year ago I started making cheesecakes. Not often, but once every now and then.
"A few friends said they were really good and that I should consider selling them.
"However, there are a few things you need to have before you can do that.
"In mid-June my work put me on furlough so I decided to go and get my health and hygiene certificate. Two weeks later I was made redundant.
"About a week after that they asked me to come back but by then I had started doing this so I said no.
"I've been doing this for a couple of months now and have been here in the outside kitchen for six weeks.
"I'm glad I did it, it's doing really well and I'm really enjoying it."
Lockdown restrictions have provided some troubles, with one or two cancellations after larger events were sidelined, but Ms MacRae, who also supplies The Deli in Elgin, has found herself a strong customer base.
The 24-year-old does cakes for a number of different occasions, including baby showers, weddings and birthdays.
Cheesecakes, which can be personalised for each individual customer, come in a number of shapes and sizes – with cheesecake filled doughnuts also on offer.
Moray's SNP MSP Richard Lochhead popped by this week to see how Ms MacRae is getting on.
He said: "I wanted to drop by to congratulate Jess on the success of her business so far.
"It's a really good example of Moray's entrepreneurial spirit. A young woman starting her own business and making a go of it. It's heartening to see.
"Sometimes the challenges we face in life can inspire us. In this case Jess has decided to start her own business after being made redundant, the cheesecakes are popular and I'm sure she has a great future.
"Moray's economy is built on small business which start as an acorn and grow to become the likes of Baxters and Walkers."
You can contact Jess at jessmac2015@hotmail.com, on 07599 740633, or find her on Instagram and Facebook at Cheesecakes By Jess. She will work to fit in everybody's requests.
