A Kings Heath mother has turned her garden shed into a thriving cake business that has become her full-time occupation. Danielle Edington, 41, launched the Lavender Cake Shed on Beechwood Road and says the response has been so overwhelming that she resigned from her position as a school catering manager to focus on it.
From Pandemic Project to Full-Time Business
Danielle, a former University of Birmingham geography student, trained as a commis chef and worked in catering for nearly two decades. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she started a home-based venture delivering afternoon teas. This expanded into bespoke birthday cakes and celebration bakes. Eventually, she opened an unmanned shed where customers can buy homemade treats directly from her doorstep.
"We picked the lavender theme because we had two lavender bushes in the garden, my daughter's middle name is lavender and the logo for my business 'What Dani Cooks' is lavender," she explained. The shed took a week to prepare, with shelves and decorative grass added to make it aesthetically pleasing.
Honesty Box System Proves Successful
Customers pay using an honesty box system, placing cash in envelopes through her letterbox or using a QR code. Despite initial concerns about theft, Dani says people have been "very honest" and the response has "restored my faith in humanity." The business is fully registered and insured, boasting a five-star food hygiene rating. Dani prepares items in a building in her garden and bakes in her kitchen, keeping overheads low to pass savings to customers.
Long Hours and Far-Reaching Customers
The shed operates seven days a week from 9am to 9pm, attracting customers from as far as Redditch and Solihull. "It gives people flexibility," Dani added, explaining that being home allows her to be available for her two children aged nine and 12. The Lavender Cake Shed has become a local sensation, with queues forming regularly for its homemade bakes.
