Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Ashley.
Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey began with a passion for baking and a dream of creating something meaningful for my family and community. What started as baking cakes in my apartment and working out of rented commercial kitchens gradually grew into Michelle Ashley Custom Cakes. Through hard work, determination, and a lot of long hours, I was able to open a retail bakery and build an incredible team that shares my passion for creating memorable desserts.
Today, we operate a bakery in Salem, Oregon, with additional locations and partnerships throughout the region. We specialize in custom cakes, pastries, breakfast items, and dietary-friendly desserts. Along the way, we’ve been honored with numerous community awards, featured on HGTV and local television, and recognized for both our products and community involvement.
What I’m most proud of isn’t the awards—it’s the opportunity to create jobs, support local organizations, partner with programs that help individuals overcome barriers to employment, and be part of people’s most important celebrations. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but every challenge has helped shape the business into what it is today, and I’m excited for what the future holds.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all. Like most small business owners, I’ve faced my share of challenges along the way. Building a business from the ground up required significant personal sacrifice, long hours, and a willingness to take risks without any guarantee of success. There were times when cash flow was tight, equipment broke down, staffing was difficult, or unexpected expenses threatened to derail our plans.
The bakery industry is especially challenging because you’re balancing creativity with the realities of running a business. You’re managing food costs, labor, marketing, customer service, and operations all at the same time. There have been moments when I questioned whether I could keep pushing forward, but I’ve learned that perseverance is often the difference between success and failure.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that challenges are opportunities to grow. Every setback has taught me something valuable about leadership, business, or myself. Those experiences have helped me build a stronger company, develop better systems, and become a more resilient entrepreneur. Looking back, I’m grateful for the struggles because they shaped both me and the business into what we are today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Michelle Ashley Custom Cakes is a woman-owned bakery based in Salem, Oregon, specializing in custom cakes, pastries, desserts, breakfast items, and dietary-friendly treats, including gluten-free, vegan, and keto options. What began as a small operation in my apartment and rented commercial kitchens has grown into an award-winning bakery known throughout the Willamette Valley for both exceptional desserts and community involvement.
We are best known for bringing our customers’ visions to life through custom cakes while also offering a wide variety of fresh baked goods made in-house with premium ingredients. Our team includes talented pastry chefs and experienced cake artists who are passionate about creating memorable desserts for life’s most important celebrations.
What sets us apart is our commitment to both quality and community. We partner with organizations that help refugees and individuals with disabilities gain meaningful employment experience, support local schools and nonprofits, host cake decorating classes, and actively participate in community events throughout the region. We believe a bakery should be more than a place to buy dessert—it should be a place that brings people together.
Over the years, we have been honored with numerous awards, featured on HGTV and local television, and recognized as one of the area’s top destinations for cakes, pastries, and desserts. While those accomplishments mean a great deal to us, what makes me most proud is the impact we’ve had on our customers, employees, and community. Every cake tells a story, and every customer who walks through our doors becomes part of ours.
I want readers to know that Michelle Ashley Custom Cakes is built on perseverance, creativity, and a genuine love for serving others. Whether someone is celebrating a wedding, birthday, graduation, or simply stopping in for a cupcake and coffee, our goal is to make their day a little sweeter.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
My definition of success has changed over the years. Early on, I thought success was measured by sales, awards, recognition, or reaching certain business milestones. While those things are certainly important and something I’m grateful for, I’ve learned that true success goes much deeper.
Today, I define success as creating a business that positively impacts the lives of others. Success is providing meaningful employment, helping people develop skills and confidence, supporting community organizations, and creating a place where customers can celebrate life’s most important moments. It’s knowing that something I built from the ground up is making a difference.
Success is also having the resilience to keep moving forward through challenges. As a small business owner, there are good days and difficult days, but success is continuing to show up, adapt, learn, and grow no matter what obstacles arise.
At the end of the day, if I’ve built a business that serves people well, supports my family, creates opportunities for others, and leaves my community better than I found it, then I consider that a success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Michelleashley.com
- Instagram: @MichelleAshleyCustomCakes
- Facebook: @MichelleAshleyCustomCakes
