Celebrity chef Julia Child once famously quipped: A party without cake is just a meeting.
Paige Knapp, who owns Sweet Spot Cupcakes in Kamloops with her husband, Stuart Knapp, agrees 100%. In fact, Sweet Spot has the Child’s quote scripted on its chalkboard at its shop at 1415 Hillside Drive and it’s also one of the first things you see when you visit SweetSpotCupcakes.com.
Cupcakes and cakes are inherently celebratory, even if the only occasion is you devouring a cupcake or piece of cake. Elaborately decorated and wholesomely made cupcakes and cake are not just eye candy, but delectably delicious, the ultimate feelgood and shareable treat. “It’s definitely a happy business to be in,” says Paige with excitement. “I really, really love what I do and I so enjoy seeing people’s eyes light up when they are choosing a cupcake from the display case or get a look at the custom cake I made for their birthday, anniversary or wedding.”
Cupcakes are 80% of Sweet Spot’s business and the shop can sell more than 400 of them a day in the busy summer season. “We do 16 standard flavours and always have some seasonal flavours on the go, too,” says Paige. “I’d say salted caramel, which also happens to have a salted caramel filling, is our No. 1 seller.”
Rounding out the top five are: red velvet with authentic cream cheese icing, chocolate (everyone loves chocolate), Boston cream (like the donut with real Bavarian cream filling, only better because, of course, it’s a cupcake) and carrot with real carrot and pineapple pieces.
For the winter the seasonal favourites are hot chocolate and white chocolate cranberry. All cupcakes and cakes are made with care and real ingredients- -flour, sugar, milk, butter, cream, chocolate and natural flavours. “You can do so many creative things with simple, real ingredients,” says Paige.
Paige first started to work at Sweet Spot in 2017 as a cupcake decorator under previous owner Natalie Fournier. When Natalie wanted to sell the business in late 2019, Paige jumped at the chance to be the new owner.
“Like every little girl, I always baked with my mom and grandma and also tried my hand at cake making in high school,” says Paige. “But I went to Thompson Rivers University for event management and thought I would be a wedding planner. But then Sweet Spot came to me and made me realize I’d always wanted my own business. It’s changed our lives. I want it to be a family business for generations."
