Human resources manager Bianca Harris has turned her love of baking into a business.

Now she is set to launch Sugar Shack Cake & Bake as a full-time operation to supply small bakers and individual customers with baking supplies.

Ms Harris, a human resources manager with insurance giant AIG, said she was inspired to start the business after launching a small bakery business several years ago specialising in bread, and later cakes, with her cousin Seleana Piper.

“We realised there were limited supplies on the island to enhance baked goods. We had to import everything, so I decided there had to be an alternative,” she said.

“There was also a big increase in home bakeries on the island doing cup cakes and other cakes.

“I did my market research and worked out what I needed to do to provide a service and fill that gap.”

Ms Harris, 41, said she also visited specialist baking expos in the US and took classes with American experts in the field.

“I’ve always cooked and baked for my family and friends and, according to them, I do it quite well, but I never considered turning it into a business.

“My cousin is a baker as well and she pushed me to stretch my creativity.”

The business, at 129 Front Street, will get its official launch and full-time hours on August 13, although it has been open on Saturdays only since last month.

Ms Harris said: “There is a huge interest — there’s definitely a demand for us to open full-time hours. Every Saturday, I get new faces and people are curious about what we do.”

And she added that smaller bakery and food operations like the Yo Cherry frozen yoghurt stores had already signed up as customers.

The store features a complete range of baking goods like fondants, different types of candy, gourmet-style sprinkles and lustre dust — which gives fondant icing a shimmer and can also be used to create portraits on cakes.

Ms Harris said: “Right now, I’ve hired some summer students and part-time employees and family and friends work with me to help get things off the ground.”

She hopes to start classes in cake decoration and tools for moulding fondant and its uses, as well as get involved in community and charity events.

Ms Harris, who has two daughter, Raven, 20, and Amelia, 4, said: “The real reason I started the business was for my children.

“It’s very difficult for a single parent to own homes and buy a property alone. This is something I enjoy doing and it’s something I can pass on to my children.

“Raven was an inspiration to start. She went to New York to study multimedia make-up — special effects, fashion make-up and movie make-up.

“Once I saw her following her passion and she was very good at it, I thought why not follow mine and do something I enjoy doing?”

More information at http://www.sugarshackcakeandbake.com/