Business & Tech

Local Moms Crafting Sweet Treats Right From Home

A Windham woman has teamed up with a friend from Massachusetts to partner on a new at-home business.

A Windham mother has embarked on a joint partnership with a friend from Massacusetts, starting a business that will offer delicious cupcakes and other treats for any special occasion.

Jess Calderara, 32, has lived in New Hampshire her entire life, but it wasn't until she recently found the North Shore Parents Group that she decided to make a big career change.

"I was working in finance before this, out of Boston," she said. "I now have three young children, so it was kind of, you know – 'what's next?'"

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Now she is working with another mother in her group, Nicole Falsetti, 33, as they get their feet wet in the food industry.

Sensationally Sweet Cupcakes & Other Baked Goods began in January 2013 right out of Calderara's kitchen, which is located in the shadow of Windham Middle School.

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The proximity to the school is fitting since the new specialty sweets business will cater very much to kids.

Birthday parties, holidays – you name it, the two women are seeking to deliver an affordable product – Sensationally Sensible as they call it – to their network of friends, family and business owners.

"We have a lot of friends, 60 close friends from the 115 members in the (parents) group," said Calderara. "That's a lot of birthday parties that we go to."

The two work hand-in-hand to help each other out. Calderara watches Falsetti's son while Falsetti bakes. Falsetti watches Calderara's three kids while Calderara bakes.

A friend even referred to the two as "momtrepreneurs" on Facebook.

Falsetti joined the parents group to make new friends for she and her son after moving from Tampa, Fla. two years ago. That move came after her husband got a job in Cambridge.

Other moms also run at-home businesses from the group, such as local entities Tastefully Simple and the Pampered Chef.

Calderara and Falsetti even sought the advice of another at-home baker, "The Sleepy Baker" of Natick, Mass, to get some direction for their kitchen production.

Other than keeping in touch with their network, the two market Sensationally Sweet products through evening parties. Those parties are more geared toward their gourmet line of cupcakes, which uses expensive ingredients such as Ghiradelli chocolates.

The two agree that staying in a kitchen is a good place to start, especially with the small profit margin of cupcakes.

"It's a passion for both of us," said Caladera. "It's something we enjoy doing. Will it support my family of five? Probably not. But will it get me to sign my kids up for an extra dance class (or) an extra soccer class? Hopefully."

For more information on Sensationally Sweet Cupcakes & Other Baked Goods, visit their Facebook page.


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