Fired From Her Ad Job, She Launched a Cupcake Empire

After being fired from an advertising job, Melissa started Baked by Melissa with her brother's encouragement. She baked 250 cupcakes, which were well-received, leading to a business opportunity. Without a formal plan, they opened a booth at Union Square, which was a success, prompting the opening of their first store. By 2010, they expanded to nationwide shipping. Today, Baked by Melissa has 14 retail locations and ships nationwide, with plans for further expansion. The company has sold over 100 million cupcakes and celebrates over 50,000 birthdays annually.

What motivated the speaker to start baking cupcakes after being fired?

Describe the initial steps taken by the speaker after baking the cupcakes.

What was the outcome of the speaker's first retail location?

How did the speaker's business evolve in terms of locations and shipping?

What does the speaker express about their passion for cupcakes?