Junior pursues passion for baking

Sam Klein
Print/Podcast Editor

Junior Cate Nakatani began her cookie baking and decorating business in her eighth grade year, working out of her own home with the support of her parents.

“I’ve always really loved baking, and I just tried cookie decorating for fun, and someone said I should sell them, so I started selling them,” Nakatani said about why she began her business.

Nakatani received support from her parents, especially in the beginning of her business.

“My parents have always been super supportive in allowing me to do this and making it work. As far as actually cookie decorating, it’s mostly just me, but they definitely help with packaging,” Nakatani said.

Starting the business, Nakatani didn’t have the funds on her own and needed the help of her parents. Once the business got up and running, Nakatani was able to fund the business with the profits made from selling the cookies.

Nakatani said her busiest seasons are usually the fall and the summer, especially around graduation season.

Thrive is a business incubator done through the high school that allows students to gain experience in creating and running their own businesses. The opportunity is open to both juniors and seniors, and Nakatani took advantage of the chance as a junior.

“I chose to do Thrive to get more support on the business side of my business, and [to] be able to grow my business,” Nakatani said.

To work on expanding her skill and in the future her business, Nakatani has picked up a job as assistant pastry chef at Tony’s, an Italian restaurant in Clayton. Through her experience there she’s been mentored and learned how to bake and decorate other pastry items, such as cakes.

Nakatani splits her time between Thrive and Toni’s working on the two different aspects of her business.

Thrive advisor Kara Siebe was given a new experience when Nakatani decided to join Thrive. “Cate’s different. Because she has an established business, and she came with her own mentor, I didn’t have to get one for her,” Siebe said. “This is also the first time we’ve had someone who’s working by themselves.”

Because Nakatani’s business is already developed, she has a different focus than some of the other Thrive students that centers more around the financial part of her business.