Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Jimenez.
Hi Jeffrey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Jeffrey Jimenez and I have worked in the food industry for over 30 years. I started out as a fine dining pastry chef working in large cities such as Manhattan, San Francisco and Los Angeles for a large portion of my culinary career. I took a break from the restaurant industry and pursued working in Investment Banking as I earned my bachelors degree in Finance from Rutgers University prior to working in the dessert world.
After Finance, I decided to start my own business and Cupcake Carnivale food truck was born in 2012. Cupcake Carnivale is a cupcake truck that sells gourmet, artisan cupcakes hand made from scratch and we sell our cupcakes and other baked goods at food truck festivals, pop ups, catered corporate events and private parties. Cupcake Carnivale has earned many awards through the years such as “Best Cupcakes” and “Best Food truck” in many different publications.
In 2020, I opened my brick and mortar and Cupcake Carnivale Bakeshop in Moorestown, NJ was born. Moorestown is a historic town situated in South Jersey right outside of Philadelphia, PA. The bakery sells a wide range of cupcakes, cookies, brownies, banana pudding and other sweet treats. The cupcake truck still operates and is going on it’s 14th year while the bakery is going on it’s 6th year. I am very proud on where my little cupcake business has grown and what I have accomplished. The blood, sweat and tears of running and operating a small business from the ground up has been a rewarding experience and I am still learning to this day on how to take my business to the next level, especially during this current challenging economic climate.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning a small business has it’s ups and downs. There have definitely been struggles through the years. Of course, the start up process has definitely been a struggle. In 2012, food trucks weren’t a thing and I was the first cupcake truck to pop-up on the scene in NJ. Creating a following was the most challenging part in addition to sales and keeping up with my overhead. The food truck has brought so much joy to my life, interacting with customers, calling the shots and creating a menu and making it my own.
In 2020, I felt I was ready to take my business to the next level and open my brick and mortar. The economy took a turn for the worst with COVID 19, the quarantine and inflation on the rise. I still needed to generate revenue so I can get my store open in time while the world was slowly opening up to the public. I still had bills to pay and equipment to purchase,which there was a shortage of because of a shortage of staffing from vendors across the board. It’s been a constant struggle for the first few years. Fast forward to 2024 to the present. The current economic climate has pretty much took a turn for the worse. many businesses are struggling right now, especially small businesses (mine included.). With the rising costs of goods, gasoline, and utilities, it’s been a constant struggle to keep up with overhead. Profit margin has dropped tremendously due to these costs and consumers are spending less because of how expensive everything is. At this point, I am focusing on watching my spending and putting out just enough product in my store to prevent taking a loss as my product is perishable. The struggle is real and I’m still dealing with these struggles to this very day.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Cupcake Carnivale is a cupcake shop that specializes in gourmet, artisan cupcakes all handmade from scratch. We bake everything from scratch and in small batches to ensure that quality is not compromised. Cupcake Carnivale has over 200 flavors which are rotated on a weekly or bi weekly basis. In addition to our cupcakes, we are also known for our banana pudding. They come in different flavors but our classic OG Vanilla banana pudding is our best seller.
How do you think about luck?
Even though i truly believe that hard work is the driving force for any successful business, I believe luck plays a huge part as well. Things happen unexpectedly and when you least expect it. One needs to be prepared for whatever outcome arises. I have experienced good luck and bad luck and being prepared to whatever is thrown at you is the key to turning your luck to your advantage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cupcakecarnivale.com
- Instagram: @cupcakecarnivale
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cupcakecarnivale
- Twitter: @cupcakecarny
