Inspiring change and taking bold action with fortitude is a task that has long been taken up by those who refuse to be held back by the status quo. From grassroots activists to courageous entrepreneurs, those who have pushed the boundaries of what is considered possible have created new paths for others to follow.
Meet the unstoppable Sheikha Alnuaimi, Owner of International brands in F&B and Smallcakes A Cupcakery & Koub Café, and a true trailblazer in the world of business. Fueled by a fiery passion and an unbreakable will, she has established the first international branch of Smallcakes. Her conviction and unwavering dedication have firmly secured her spot as a true industry leader, inspiring countless others to follow in her footsteps.
Today, Sheikha, a dynamic entrepreneur with remarkable expertise in Food and Beverages, has partnered with Jeff Martin, the owner of the renowned American cupcakery brand Smallcakes, to bring Arabian hospitality and exceptional tastes to her home country. This partnership has resulted in the first international branch of Smallcakes after over 90 branches in the USA.
Consequently, she is a proponent of human contact, particularly for functions that human interaction takes to the next level, such as cake-making or helping customers to choose products and attending to patrons at dining and events. This communication helps them sustain their customers and build loyalty and relationships.
So go ahead, take a bite of success, and join the sweet revolution brought to you by her!
Climbing the Corporate Ladder
Sheikha Alnuaimi has been a part of the corporate world for over 15 years, steadily working her way up the career ladder. In 2014, she decided to take the leap and become an entrepreneur while maintaining her full-time job. Soon after, she attended an exhibition hosted by the Ajman Chamber of Commerce focusing on franchising, which further solidified her decision to pursue her own business.
She was inspired by the concept of pushing boundaries and taking action where others stopped, especially in a field that was outside her background in F&B. With the encouragement of her father, she and her brother decided to take the plunge and begin their business venture. With their passion and dedication to the cause, they are sure to succeed.
She with her brother, and Mr. Jeff Martin, the founder of “Smallcakes A Cupcakery” in the USA, have met and initiated an agreement to establish the first international branch of their business after having over 90 branches in the USA.
A Sweet Mission to Brighten Your Day
Sheikha redefined Smallcakes Cupcakery with the intention of providing a delicious assortment of freshly baked cupcakes in 14 distinct flavors that are offered daily. With Martin’s innovative and enthusiastic approach to baking, Smallcakes has become a popular spot for cupcake enthusiasts worldwide.
Smallcakes Cupcakery and Creamery are renowned for its gourmet freshly baked cupcakes and signature milkshake. It has been featured on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” seasons one, two, and seven, as well as the hit daytime talk show “The View.” It has become a sought-after treat, with celebrities including it in their events and weddings. USA TODAY listed it as one of the Top Ten Cupcake Places to try in the country, and SLURRPY has recommended it for three years in the UAE.
Smallcakes is all about the idea that “Maybe a Cupcake Will Help!” and it has seen its neighborhood cupcakery expand worldwide. Their mission statement is to “Deliver the best cupcake experience through creative flavors, premium ingredients, and warm service that make customers come back and recommend us.”
Experience the Transformative Power of Deliciously Crafted Desserts
Under Sheikha’s leadership, Smallcakes is devoted to the art of baking, believing in the transformative power that great tastes can bring to life. They are passionate about crafting unique, delicious flavors and designs to make every occasion special. With each product and service, customers can experience the superior quality that Smallcakes provides. It is this commitment to creating the best desserts that make them stand out.
Renowned for its innovative and delectable milkshakes, this establishment blends the most popular cupcake flavors directly from its freshly stocked display case into a refreshing and airy shake that patrons can’t get enough of.
Delight Your Taste Buds
Setting trends and staying ahead of the competition, her newest creations – Cake in a Cup and Milkshake Cupcakes – are perfect for today’s busy lifestyles. With their creative touches, these snacks and treats are sure to delight. Enjoy them as a snack or a sweet treat!
Indulge in Delicious Treats
A dessert haven located in the heart of Ajman. Its prime location offers easy access via the highway for delivery services to all emirates, making it a go-to spot for those with a sweet tooth. But that’s not all. Smallcakes also boasts a cozy dine-in area, perfect for celebrating special occasions like birthdays. Whether you’re looking for a quick sugar fix or a place to indulge in some sweet treats with your loved ones, Smallcakes has got you covered.
Unique and Delicious Flavors
According to Sheikha, Smallcakes is an international brand that operates in both the US and the United Arab Emirates. To cater to the preferences of UAE customers, they have tailored their products, packaging, and flavors. They offer signature cupcakes in various sizes, featuring intriguing flavors such as red velvet, saffron, dates, and chocolate, among others.
Sheikha Highlights Equality and Diversity in UAE Business Sector
While conversing about women in the business field, Sheikha stressed the significance of female representation in this sector. She highlighted that with the strong support of the UAE government, the ratio of women in business is almost equal to that of men. There is also a diverse range of businesses represented by women. The UAE government is determined to promote the global media presence of UAE businesses. To accomplish this goal, Sheikha emphasized the importance of entrepreneurs joining hands and supporting each other to achieve individual and collective business and national objectives.
Power of Technology and Human Interaction
Coming from a tech background, as a computer science bachelor graduate and having worked in transformation fields to develop services, Sheikha believes in the positive impact technology can have on internal systems and services for customers.
At the same time, she is an advocate for human interaction, especially when it comes to functions such as creating cake ideas or helping customers to select a customized design and serving clients in dine-in and occasions. This interaction helps them maintain their customers and increase loyalty and relationships.
Advice for Startups
According to her, startups ought to cultivate a culture of cooperation and collaboration in order to foster mutual growth. Apart from sharing tips and guidance, they should also collaborate when facing high demand, supplementing each other rather than competing and expressing their individuality through innovation. To achieve success, entrepreneurs should focus on building strong relationships with partners, customers, and team members.
By fostering cooperation and collaboration, startups can capitalize on each other’s strengths. This can create a win-win situation where all parties benefit from each other’s knowledge, expertise and resources, which can result in improved efficiency and cost savings.
Strong relationships with partners, customers, and team members are essential for long-term success. Partnerships with other startups can help create economies of scale, while customer relationships can provide valuable feedback and insights. Meanwhile, teams must work together to develop innovative solutions, identify opportunities, and create value.
Ultimately, cooperation and collaboration are key for startups to realize their potential. By working together and leveraging the strengths of each other, startups can create an environment of growth and success. Through strong partnerships and customer relationships, startups can create an environment of trust and mutual benefit. With creative solutions and innovative approaches, startups can create a competitive advantage and achieve their goals.
Unveiling Strategic Plan to Create Unique Experiences
Sheikha’s vision for Smallcakes is centered on establishing a hub where the community can unwind and engage in art workshops tailored to diverse age groups and interests. Smallcakes initiated its venture by providing children with an entertaining activity of decorating cupcakes, which has gained popularity for occasions such as birthdays, schools, and corporate events. By adopting this strategy, Smallcakes can offer a distinctive and pleasurable encounter for its clients. This ideology is rooted in the notion that being adaptable to meet the customers’ demands is paramount.
Sheikha makes sure Smallcakes adheres to a strategic plan that emphasizes the importance of collaboration among businesses to anticipate and address future needs. This involves taking a proactive approach through the diversification of services and products, such as supplying cafes to reduce their operating costs. As a testament to this philosophy, Smallcakes participated in EXPO 2020 as a cafe supplier, offering unique treats that showcase Emirati flavors. Presently, Smallcakes caters to cafes throughout the United Arab Emirates.
Taste the Difference
Sheikha emphasizes the importance of customer feedback as the driving force behind their success. They proactively request feedback from customers after every order and service to ensure that their products and services maintain the highest level of quality. Sheikha and her team are passionate about the taste of their cakes, not only their design, and they use only the finest quality fondant to give their cakes a delightful texture and flavor that is sure to please their customers. It is their meticulous attention to detail that sets their custom cakes apart and makes them truly exceptional.
Smallcakes has been actively participating in a number of exhibitions and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and has been recognized and rewarded for doing so by various organizations. For an impressive three years in a row, Smallcakes has been awarded the coveted title of Recommended Cake Shop on SLUURPY – an endorsement that speaks to the quality of the cakes and the commitment to excellence that Smallcakes embodies.
A Close Look at Her Personal and Professional Achievements
I have been awarded by different government and private corporates in my journey; lately, I was awarded :
“In honor and recognition of valuable contribution- Sheikha AlNuaimi was awarded as “The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2022” at “Global Women Entrepreneurship Conference and Awards 2022 – Dubai” hosted by Berkeleyme & MS (Voice of Global Women), on 26th of March 2022.”
This award represents the hard work and dedication that Sheikha Abdulla Al Nuaimi places in each and every step to reach success and excellence. We are proud to have her as one of our Legacy Awardees 2020 for her passion and drive that she places in her work.
I love to contribute to society by volunteering socially and professionally; on a professional level, I’m an assessor of number of business and service excellence awards which enable me to share experience and impact business development, I do public speaking to share knowledge and I have been a board of directors for 3 years at PMI UAE
Being an expert in the Free zones industry and heading the commercial arm at one of the leading free zones, have been able with the team to advise more than 5000 companies in different industries, from well-known brands to startups, to start their business in UAE in a short period of 3 years.
