Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan McMakin.
Hi Susan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story with cakes actually began long before the bakery — I was just 13 when I started helping my great-aunt make cakes. That’s where I first discovered how much I loved the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into transforming simple ingredients into something beautiful.
Even though I later went to college to study architecture, I kept finding my way back to baking. In many ways, the two worlds aren’t that different — both require an eye for design, structure, and detail. That foundation in architecture has shaped the way I approach cakes today, especially the large custom designs that blend artistry with engineering.
Fast forward a few years, and the bakery itself began in a very humble way — out of our home. We built a fully licensed, DHEC-approved kitchen in our garage so I could continue doing what I loved while spending more time with my newborn daughter. I thought it would be a small side project, but the bakery took off faster than I could have imagined.
Within two years, we had completely outgrown that little home kitchen and moved to our current location off Woodruff Road. Now, 20 years later, I lead a team of eight incredibly talented and hardworking people who help bring our clients’ sweetest dreams to life.
We specialize in custom wedding cakes — the kind you might see on TV — that combine elegance, creativity, and a touch of fun. Over the years, we’ve been honored to create cakes for everyone from local couples to celebrities and large corporations celebrating special milestones.
Through it all, my goal has stayed the same: to create something beautiful that celebrates people’s most meaningful moments and reminds me why I fell in love with this craft all those years ago in my great-aunt’s kitchen.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Over the years, we’ve weathered a lot — from the recession and the housing bubble to everything in between. COVID, of course, was one of the toughest times for almost everyone in our industry. But through a lot of faith, flexibility, and teamwork, we managed to keep our full staff and come out on the other side even stronger. Those challenges pushed us to grow — not just as a business, but personally and professionally as a team.
Like many small businesses, we’ve also faced major increases in ingredient and payroll costs while trying to balance profitability with keeping our products affordable for our clients. One memorable example was when the price of vanilla extract skyrocketed from about $99 a gallon to over $600 after a typhoon devastated Madagascar — a real reminder of how fragile supply chains can be.
My biggest personal challenge, though, has been learning the business side of things. I’ve always approached this work from a place of creativity and passion for the art, not as a trained entrepreneur. Over the years, I’ve had to learn how to manage growth, finances, and strategy — and I’m still learning every day. It’s been humbling, but also incredibly rewarding to see how far we’ve come.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We’ve become known for creating cakes that are not only visually stunning but also incredibly flavorful. It’s easy for bakeries to lean heavily into either design or taste, but we’ve always believed that a truly memorable cake has to deliver both. Every cake we make is designed to be a work of art that also delights the senses — beautiful to look at and just as delicious to eat.
One of the greatest joys of this work is hearing from people whose lives we’ve been part of over the years. I’ll often meet someone at an event who tells me I made their birthday cake when they were little — and now I’m making their wedding cake. Or families who’ve come to us for every milestone celebration. Moments like that remind me how special it is to be woven into people’s memories. This past year at Fall for Greenville, I even met a couple who got engaged at the festival the year before, right after visiting our booth, and will now be getting their wedding cake from us. Those stories mean so much to me.
I think what truly sets us apart is the longevity and trust we’ve built in our community. After more than 20 years in business, we’ve had the privilege of creating cakes that mark life’s most meaningful moments — often across multiple generations of the same families. Our focus has always been on offering a higher tier of artistry and quality, while maintaining the relationships that make what we do so deeply rewarding.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
My definition of success has definitely evolved over the past two decades. In the beginning, success meant being able to work from home and keep my daughter close while doing something I loved. As the bakery grew, my focus shifted — first it was about how many orders we could take, then about growing sales year after year, and later about taking care of our employees and building stability for everyone involved.
Today, success feels much different. It’s about knowing that I have a capable, trusted team who can handle the bakery without me needing to be there every hour of the day. In the early years, I used to sleep in my office on Friday nights — often with my daughter curled up beside me — just to keep up with the work. She grew up in the bakery, surrounded by flour, fondant, and a lot of late nights. Now, she’s a senior in college, majoring in business, finance, and Japanese, and I couldn’t be prouder of the young woman she’s become.
This past summer, thanks to my amazing team (and a little nudge from them), I finally took time to travel to Japan to meet up with her after her semester abroad. We spent a few weeks exploring Asia together — and for the first time, I didn’t have to worry about how things were going at the bakery. That was a powerful moment of realization for me: I had built something that could stand on its own.
In many ways, raising my daughter and growing the bakery have mirrored each other. In the very beginning, I had to do everything myself — then I learned to guide and nurture, and eventually, I could step back and watch both flourish independently. Now, my daughter and I have even started a new business together, combining her strengths in business and finance with my creativity and love of art. Seeing everything come full circle like this — both personally and professionally — feels like the truest kind of success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.couturecakesofgreenville.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/couturecakesofgreenville/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoutureCakesofGreenville
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/couturecakessc/
