Ever wondered what it would be like to eat a rose? Not just any rose, but a delicious, edible one? Now, imagine a gift that combines the beauty of flowers with the sweetness of dessert. In a world of predictable gifts, some go beyond the ordinary, creating experiences that make every occasion truly memorable.
For Shreenal and Rupal Badiani, a Mumbai-based mother-daughter duo, the quest to create a truly memorable gift led them to introduce a stunning fusion of flowers and desserts that has captured the hearts of many, including celebrities.
“I wanted to give more than just flowers. Flowers can sometimes feel a bit redundant, so adding food seemed like the perfect way to create something special,” says Shreenal.
“It started as something fun between a mother and daughter,” says Rupal, 58, who has spent over three decades managing an event decor production company. Initially starting as a small-scale creative experiment in their home kitchen, the idea swiftly grew into Baked Bouquets — a blooming business, attracting growing attention from customers throughout the vibrant city.
Shreenal’s educational journey began with a master’s in Pharmacy from the UK, followed by an MBA. And it was her time in the UK that gave birth to a new creative direction for her. Inspired by the unique gifting culture she experienced abroad, she began to rethink how gifting could be reimagined in India.
“I used to see the concept of baked bouquets in the UK and was completely fascinated by it. The idea of combining edible art with the beauty of flowers really stuck with me. It got me thinking, why not bring something like this to my hometown? When I was back, I discussed this idea with my mom and she was equally interested,” she recalls.
Venturing into entrepreneurship
Drawing on her passion for creativity, inherited from her mother, Shreenal started exploring ways to bring together her love for aesthetic beauty and delicious treats.
“My mother and I didn’t come from a baking background, but we learnt a lot through research and trials,” the 31-year-old shares. The mother-daughter duo started by creating an Instagram page to market their unique cupcake bouquets. “Initially, it was very difficult to manage everything like baking, packing, and then delivering, all on our own. But we did it happily because it was fun,” she adds.
Baked Bouquets started in 2019 by offering cupcake bouquets to friends and family. Initially, the duo started out from their home kitchen and worked on the baking process by turns. While Shreenal took charge of social media marketing on Instagram and Facebook, to get the word out about their creative venture, Rupal managed the crucial behind-the-scenes tasks like collecting fresh flowers and looking after the packaging and deliveries.
“We learnt the buttercream piping technique through trial and error,” says Shreenal. “It wasn’t something we knew right away, but we kept experimenting until we could create cupcakes that looked like real flowers — roses, carnations, and chrysanthemums. The process was all about perfecting the technique to make sure the cupcakes didn’t just taste good but also looked like they belonged in a beautiful bouquet. It was a lot of testing and tweaking, but once we got it right, it became the heart of what we do.”
The positive response they received gave them the encouragement and confidence to take their idea to the next level.
Turning challenges into opportunities
However, the COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a significant setback. “With restrictions in place, we were forced to pause our operations in 2020. But instead of giving up, we found a way to push through. By 2022, we completely revamped our business. We moved from our home kitchen to a small space in my father’s office, to cater to a growing number of customers and expand our business,” explains Shreenal.
“We deliver all over Mumbai on our own because we don’t trust third-party delivery services with delicate items,” she adds.
“In 2023, as our venture started gaining significant attention, we knew it was time to expand,” says Shreenal. “We moved to a larger space in Santacruz East to build a bigger kitchen that could cater to the growing demand. We also formed a dedicated team that handles everything from packaging to doorstep delivery, ensuring that each order is carefully prepared and arrives in perfect condition. Alongside this, we began planning the launch of our e-commerce website to reach a wider audience and streamline the ordering process.”
Their dedication paid off, with Baked Bouquets becoming a hit among customers who were looking for something more than the typical gift. Celebrities like Neha Dhupia, Sonam Kapoor, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and Aditi Rao Hydari have ordered their creations, bringing even more attention to the brand. “We have received positive feedback from celebrities,” says the young entrepreneur.
Expanding business
Today, their unique gifting venture has expanded beyond cupcake bouquets, offering a wide range of treats to fulfil different needs. From macarons and cookie bouquets to tarts and fruit bouquets, each item is carefully crafted to complement the flowers in a visually stunning arrangement.
“At the beginning, we used to make all the decisions together, but as we received more orders and enquiries, we realised the need to divide responsibilities to scale up,” shares Rupal. “I’ve always been passionate about flowers and have a background in botany, so it’s truly fulfilling to combine my love for them with something sweet.”
“While Shreenal manages research, finances, and digital marketing, I focus on procuring fresh flowers like roses, carnations, chrysanthemums, etc, every day. I also oversee our team of 12 members and make sure all the orders are dispatched on time. We complement each other perfectly, and our skill sets have been instrumental in helping Baked Bouquets grow into a successful venture,” Rupal says with pride.
Priya Tiwari, the head chef says, “When I first joined the business, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stay long-term. But those initial doubts quickly faded as I found myself enjoying every moment of it. While I always knew I had the opportunity to be creative with food, this place has helped me grow in ways I never expected. It has not only made me a better chef but has also instilled in me a drive for perfection in everything I do. I’ve been able to grow at my own pace, with the freedom to experiment and explore ideas that work out really well.”
Overcoming hurdles
Growing the business was not easy and the duo encountered numerous challenges along the way. “One of the biggest hurdles we faced was applying for a loan to purchase a van for deliveries. I had to involve both my father and husband as guarantors to get the loan approved,” shares Shreenal.
Another significant obstacle came when they faced a major setback with one of their vendors during the initial days. “We had an issue with packaging where we placed an order with a vendor who messed up the production and then disappeared, refusing to pick up calls. For a small business just starting, this was a huge blow,” she adds. “It was a real learning curve for us. We realised that we needed to have strict vendor contracts in place to prevent this from happening again.”
The mother-daughter duo’s deep bond and shared vision have been at the heart of the business’s success. “We don’t interfere with each other’s work, and that gives us the space to grow,” says Rupal. “I’ve learnt a lot from my mother. I didn’t know how creative I was. I always thought I was a science-oriented person, but I realised there is a creative side that should be explored,” adds her daughter.
Looking to the future, the entrepreneurs are focused on expanding Baked Bouquets beyond Mumbai. “We want to grow slowly, but steadily. Our goal is to take our baked bouquets to different cities and let more people experience our creations,” says Shreenal. “Eventually, we hope to grow our business as a franchise,” concludes Rupal.
Edited by Arunava Banerjee; All pictures courtesy Shreenal Badiani
