Smithtown man leaves corporate world for Cupcake Couture
John K. Johnson, 50, a Smithtown resident and business owner, opened up Cupcake Couture on Main Street in November 2011. (March 20, 2013) Credit: Tara Conry
From a residential standpoint, it has a great school system, a good area in which to raise children and friendly people … From a business standpoint, it has good demographics in terms of potential clients. You have to look at average income. Obviously, this is no Huntington or Glen Cove, but it does have a good mix from an income perspective where it could support my business. And it’s a great location, right on Main Street.
Yes. I came from corporate America. I was the national sales director for Mars Chocolate USA. I spent 16 with Mars [and] eight years with Nestle, right out of college into corporate America ... I had a great run, but I decided to take a risk. Nothing good ever happens unless you take a risk, so I’m sticking my toe in the water, trying to be an entrepreneur.
Everything is baked here daily, fresh. We have 21 different flavors. There’s the Sweet 16, which are items that never change 365 days out of the year and then I rotate five new flavors in every month to keep it fresh and exciting, to give people point of difference.
When you’re the owner, you do everything, from sweeping the floors to baking. I’m a hands-on owner, but you also have to empower your people to make decisions. That’s how they learn and grow.
Everyone always has a little passion on the side. I’m originally from Baltimore, Md., most of my family is from Virginia and South Carolina, so we’re home-grown, home-cooking type of people.
Chocolate Peanut Butter is No. 1, No. 2 would be Red Velvet, No. 3 would be Chocolate-Covered Raspberry, [and] No. 4 would be Confetti. The reason why that’s No. 4 is that you get kids coming in going “Oh Mom, look at the colors!”
It’s going well … My largest order, 500 [cupcakes], is going out this weekend.
