4 Every Occasion Cakes & Cupcakes will be highlighted during the 34th annual Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development Week.
Anitria Odum worked in the corporate world for the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, but wanted something different.
Odum started working in wedding and event planning, and wanted to offer edible goodies. She took a cake-decorating course, and discovered she had a passion and talent in that area.
Ultimately, she earned an associate’s degree in business from Community College of Philadelphia, took a part-time job as a cake decorator at a bakery and opened a home-based cake and cupcake business.
About five years ago, Nov. 30, 2013 to be specific, she opened 4 Every Occasion Cakes & Cupcakes, at 1821 Cottman Ave. in Rhawnhurst. She specializes in customized cakes, and word of mouth is helping the business grow.
“It’s going good,” Odum said. “I had a following before I came here. Now, it’s more of a destination place.”
Among Odum’s accomplishments are graduating from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program and winning the Best in Show award at last year’s Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s Flavors of the Northeast.
In recognition of all the outstanding things going on at 4 Every Occasion Cakes & Cupcakes, the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce has selected the shop as its nominee to be highlighted during the 34th annual Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development Week, which takes place Oct. 1–5.
There will be a kickoff event on Oct. 1, with Mayor Jim Kenney presenting awards to all the nominees.
“It came as a surprise. I was very happy,” Odum said of the nomination.
Odum runs the business with her husband, Kyle. They have three children and live in Oxford Circle.
The Odums hope more people learn about their business during “MED Week,” which is coordinated by the city Department of Commerce.
The week will feature dozens of activities and workshops intended to help small business people in the areas of networking, marketing and government and university procurement.
Odum thanks the Chamber for the nomination, and is glad she joined the business group two years ago.
“The networking events are good,” she said.
Odum graduated from the 10,000 Small Businesses program in the cohort right after Pam Henshall, president of the Chamber.
“It was really good. I met so many different people in different industries,” Odum said. “We made connections to grow our businesses together.”
Odum said her business is growing every year. She describes the job as fun and relaxing, adding that it is rewarding to deal with customers. She credits her husband, bakers and decorators for helping the business succeed. She still decorates cakes in addition to all her other responsibilities.
Eventually, Odum hopes to expand, either with a second location, a mall kiosk or franchising opportunities.
Odum invites people to visit her shop or call in an order, adding that they will not be disappointed.
“Not only do our treats look fabulous, they taste just as good,” she said. “I’m a very creative kind of person. I challenge myself to outdo the last thing I did. We’re the best in Philly. We bring customers’ vision to life.”
For more information on the Odums’ business, call 215–722–2250, visit www.4EveryOccasionCakes.com or check out their pages on Facebook and Instagram.
To learn more about Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development Week, call 215–683–2057 ot go to https://business.phila.gov/medweek ••
