By Edg Adrian A. Eva, Reporter

SAMMIE BAKES, an online pastry shop based in Angono, Rizal, has grown from a home-based venture into a business serving customers in Rizal and Metro Manila, supported by demand for its cheesecakes and other baked goods.

“Baking was a journey of self-discovery for me. I started watching videos on social media and trying to recreate what I saw,” founder Samantha H. Perez, a 23-year-old architecture student, told BusinessWorld via Microsoft Teams. “I’m so lucky that it turned out great, as those who tasted it found it delicious.”

Ms. Perez launched Sammie Bakes in February after teaching herself to bake through social media tutorials. Family and friends later encouraged her to turn the hobby into a business after trying her products.

The shop sells banana cakes, brownies, cookies, birthday cakes and cheesecakes, which Ms. Perez said are among its best-selling items.

Sammie Bakes caters to students and residents in Rizal and aims to distinguish itself by using quality ingredients while keeping prices affordable. For small food businesses, that balance can be a key part of attracting repeat customers as ingredient costs fluctuate.

The business mainly uses Facebook and Instagram for marketing and has built a customer base in Rizal while also serving some clients in Metro Manila, showing how online platforms can help a home-based operation reach beyond its immediate neighborhood.

“Our biggest achievement so far is that we have already served big events,” Ms. Perez said. “For a small business, I did not expect that I would make it and someone would trust me with such big orders.”

She said the shop has handled birthday celebrations and school alumni events with as many as 150 guests.

Ms. Perez said the business has been profitable since launch, generating revenue that could reach two to three times its capital. She attributed this to limited competition in her area and the reach of her social media content.

She expects demand to increase during the Christmas season and is considering expanding operations into Metro Manila to accommodate more orders.

The Philippine bakery market was valued at $3.66 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $5.41 billion by 2034, according to a report by IMARC Group.

Rising inflation, however, has pushed up ingredient costs, prompting Sammie Bakes to raise prices and look for suppliers offering lower rates, Ms. Perez said. That pressure is one reason small food entrepreneurs often keep a close eye on sourcing and pricing even as they try to stay accessible to customers.

Despite those challenges, she said the business plans to keep prices affordable. She also plans to post more behind-the-scenes content on social media to build customer trust.

Ms. Perez wants to open a physical store that would combine a pastry shop and coffee shop. For now, she said she remains focused on improving her baking and business skills while preparing seasonal offerings for the holidays.