From Humble Hobby to Sweet Success

Published: April 03, 2013 | Read Time: 2 minutes

For Southern Utah University alumni Trent and Janell Brown, the taste of success is sweeter than for most. Theirs comes with frosting.

T-Birds turned confectionary warriors, Trent and Janell are the founders and owners of the nationally acclaimed custom cake and cupcake shop, One Sweet Slice. Their confections and savvy business sense have garnered top accolades, including the title of top baker on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.”

Tracing their journey from a humble hobby in their Cedar City student apartment kitchen to their now nationally recognized cake shops in the Salt Lake Valley, the Browns will share their top entrepreneurial tips, as well as a few treats, in “Building a Hobby into a Business,” part of the Wells Fargo Business Executive Speaker Series on campus.

One Sweet Slice, now located in South Jordan, Utah, was founded in Cedar City in 2004 shortly after Trent and Janell were married. A recent graduate of SUU in interpersonal communications, Janell began baking for friends and family to help support the couple while Trent completed his degree in business marketing.

Now nearly ten years later, the couple’s success has escalated beyond what they ever could have imagined. Their story has appeared in a number of magazines and newspapers, among them The Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News, Utah Business Magazine, Utah Bride and Groom and the Huffington Post.

For its beautifully executed, absolutely scrumptious goods which range from cupcakes to multi-tiered wedding cakes, One Sweet Slice was most recently awarded Best Wedding Cakes in Salt Lake and Utah County, as well as the year’s Best Cupcakes for Salt Lake County. Also, in 2012, the company was named South Jordan’s Small Business of the Year.

In addition to its media acclaim, One Sweet Slice has quite an impressive, star-studded clientele, Kanye West, Serena Williams and Lil Jon among them. The company has also made cakes for the Romney family as well as Utah’s Huntsman and Osmond families.

All that, combined with Janell’s big “Cupcake Wars” win and an impressive marketing plan with Trent over business operations, has made One Sweet Slice the top shoppe. Thanks in part to that success, Janell is now working on a cupcake recipe book that will be published this fall. She is also the KUTV Channel 2 baking expert and makes monthly appearances on the channel’s “Fresh Living” program.

Back now, where it all began, the Browns’ presentation at SUU will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 4, in the Starlight Room of the Sharwan Smith Student Center. Following the lecture, a Q & A session will allow students to talk with the Browns in an intimate and informal setting.

SUU’s Business Executive Speaker Series luncheons are open to all students but tickets are required. Those interested in attending may contact Savannah Cannon at 435-865-8167 or inquire in person in room 303 of the Dixie Leavitt Business Building.  Tickets are free of charge, but seating is limited.

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Contact Information:

435-586-5400
Contact the Office of Marketing Communication