Savannah Roqaa is the founder of The Savvy Baker, a business created during the first UK lockdown which has gone on to be an internet sensation.
She set up her baking business from her small apartment kitchen in Roundhay as something fun to do during the first lockdown. Within a few months, she now has a successful online business, six full-time staff working around the clock to keep up the demand and celebrity clients. Every week she drops new bakes and they sell out, usually within a matter of minutes.
Social media has played a huge role in the success of this brand but Savannah’s positive outlook and hard working attitude means that this success was no accident. We spent some time with her to find out more…
Tell us about the journey that lead you to launch The Savvy Baker…
In May 2020, we were just starting off in our first national lockdown. Trying to find things to do being bored at home on my own. I painted, made tiktoks, built things and made banana bread like everyone else. I liked making the banana bread so I made a few more things, baklava, brownies ect. I put them in a takeaway box and took boxes to my friends houses and left them on their doorsteps as care packages! They shared it to their story and next thing you know, more and more people are asking me saying they will pay ect! I started off just with a few friends and it just grew massively. From 30/40 boxes a day in the beginning to over 500 boxes a week now!
Do you think you would have started this business if it wasn’t for lockdown?
Absolutely not. I wouldn’t have baked, I was a makeup artist and a nanny and was pretty happy nannying, although I was loosing my passsion for makeup after doing it for so many years. In my yearly goals I had written that I wanted to start a business- but I didn’t know what. I had written.: clothing brand? Makeup line? Ect. I had no idea but I just knew I wanted to do something else.
What has been the biggest learning curve since launching the business?
I can’t do everything alone! Definitely that the right people behind you can help grow. In the beginning I was protective over everything and wanted to do it all myself. Now I have set people to do things which takes a huge weight off my shoulders so I can focus on what I’m good at.
Prior to this you were a nanny and makeup arrtist. You have a lot of skills, what is the one thing you do that makes you feel the most alive?
My favourite hobby is karaoke (lol) I can’t see us being able to do it for a while! But honestly I love it!
Do you have any plans to expand the Savvy Baker range?
The range will grow eventually I think! Maybe into Vegan as I know there’s a huge market for it. But for now, the demand is already so high, I’m sticking to what I know!
Looking back since launching the brand, is there anything you would do different?
Absolutely not. The whole journey has been amazing and I think if anything had worked different (even the set backs) it could of had a very different outcome. I’m happy and grateful for everything. At times it’s been so hard, super tough and have about 3 breakdowns a week but I wouldn’t change it.
Talk us through an average day in your life…
I wake up about 7.30am breakfast & shower. I drive to the house where I nanny for the kids and homeschool them for a few hours. 12pm I go to the kitchen and start baking for the next day. The packers will be in making up all the boxes from which I baked the night before, I’ll set up some of the guys in the kitchen then shoot off and run any errands (getting extra supplies, chocolates ect) get back to the kitchen, carry on baking, order a takeaway about 7pm, clean up around 11pm (if we’re lucky) and go home, dive straight into bed and up again the next morning to do the same again.
How much has social media played a role in the success of your brand?
Social media is the main reason my brand has become so successful. People underestimate how much it can change your life. My following grew so rapidly. It slowed down and then I went from 17k to 26k in the matter of a week. Sales sky rocketed and the brand has never been better.
What is your go-to quote when lacking motivation?
I am becoming the woman of my dreams.
What’s next for the business?
Growth! Loads of colabs, pop ups, competitions, exciting new things coming!!
What advice would you offer to someone launching a business during the pandemic?
Know your audience. The world is so different right now and you need to understand that peoples wants and needs are very different to normal life. People want happiness in a little square of brownie. They want their daily walk to clear their head and something new. If you had a business idea in 2019 that you know would have taken off, rethink your concept we it could be completely different now because of how our minds work. Use it to your advantage and go full steam ahead while you have the time.
What does self care mean to you?
For me, self care is when I sit down and think about everything I’m grateful for. I think about everything I want to manifest into my life and it brings me peace and I get excited. I work really hard so taking 2 days off a week is really important to me, just to spend time with people I love and I almost remove myself from my business brain for a day, bring myself back down and just enjoy the moment I’m in.
Where can people find out more?
Instagram: thesavvybaker_ is where you’ll find all the info, videos, fun stuff we get up to.
Thesavvybaker.co.uk to order (restocked Saturdays at 10am).
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