When Karris Barclay started baking cupcakes in an Ohio University residence hall kitchen last year, she wasn’t aware it would evolve into a fledgling business — or that she was breaking Ohio law.
Barclay, a sophomore studying psychology and communications, launched her own full-scale cupcake business, Krave It Cupcakes, from the kitchen of OU’s Voigt Hall last year.
“It was literally just a pop-up shop,” Barclay said.
When word of the operation reached OU officials, however, they acted immediately to shut it down, because “students can’t use our facilities to gain a profit,” said Jneanne Hacker, associate director of assignments for Residential Housing.
In Spring Semester 2013, Barclay was found in violation of the Pure Food and Drug Law of the Ohio Revised Cåode because although Ohio residents can produce and sell certain foods out of their home kitchen, a “home kitchen” is defined as one that is designed for residential use. University kitchens do not fall into this categorization.
Before the shutdown, though, through Facebook and other social media sites, Krave It Cupcakes grew rapidly, even though she did not actually live in Voigt Hall.
Last year, Barclay said she was fulfilling four or five orders and giving away about two dozen free cupcake samples a week.
Of the 42 residence halls at OU, only four — Voigt, Bryan, Brough and Hoover — have kitchens for residents to use.
Despite being shut down, Barclay’s initial success inspired her to seek a legal platform for her enterprise, which she found by moving her work to the kitchen of her sister Keirra’s apartment.
“That kitchen falls under the Cottage Food Act that we have in Ohio, so it’s legal now,” Barclay said. “Still, there are things that I can and can’t make.”
Cottage food production includes the production of food items that are not potentially hazardous, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Barclay sells a variety of baked goods, including cookies and brownies, but cupcakes are her specialty.
“I had no clue that this many people would love cupcakes as much as they do, but it’s been fun.” Barclay said.
The sisters are now hoping to expand their business by signing contracts with student organizations that meet regularly, which would also help Barclay to manage her workload. With her double major, “it gets hectic,” Barclay said.
As her business develops, Barclay said she hopes to focus on baking for events only.
“I do not like to get calls in the middle of the night saying ‘I want cupcakes,’” Barclay said.
Her sister Keirra, a senior at OU, helps balance her workload by helping with delivery and some baking.
“I just try to keep her business-minded,” Keirra said of her sister, “I want people to know that while I do have part ownership of the company, this is her brainchild. I let her take the creative direction.”
In the future, the sisters hope to stay partners in the cupcake business.
“I’m gonna let it go as far as it wants to go. I don’t plan on stopping any time soon,” Barclay said.
@carolinebartels
cb536511@ohiou.edu
