CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two local businesses are taking a creative approach to battle current economic difficulties, and their battle plan is really bringing them together.
It’s busy season for Jennifer Cubillos, the head decorator at Suarez Bakery. She’s frosting dozens of ‘snowflake cookies’ as part of the holiday rush.
“There’s not a lot of bakeries that do the stuff we do here,” she says.
But a closer look at the front case shows cupcakes and confections from another bakery.
Tiz Benson’s shop, Tizzert’s Bakery, has been in the South End for 14 years. For awhile she wanted to expand but the numbers just didn’t add up.
So at the suggestion of a consultant she decided to move into the Suarez Baker space at the Park Road Shopping Center last year.
“It is unusual,” Benson admits. “But we knew both personalities of the owners were easygoing. We can learn from each other, say ‘hey, let's share this tip decorating and it's a great idea.’”
“It wasn’t as stressful as I thought it would be,” says Cubillos.
The two bakeries share equipment, rent, utilities and even clientele. But since there are differences in each store’s products, competition is low.
“We've worked hard to differentiate what we do and do well, to make sure signage is clear in the store,” Benson says.
