Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
A BROWNIE-LOVING teenager found a sweet escape from the pandemic by starting a baked goods business and she hopes her dessert dreams will whisk her towards a successful future.
Bahraini Hilda Rami, aged 15, has always been fascinated by baking, having helped her aunt over the years in the kitchen dishing out delicious treats for the whole family.
In November last year, she decided to put her passion to work for her, to help save up for college as well as to boost her confidence and instil the best business habits for success.
“I always wanted to start a business,” said the AMA International School student living in Busaiteen who first started selling second-hand books at local markets and fairs at the age of eight.
“When I got a little older, I started selling my old toys online on different social media platforms. I then started reading about businesses and specifically about how young entrepreneurs can launch their own companies and how to be successful.
“That’s when thought I’d start with my own passion. I believe that if you do what you love, you’ll find a way to be successful at it.
“I remember watching my aunt baking these delicious sweets and I used to help her. I thought it was very fascinating how one could turn simple ingredients into something so delicious and joyful.
“Baking has been one of the greatest teachers in developing my character. It can be instantly rewarding. It keeps you humble with lots of opportunities to learn about imperfection and acceptance.
“As a teenager, I too have had many moments of low confidence, but when I started baking it boosted my self-esteem. Maybe in the future I will figure a way to help other teenagers to feel empowered and have confidence through baking too.”
Brownieens, which was conceptualised by combining the words brownie and teen, serves up tasty brownies topped with sauces that she creates at home.
Hilda also handles her own marketing, logo design, website and packaging.
Since starting, she has received a tremendous amount of support from family and friends and dessert lovers along with a few perks too.
“Since I have started my business I stopped taking money from my parents and the feeling is indeed very rewarding,” she added.
“A part of the money goes into buying my ingredients, marketing the products and the delivery. The rest goes towards my college fund and it’s always been a dream of mine to go to university. I would love to help my parents pay for my higher education and maybe once I graduate and have a full understanding of the business world, I’d be able to turn my passion into a full-fledged career.”
Hilda hopes to someday open up a bakery and that her story might inspire others to seek out their dreams too.
“I hope that my story will inspire a baker at heart to start or motivate anyone thinking of starting a business, whether it’s to save money or just because they love doing what they are doing,” added Hilda.
“Go ahead and do it, I promise you will not regret it. I would of course also love to have my own bakery. This business is like my baby and watching it grow just makes me so happy and proud of how far I’ve come.
“A dream of mine would be to wake up one day and receive a whole lot of orders. I get so happy when my customers give me their feedback and are satisfied with my work it pushes me to do better.”
For details, follow @brownieens.bh on Instagram.
