How I Turned My Last $5 to $10,000,000

The Cupcake Collection has become a Nashville institution, and its founder Mignon Francois a local hero. She built a $10 million cupcake business starting from almost nothing, and you’ll learn how she did it in this interview.

Mignon started The Cupcake Collection in the midst of the 2008 recession. She was experiencing a downturn of her own, and used just about the last $5 to her name to buy ingredients for cupcakes. Mignon wasn’t a baker, but she had her grandma’s cupcake recipe and a will to succeed. By the end of that first week she’d turned $5 into $600 and the growth snowballed from there.

One way Mignon made a name for The Cupcake Collection was by starting the Cupcake Bus, the first mobile cupcake seller in the Nashville area. In this interview, she talks about how she got that idea and why it was so instrumental in growing her baking business. She’ll also share how she found the first customers for her cupcakes and built her team—all without going into debt or taking out any loans.

After the success of her first shop, Mignon opened a new location in New Orleans. This new location was an opportunity for growth but it also brought new challenges. She explains how she overcame those challenges and the lessons she learned along the way. One thing Mignon has done from the start is listen to her customers and team, and she shares how that feedback has helped her grow her business to such impressive heights.

Resources:

Timestamps:
00:00 - START
00:43 - Meeting Mignon
03:46 - How many cupcakes per day?
05:11 - Biggest challenges
06:14 - Cupcake truck
06:32 - Marketing strategies
08:13 - Fan Blitz
09:43 - Team management
11:21 - New Orleans store
12:51 - Marketing with no money
14:42 - Profit margins
15:40 - Finding motivation
17:14 - Creating unique value
18:10 - Learning the business
18:55 - Mindset
20:15 - Taking risks
21:59 - The power of faith
23:57 - Balancing business and family
24:58 - Getting started in your 30s (or older)

#cupcake #cupcakes #baking

[getjaynesmith]

He missed a very crucial thing she said. She didn't say make your employees feel appreciated, she said give them a piece of ownership. Make them feel like owners - by having stakes in decisions, stakes in making profits, and shares of the profits.

I love how she doesn't see herself as being a benevolent boss who provides jobs, She sees this is a means for everyone to share in the come up. Her humility is awesome... AND profitable.

[kaywebb]

I'm over here in tears because I paused on my baking business because I thought that wasn't good enough because of competition fear. I have people still asking when am I going to start back up heavy and I get fearful. This video gave me the inspiration to open my business again. I just want to hug her.

[luw]

When she said ‘All you have is all you need to get you from where you are to where you want to be’. I nearly broke down in tears

[anthonydillion]

This woman has taught me so more in 25 min than what my professors can in 3 hours

[swallace]

"Cause I believe all you have is all you need to get you from where you are to where you want to be." Those are words to live by.

[EstelleCreativeDesigns]

As a previous business owner I agree when you treat your employees good they look after you!

[stevec]

"I believe that every stupid thing you ever had to do is taking you from where you are to where you want to be." I burst into tears of joy! What a wonderful summation of having faith in life...and in yourself!

[kaykayglover]

Joy is the secret ingredient and I can see it radiating from this woman. Just an awesome message. Well done!

[rachel]

We used to be neighbors and I got to try many cupcakes, her and her husband family were so sweet to me when I was a single mom alone in Nashville ! Go Mignon Go!! ❤

[dr.carmenapril]

These are THE best cupcakes!! I've been a happy customer in Nashville since 2010. Mignon is awesome!

[anarizmoore]

My 11 year old daughter and I are growing our beverage business.
This woman's story is inspirational!

[EJUICEUSA]

Awesome! No debt, no loans - this is how many people handled their business during Reconstruction after American Slavery, as banks did not provide loans to Blacks and/or other People of Color. Another sad era of discrimination that still occurs today. Yet the human spirit cannot be defeated. You Rock Ms. Francois!!!

[wendylbranchfield]

She’s so amazing, on all levels: entrepreneur, boss, provider for her purchasers, and a damn good human!❤

[cinnamonsimone]

So encouraging! My greatest takeaway is that faith works like money. That blessed me. God bless this woman for her diligence and making a path for others!

[bellak]

The first time I met Ms. Mignon I cried like a baby. Her story opened my eyes to believe in my craft and to not give up. She is an inspiration and I'm blessed to have been in her presence!

[nanabaffoe]

Oh my God, I am sitting here at 56, thinking of how to develop my business, with no help, not even from my children. Thank you for your insight. God bless you . X

[mariomaro]

This woman is an inspiration. It's these examples of the black community that we need to see more of and should be our role models instead of rappers and "OGs"

[guevarasway]

As a Nashville resident, I can truly say she has a beautiful personality. This is a joy to watch. So proud of her

[marciarivas]

No wonder she was succesfull, she is so kind and Smart... and the neighbor God bless her !!❤

[jeffjr]

We were in Nashville and heard about them. Went by and found a line outside before they opened. The folks in line were excited and were making suggestions for us to try. When we finally got in the folks were nice and the prices were fair. We bought more than we had planned and traveled back home to Memphis.
Everything we bought was wonderful. I would recommend them anytime to anybody. Yes!