Where's the Party At? Custom Cakes
The moment a cake is ushered into a room, everything changes. Conversations are paused, eyes light up and excitement runs through the waiting crowd. Michelle sees cake as more than just dessert; it’s the showstopper that signals something special is happening.
As a passionate baker, creator, and lover of all things ‘matchy matchy,’ Michelle Hargreaves lives for these moments. Through her creative business, Where’s The Party At? in Rockbank, she brings her clients’ ideas to life—making every event extra special, whether she’s crafting themed cakes, party-perfect treats, or cupcakes.
Michelle’s journey to the kitchen didn’t follow the usual path. For 20 years, she dedicated herself to the dental industry. Behind the scenes of being a busy practice manager, a different passion was quietly growing—one that traded dental charts for recipe cards and precision tools for piping bags.
I’ve always been creative at heart, and after working in the dental industry for over 20 years, I decided it was time to follow my passion.
After years of pouring her energy into helping others with their businesses, Michelle decided it was time to create something of her own. Determined to get it right, she jumped into research mode.
That’s when Michelle discovered Business Victoria’s resources. The website became a game-changer—filled with templates and tools that helped set solid foundations for her new venture.
'I was hungry for information and wanted to make sure I was ticking all the boxes,' she explains. 'The first resource I downloaded from the website was the Business Plan Template.'
With her small business growing, Michelle sought out Business Victoria’s personalised support, when she was keen to discuss growth and explore the possibility of bringing in a business partner. Was it feasible? Would it be the right move?
Michelle had a clear vision for her business—but she needed honest, unbiased reassurance. Business Victoria’s free online advisory session connected her with an expert who understood the realitiy of running a small business and offered her practical, personalised advice.
My online session really helped answer my questions and gave me much-needed clarity. I left the session feeling empowered, with additional resources emailed to me to support my next steps.
'The assistance I received from Business Victoria was supportive and empowering. The resources felt tailored to a small business like mine - creative, fast-paced, and often run by one or two people doing it all. It didn’t feel overwhelming; instead, I felt seen and understood as a small business owner.'
Michelle has found a number of small business tools and resources invaluable on her business journey—especially the ‘Starting a Business’ tools and templates page, along with business planning templates, marketing templates, and cashflow forecasting templates.
'As a small business owner, I’m constantly revisiting these resources,' she says. 'Because my business is always evolving, it’s incredibly helpful to have a go-to place for the essentials. It keeps me grounded and on track.'
Michelle found starting her own business scary, when suddenly, every decision, from the big-picture strategy to the daily grind landing squarely on her shoulders. One of Michelle’s early challenges was learning how to run a business.
'I knew I had a passion for what I wanted to do,' she says, 'But making it sustainable? That was a whole different challenge.'
A significant milestone in Michelle’s business journey wasn’t just about growth on paper—it was about confidence.
'A big turning point was reaching the stage where the business could support itself and pay me a wage,' she reflects.
What once felt overwhelming, is now an empowering part of her routine - she now enjoys reviewing her business performance and forecasting ahead. With a clear vision, the right tools, and expert mentoring, she’s keeping her business not just running, but thriving.
For Michelle, one of the most rewarding parts of running her own business is having full control over what she offers, how things operate, and how the business fits around her family’s needs.
'When I take a step back and look at what I’ve built, I feel a real sense of pride and achievement.'
Michelle’s journey is proof that dreams, like cakes, take time to perfect. As she continues to grow, she’ll ready to add the next delicious layer to her success.