It's the rare person who can resist a beautifully-decorated cupcake. I mean, they're only little, right? And I'll just have one...
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So imagine having them turn up at your door, sent by someone you love but - due to COVID-19 restrictions - can't see right now.
"People have been ringing up or ordering online to send cupcakes to their grandma, mum or sister who's been isolated in lockdown," said The Cupcake Co founder Ali Francipane, who started the side-hustle only two years ago after her skills were noticed by friends and workmates.
"When we get there, it's so lovely, it just cheers them up so much."
Spreading sweetness and delight to those who are feeling isolated has been a surprise upside of lockdown for Ali, who works full-time as a PA for a property developer, while also, at the moment, supervising online learning for her six year-old, Isabella.
She fell into the cake business almost by accident.
"I grew up near Robertson on a farm, and I always super keen to enter cakes in the local shows - Robertson, Moss Vale, Bowral, I entered all of them," Ali said.
"I generally liked baking in the kitchen with Mum, while my sister was out on farm with Dad.
"Then, whenever I worked somewhere I'd bake and take something into work, and people started asking me to do things for them."
"With COVID, and so many people isolated, we've been doing 'lockdown love' packages," she said.
"We handwrite a personal message, and make cakes to order just for that person - it's a personal touch that people are lacking at the moment."
She bakes at night after work and has a delivery assistant, Chloe, to do drop-offs during the day, and also sells her creations through Coffee Culture in Mittagong.
She said interacting with customers to create something special for their loved ones brings her a lot of joy.
"I'm really enjoying the cupcake business; I love the customer care side of it, we bake everything to order, they're completely personalised, and I like making things special for people," Ali said.
"It's grown into something lovely and wholesome, and we love it."
