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Katy Mewett spotted a nice little hole in her local market for edible images and decided to try her hand at producing them as a hobby-come-side-hustle. Fast forward and Katy's Can Top It - Edible Images is now her main gig, supplying to local businesses and home cakers.

1. How did your small business or journey begin?

I saw online an ad selling EIS products. So, I investigated it around my location and discovered no one created edible images for the home baker and for those who can't afford big extravagant cakes. So I decided to give it a go and found it was quite popular once I got started.

2. What has starting your own business meant for you?

It meant I could be creative and as a small business I could do as much or as little as I wanted. I love crafts, so this was great for me as a small little hobby business to be creative away from my normal full-time job which i had at the time.

3. What has been the biggest challenges you face(d) in regard to starting/building/maintaining your business?

The biggest challenge was covid entering our world. Getting edible icing sheets at one stage was hectic. I tried another supplier which was a big mistake. The quality was bad. And I couldn't get enough icing sheets so had to stop printing for a few months until I could get sheets. Now I always try to keep an extra few boxes on hand.

4. What do you feel are the benefits of using edible images?

The benefits of the icing sheets are I get to help people create something they can make at home for their kids.

5. What is your favourite type of treat/design to create?

I don't have a favourite. I love creating all sizes and shapes of images for everyone's different ideas. Getting the full sheets helps me to create any shape or size I require for my customers.

6. What is the current trend you’re seeing in edible images?

I really haven't seen a trend. I have seen so many different themes coming through. I don't think I have done the same image twice (well maybe 1 or 2). I have so many folders on my computer with so many themes. It’s always fun as the themes are never the same.

7. What is the funniest/most unusual sweet creation you’ve been asked to make?

Hmmmmm - I don't think I have had anything over-the-top funny, but I do love doing personalised photos. I have printed full cakes and cupcakes with photos for 50th birthdays and also 1st birthdays. Collage photo creations are a fave though.

8. Do you have any tips you can share when either printing or applying edible images?

I live in the tropics of North Queensland - so it can get quite humid up here. Keeping my edible sheets out of the humidity can be hard. So my craft room's air conditioner is always on and set to dry so it keeps the extra moisture out of the sheets (lucky for solar). I also recommend to my customers if the icing sheet won't come off the backing sheet, just stick it in the fridge for a few minutes to harden the sheets slightly to make it easy to remove the backing sheet.

9. What is your “can’t live without” sweet making tool?

I love the circle cutting tool I purchased from EIS. I prefer to buy full sheets (not already pre-cut rounds) and then cut out the round images after.

10. What do you do for yourself within your life and business to help avoid or alleviate burnout?

I was working full time in Defence whilst running my hobby business. I am now retired from Defence but still do my images. I have just taken a step back and I have slowed my advertising down so I can have a break. I find that advertising is the key for me. If I ramp up the advertising, I get lots more orders. If I slow down the advertising then business slows down. So win-win either way.

11. What is your career highlight to date?

I love sending orders overseas to friends who are deployed within the Defence. I know it brings a big morale boost especially being away from home.

12. Are there any other EIS products you enjoy using on a regular basis?

I love the chocolate products. The moulds are my favourite. I use them for myself mainly. Fun to use and fun to get creative with.