Sometimes, all it takes is one little idea and someone who believes in you, to turn a dream into something real.
For Jo, that idea came after discovering cake sheds on TikTok. She showed her husband, Trevor, and his reaction was immediate.
“He immediately encouraged me to give it a go.”
And so began the story of Baked By Jo.
From TikTok inspiration to a real-life cake shed
Trevor has been a huge part of Jo’s cake shed journey from the very beginning. In December, he helped her take those first steps towards turning her idea into reality, helping her get started with a shed and supporting her through all the courses she needed to complete.
With his encouragement behind her, Jo began experimenting with recipes, developing her bakes and working towards a dream that had been quietly growing, the hope of one day being able to bake full time.
When the shed finally arrived, Jo admits she had mixed emotions.
“I was definitely nervous, but I was so excited at the same time. It was the beginning of something I had really wanted to do.”
And that little beginning has already grown into something much bigger than she imagined.
A little spot for the local community
For Jo, Baked By Jo was never just about selling cakes.
She wanted to create a little spot in the local community where people could stop by, pick up something delicious and support a small independent business at the same time.
“I’ve always wanted the community around me to have a little spot they could stop by to get a tasty treat that is supporting a small business but still fresh.”
But, like many people starting their own baking business, Jo had her doubts.
“I always worried that my bakes were only good because it was for my family and friends.”
Those worries didn't last long.
On the very first day the shed opened, people who didn't know Jo at all stopped by to see what was available. Some bought treats, enjoyed them and then returned with friends to try more.
“That was when I thought, wow, people actually like my stuff!”
For Jo, that moment was huge. It gave her the confidence to keep going and the support and returning customers have continued to do exactly that.
“Baking is my love language, and the shed has been such a great way for me to get my bakes out there.”
Brownies, cookie pies and a taste of South Africa
If you've got a sweet tooth, there's plenty to tempt you at Baked By Jo.
Visitors can expect indulgent treats including brownies and cookie pies, with popular flavours such as Milky Way, Kinder, Oreo and caramel.
But there is something particularly special about Jo's bakes.
As a South African, she loves being able to bring a taste of her heritage to Woking, introducing customers to treats they might never have tried before.
Depending on what's on the menu, you might find traditional South African favourites such as Peppermint Crisp Tart, fudge, rusks and Coconut Ice.
“I’m really excited to be able to show my heritage and give people something they may not have tried otherwise.”
In fact, the very first thing Jo sold from the shed was South African fudge, a rather fitting way to begin a journey that has allowed her to share both her baking and her heritage with the local community.
From cake shed to new opportunities
What started with a small shed and a big dream has already opened doors that Jo may never have considered before.
BAKED By Jo has given her the confidence to start creating celebration cakes and custom orders, as well as taking her bakes along to markets.
She also now supplies some of her goods to a South African store, giving her another opportunity to reach customers and share a little piece of her heritage.
For Jo, the cake shed has become a stepping stone towards something much bigger.
And who knows where that path might lead?
The little customers who make it all worthwhile
One of Jo's favourite customer stories involves a little boy who regularly visits the shed.
“Sometimes he comes to buy something, sometimes he just comes to see what’s in the shed.”
He brings his friends or his mum along, but it's what he does when he leaves that makes Jo smile.
“He always leaves a little message on the camera, like ‘these are great, keep going’.”
It's a small gesture, but one that means a lot.
Because that's what makes a cake shed so much more than a place to buy something sweet.
It's the relationships you build. The familiar faces who come back week after week. The people who discover a new favourite treat. The excitement when someone opens the shed and finds something they didn't expect.
And sometimes, it's a little message from a young customer reminding you to keep going.
Behind every cake shed is a story
While BAKED By Jo is very much Jo's dream, she is the first to say that it wouldn't exist without Trevor.
“Without my husband’s encouragement and push, I don’t think BAKED By Jo would exist.”
Jo describes Trevor as a risk taker, something she admits she isn't naturally.
But he has always encouraged her to take a chance on her dreams.
“He always says, ‘I’ve always believed in your dreams, and you believed in mine even when I wasn’t sure.’”
That encouragement gave Jo the push she needed to take a leap of faith.
And now, every time she opens the shed, she gets to see that risk turning into something real.
Overcoming challenges and looking ahead
Starting a cake shed hasn't been completely straightforward.
One of the biggest challenges Jo has faced so far has been navigating planning permission with the council, something she is currently working through.
But despite the challenges, Jo is excited about what the future could bring.
Over the next few years, she would love to see BAKED By Jo grow into more events, supplying local cafés and eventually having her own little coffee and cookie trailer.
Ultimately, though, the dream is simple:
To bake full time.
And if the response from the people of Woking so far is anything to go by, Baked By Jo is already heading in the right direction.
Find Baked By Jo
If you're in Woking and fancy discovering something delicious, keep an eye out for Baked By Jo.
Whether you're looking for a gooey brownie, an indulgent cookie pie or something a little different, you might even discover a new favourite South African treat along the way.
For Jo, every purchase is more than just a sale. It's another little bit of encouragement, another reminder that she really can turn her love of baking into the dream she first imagined back in April 2025.
And perhaps the perfect words to sum up her journey so far come from one of her youngest customers:
“These are great, keep going.”
And that's exactly what Jo plans to do.
