19/10/2026
Last night, I shared a memory of how I started Stephanie eBakery.
Today, I received the sad news that one of my suppliers has passed away. 💔
Not many of my customers know that, before becoming a home baker, I was a buyer. I was always very particular about quality and price negotiation. That was part of my job, and I took it seriously.
One day, when I started my baking journey, I found a supplier located near my home. I walked into the warehouse and met the boss, William.
At that time, I started small.
Just one block of cheese and one bottle of cream to begin my baking journey.
Very soon, my orders grew from one block to one carton of cheese and one carton of cream.
What touched me most was the trust he gave me.
He would issue my bill without chasing me for payment. He simply told me that he would send me the monthly statement at the end of each month, and I could settle the payment then.
Looking back, I realised that he was doing more than just supplying ingredients to me. He was supporting a new home baker who was trying to build her own business.
As my business grew, my monthly bills eventually reached a few thousand dollars.
When I first started baking cheesecakes, I also shared them with William and his staff to try. From then on, he became my customer too, ordering cakes from me for his celebrations. ❤️
Over the past two years, he had been unwell and was no longer coming to the company.
Even so, the next generation knew me as a long-time customer. They continued to respect me and maintained the same monthly payment arrangement.
Today, I am reminded that behind every small business, there are often important people who quietly support us along the way.
Some people may not appear in our business stories, but their kindness becomes part of our journey.
William, thank you for trusting me when I was just starting out.
Thank you for giving me the space to grow, for treating me with kindness, and for being part of the journey that eventually became Stephanie eBakery.
I may not have said it enough when you were around, but I truly appreciate what you did for me.
Success is never achieved alone. Sometimes, it begins with someone who believes in us before we have anything much to show.
Rest in peace, Boss William. 🕊️
Your kindness will always be remembered. ❤️
