HOMEWOOD / BIRMINGHAM – Colorful, creative and detailed all over describes any cake created by Homewood bakery CakEffect’s founder, owner and head baker Komeh Davis.

Davis was studying to take the Bar Exam to become a lawyer when her mother and an episode of Cake Boss inspired her to open a bakery. “I put the books down and never started studying again,” Davis said. She opened CakEffect, “a little cake shop with a grand effect” in 2012.

Her customer retention as well as rapid expansion earned Davis and CakEffect the title of Alabama’s 2017 Silver Retailer of the Year in the Annual Sales Less Than a Million category. The Alabama Retail Association honored Davis at a luncheon in Birmingham held in cooperation with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business.

Each CakEffect cake tells a story through its design and decoration, whether it be a hobby, occupation or a celebration. “Komeh is really an artist, and she took her artistry to cakes,” said Loren Traylor, former vice president for investor relations for the Birmingham Business Alliance, who nominated Davis for the award. Davis and her business have been featured on Absolutely Alabama with Fred Hunter on WBRC Fox6, and just two days ago, she appeared on an episode of Bakers vs. Fakers on the Food Network.

In 2015, Davis added catering to her business. One Retailer of the Year judge noted adding the catering service was the worth the risk, helping double Davis’ profit margins. This year, the business added an event planner to become a “one-stop place for parties and events.” By spring of 2018, the growing business will relocate to The Village at Brock’s Gap in Hoover.

“Komeh epitomizes what we’re trying to do here in Birmingham,” Traylor said. “We want to encourage young entrepreneurs to take a risk, be innovative, start their own business and grow their business in Birmingham.”

Davis said her favorite part of owning CakEffect “is just seeing the reaction when they see the cake. They just get so excited.” Tamra Pickering’s son and daughter experienced that excitement first hand and, as a result, the family became quick friends with Davis. The children received CakEffect cakes – a Home Depot tool box and a Peppa Pig – through Icing Smiles, a nonprofit that provides custom cakes to families impacted by the critical illness of a child. “Who would have ever thought a cake would make a life-long friendship with someone,” said Pickering. “But it did!!” Pickering was one of the more than two dozen customers who wrote recommendations for Davis to be a Retailer of the Year.

CakEffect was one of was one of 14 Retailers of the Year honored at today’s luncheon. This year’s winners came from a pool of more than 90 nominees. The Alabama Retailer of the Year awards, started in 1999, honor retailers who have demonstrated growth, innovation and a commitment to their respective communities.

“Komeh Davis is a retailer of the year EVERY year to the CakEffect customers, her employees as well as the Homewood and Birmingham communities,” said Alabama Retail Association President Rick Brown.

Full list of this year’s Retailers of the Year

Previous Retailers of the Year

The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,200 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Komeh Davis, CakEffect | 205.803.5669
Nancy Dennis, Alabama Retail Association | 334.551.0643