The Entrepreneur Behind the First Cupcake Bakery SWEET SUCCESS
Don’t Settle for Less EARLY SETTLEMENTS
The start of the 21st century marked the end of the dot-com bubble: Tech stocks that had seen tremendous growth in the 1990s suddenly plummeted. In the wake of this economic turmoil, entrepreneur Candace Nelson made the radical decision to leave her career as an investment banker and enroll in culinary school with a degree in Pastry Arts. Many were skeptical of her choice, but Nelson was committed to pursuing her true passion. Starting Sprinkles Trained and ready to chase her dreams in earnest, Nelson, then just 31 years old, opened Sprinkles, the country’s first cupcake bakery, in Beverly Hills, California.
CAN DERAIL YOUR CASE
When you’ve been in a car accident, a check for a couple of thousand dollars from an insurance adjuster can feel like a lifeline. However, agreeing to a settlement too soon could cost you. Settlements are legally binding documents. Once you’ve signed, the insurance company is not responsible for additional payments. Recently, we took on a case for a man who had been in a motor vehicle accident. The other driver was clearly at fault in this situation. Our client started receiving treatment for his pain sometime after the incident when he started to notice physical symptoms. We began gathering evidence, collecting medical records, and putting the insurance companies on notice. When we contacted the insurance adjuster, he claimed the file was closed and our client’s case had already been settled. He ultimately provided us with copies of the settlement, signed by our client. Before our client had reached out to us, he spoke to an insurance representative and signed a release early on for a few thousand dollars. The client didn’t have pain right after his accident, and it was only after he needed to seek treatment that he decided to contact an attorney.
“Everyone thought I was nuts and that I was having my quarter-life crisis,” Nelson told NBC News.
As it turns out, they were crazy for doubting her. Having grown up overseas, she borrowed Europeans’ habit of buying baked goods from specialty shops. She believed Americans would warm up to the idea of a treat, once reserved for special occasions, available as a daily delicacy. In the lead-up to her grand opening, many predicted the business would fail. It was 2005, carb-free diets were in vogue, and no one had attempted to create a bakery business solely focused on cupcakes. Moreover, Nelson was charging $3 per cupcake, which many felt was excessive. “I stood behind that cupcake counter and explained the value of my product until I was blue in the face,” Nelson told NBC News. Modern Design Her persistence prevailed. Spurred in part by her cupcakes’ iconic “modern dot” flourish, a circular decoration that adorned the tops of all her treats, Sprinkles stood out from the competition. To her credit, she anticipated her small touch would be significant and trademarked her design to prevent copycat competition. Cupcake Convenience Her foresight has proved fruitful: Starting in a single 600-square-foot location, Sprinkles now has over 40 locations and has sold more than 200 million cupcakes nationwide! But her innovations did not stop there. In 2012, Nelson banked on a new idea. Sprinkles introduced a unique cupcake-dispensing ATM, a contactless system serving scrumptious cupcakes, cupcake mix, and merchandise. Best of all, it was open and stocked 24/7 with fresh goods. Author and Entrepreneur Not satisfied with Sprinkles’ success, Nelson is dead-set on revolutionizing how Americans eat pizza. In 2017, she co-founded a Neapolitan-style pizzeria called Pizzana. Also, Nelson is far more than just a baker; she is also a TV personality. In 2021, she co-created the competition show “Best in Dough,” streaming now on Hulu. Nelson believes anyone can make it in life if they have the right recipe. Her book, “Sweet Success: A Simple Recipe to Turn Your Passion Into Profit,” is a guide to help anyone establish an expectation-defying brand. Nelson’s success is an example of how dreams can come true with just a sprinkle of innovation and perseverance.
Our client said he thought he was still entitled to pursue additional money later on if he signed the release.
It is common for insurance adjusters to attempt to get statements from accident victims right away and offer a settlement that is much lower than what could be won in a claim. Speaking with an attorney before you say or sign anything is crucial. While you may feel alright in the immediate aftermath of a wreck, it could take weeks to fully understand the severity of your injuries and medical expenses. Even if you don’t feel injured, an attorney can help you determine if a settlement is proper for you. In this case, the client had signed a settlement agreement before contacting an attorney, closing the case, and revoking his ability to argue for a higher payout.
If you are injured in a car accident, regardless of the severity of your injuries, contact Friedman & Simon today.
-Michael J. Mills
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FriedmanSimon.com
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