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Silvia’s Bakery

SUCCESS STORIES

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Year Founded
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Women Owned
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Employees
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Delicious Products

INITIAL SITUATION

Long before Silvia Paulino created Silvia’s Bakery, she grew a love for the kitchen and a talent for creating delicious foods and pastries, at her childhood home in the Dominican Republic. After living in the US for just five years, Silvia decided to start her bakery as a home-based business in 2002.

As her business outgrew her home, she saw the need to create a traditional Latino bakery in her community, and, after moving to two different locations, she decided to move once again, except, this time, to undertake an expansion.

That’s when she moved into her current manufacturing facility and retail store at 2530 N. 2nd Street. This moved her into an area designated as the American Street Empowerment Zone and led to a growth in her family- owned business. Part of her family-built team includes her oldest daughter, a culinary-school graduate who runs production; her son manages the financial side; her sister-in-law serves as Silvia’s right-hand; and her husband manages distribution.

HOW THE SBDC HELPED

Development of Growth Plan
Capital for Expansion & Growth
PPP & EIDL Technical Assistance

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“As a business owner I have gone through difficult challenges and I want to thank Widener SBDC for helping me navigate them. Via their services in Spanish I have been able to strengthen, innovate, manage, and expand my business.”

In 2019, Silvia became a part of the first cohort of Ella Emprende (She Undertakes), hosted in partnership with Widener University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Finanta, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ella Emprende is a year-long women’s entrepreneurship program through which participants develop a personalized strategic growth plan. Through Widener SBDC’s bilingual consultants, Silvia was able to receive quality business services in Spanish that enabled her to strengthen, innovate, manage, and expand her business.

As the pandemic began, Silvia was among many that felt the effects. However, she again worked with the Widener University SBDC, joining in webinars like “Pequeño Empresario VS. Coronavirus (Small Business Owner VS. Coronavirus),” and, “Reinventa y Reactiva tu Negocio (Reinvent and Reactivate your Business).” These programs acted as a guide for Silvia to navigate the difficulties of running her business amidst a pandemic, breaking down how small business owners, like her- self, could maintain what they had built, and bounce back even stronger.

SUCCESS

New location – from 900 Sqft to 3,000 sq ft of manufacturing and sales space.
Financing
Partnerships created: Finanta, Community First Fund, Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS LOCATION

2530 N. 2ND STREET PHILADELPHIA, PA 19133