Vendor Spotlight: n ī n
Allison Tran (Founder)Founded in 2012 and rebranded in 2021, Allison Tran of
n ī n
is creating artisanal cupcakes, highlighting unique flavors and offering up an exploration of the senses in cupcake form.
How did you become a creator / business owner?
I started baking because I simply loved eating pastries, particularly cupcakes. My love for cupcakes led me to having many experiments in the kitchen to create something that I wanted to see in the food world, something that hasn't been done before. My love for baking and sharing my cupcakes with the people around me slowly turned into a business on its own, when many people would offer to buy my cupcakes. People then started referring my cupcakes to others, and after 12 years of baking and selling my cupcakes, I've served my cupcakes to thousands. I've built a solid clientele in different cities, with pop-ups that sell out within the hour, and sometimes a waitlist of over hundreds of people that want to order.
I get to meet and connect with people in different fields, different walks of life, and in different parts of the world.
“n ī n is more than just cupcakes. It is an exploration of our senses into cupcake form. Cupcakes can be more than just a sugar overload or an indulgent dessert, but rather a sweet intention when crafted with quality and care”
Biggest hurdle in running your business?
Some of the biggest challenges are finding a work / life balance, cutting myself some slack, delegating or asking for help, accepting that everything doesn’t always have to be perfect, and learning to let go and just have fun!
Fave snack from your family background?
Pandan is a flavor that makes me think about my childhood! I grew up with my parents getting buttercream cakes from a small Vietnamese bakery whenever we would have something to celebrate. They would usually get coconut pandan. I have always wondered what components in pandan yielded such an aromatic flavor and brilliant color. Now I’ve been able to recreate it into what I want it to be, in a cupcake form.
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Pandan is a flavor that makes me think about my childhood! I grew up with my parents getting buttercream cakes from a small Vietnamese bakery whenever we would have something to celebrate. They would usually get coconut pandan. I have always wondered what components in pandan yielded such an aromatic flavor and brilliant color. Now I’ve been able to recreate it into what I want it to be, in a cupcake form.
