Looking for sweet treats for your next event? Dunya’s is the place for you! Dunya’s Cakepops is a small business located in Wheeling. With various shapes, flavors, and custom options, Dunya’s has made a name for themselves since 2020.
The Origins
Originally, Dunya started her cakepop journey after being gifted one from a chain location. After eating what tasted like,” it had already been chewed and put back on the stick,” she decided,” I’m gonna make it better.”
After being told by a friend to start selling her treats, Dunya’s stress-relieving hobby became a small business. While juggling both graduate school and teaching, she officially started her business back in 2020 when living in Wisconsin.
“It was a hit,” she said, “Everyone started buying them and it just kind of took off from there.”
Fresh Start
After achieving her master’s, she left teaching and Wisconsin to move to Pittsburgh last May to work in Admissions at Carnegie Mellon University. There, she helps guide students through decisions about their careers, degrees, and whether they should pursue graduate school. It’s also an opportunity to talk with students about the many possibilities they have after college.
“What you decide now doesn’t have to be your forever,” she said. “The world is your oyster.”
Dunya applies this mindset to her own life, continuing her small business even after the move and starting a new job.
“I feel like I’ve always been someone who needs to be doing like 100 things at the same time,” she said. “So teaching and grad school wasn’t enough.”
Being Your Own Boss
Being her own boss has come with a learning curve. While her parents helped her back in Wisconsin, her husband Aaron has become one of her biggest supporters in Pittsburgh.
“I still call my dad frequently on the finance side, and I still thank my mom for all her hours,” she said. “I just have a great support team. Aaron is always there—he’s my taste tester, helps me get the best shots, and makes sure we get the word out there.”
Dunya’s cakepops can be found at different shows and pop-up locations, like Public Market and Table304 in downtown. Through this, she has built connections in Wheeling that have been incredibly beneficial for her business and have helped her feel more connected to the community.
“I’ve made some amazing connections and have a lot of relationships through Dunya’s,” she said, “that I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t put myself out there.”
Running her own business has pushed Dunya outside of her comfort zone.
“There were a couple of days in the spring where people were just like, ‘Who is this girl?’ and I would go up and say, ‘Hey, this is my business—I’d love to learn a little bit about yours,’” she said. “I think we talk to people so much less now, but just being open creates a lot of connections. I’ve loved everyone I’ve met along the way.”
Finding Home and the Future
Dunya believes Wheeling is the best place for her to grow her business. As a non-local, going door-to-door and introducing herself has helped her build strong connections.
“I was local in Wisconsin, so I think it’s harder to push yourself when you feel like you already know everything,” she said. “Here, it was easy to say, ‘I don’t know this person—let me go ask.’”
She also believes that “everything that’s meant to be will be,” and sees her journey to the area as something that was meant to happen for both her and her business.
Dunya’s is now exploring new locations and opportunities to grow! You can find her at Wheeling Heritage’s Handmade Holiday Spring Market on April 25th, and FidoFest on May 16th! She also has potential plans to be at Oglebay Fest this year, too. Her treats can be ordered through her website, where you’ll find an order form and a full menu of options.
So whether you have a birthday, graduation party, or are just looking for something sweet, Dunya’s has you covered.
Follow along on Facebook or order from Dunya’s here: https://dunyaspops.com/
