Spontiphoria, a recent start-up by Sidiqa Sohail on Al Wasl road in the heart of Al Safa, has combined two rather different businesses — a bakeshop and a boutique — under one roof.
Sidiqa Sohail, a passionate young Emirati, began baking at the age of 16 and has not stopped since. But baking and entrepreneurship are not the only two feathers in her cap; as an avid academic Sidiqa also holds a master’s degree in Conflict Prevention and Peace Building.
“People ask me, ‘politics and baking? How did it come together?’ And I used to joke with them by replying that I want to heal the world with baking classes and fix conflicts with friendly baking competitions,” explains the ever-cheerful Sidiqa.
Having grown up in a business-oriented family, Sidiqa says that despite it being a family investment, there were numerous challenges along the way. “As with any business and especially with the food business, everyone gives it three to five years to cover your start-up costs. We are aiming to break even in about three years.”
She says that the philosophy behind the bakeshop is that they only use the ingredients that she would use if she were at home, and with the same preparation techniques. “I use my hand mixer for everything and make one batch at a time, exactly the way I would if I was in my own kitchen at home.”
Described as a cute mix of things, the products on sale at the boutique feature fashionable clothing along with a range of other items, from handmade cards and party items to accessories and classic pet feeders.
“All our products are from suppliers and vendors that you do not have in the UAE. The fashion is brought in from Turkey, Pakistan, England, and the US,” says Sidiqa.
In the near future, Spontiphoria aims to become a space people can visit to hone their creativity and grow academically and intellectually. And the bakeshop/boutique is on its way to achieving that with its free workshops and baking classes that are currently on offer. “I think a space like that is lacking in Dubai. I want to have professors of arts and humanities, history, philosophy, and psychology, from around the country come in and give talks on their research. It is just something you want to provide to the community,” adds Sidiqa.
