Behind The Print with BāKIT Box
Welcome to the latest episode of Behind The Print, where we bring you the creative stories of industry leaders shaping the world of professional printing. In this episode, we explore how Shelley owner of BāKIT Box turned her love of baking and global culture into an educational subscription box that brings families together. From its roots in homemade recipes to its creative use of print materials, BāKIT Box blends flavor, learning, and imagination into one hands-on experience. This conversation offers valuable lessons for marketing professionals, small business owners, graphic designers, and print enthusiasts alike. You’ll discover how tangible design, family connection, and creativity in packaging can transform a product into a meaningful brand story.
Below, you’ll find the transcript of our conversation, edited for clarity to ensure easy reading. If you want the full, authentic experience, make sure to check out the video attached below.
11-minute read
“Print is everything for us. It keeps people present, away from screens, and in the moment.” Shelley Gupta
Transcripts from Behind The Print with founder and CEO of BāKIT Box, Shelley Gupta
Welcome back to Behind The Print podcast, where we feature industry leaders and uncover the creative minds behind businesses in the professional printing world. Our mission is to provide you with inspiring, actionable resources to elevate your business projects and accelerate your journey to excellence in profit and print.
Today’s episode is Taste, Texture, and Print The Ingredients of Success. We’re talking about creativity, connection, and how one baking subscription company turned family traditions into a global brand that inspires people to learn, laugh, and bake together. Joining me today is the founder and CEO of BāKIT Box, Shelley Gupta.
Shelley Gupta: Hi! Thank you for having me.
Zoe Fisher: Of course! We’re so excited to have you, Shelley. For those who haven’t heard about BāKIT Box yet, who do you serve and what inspired you to start this journey from music to baking entrepreneurship?
Shelley Gupta: We really serve anyone who loves baking, but our main audience is families with kids between the ages of five and twelve. BāKIT Box is designed to bring families together in the kitchen, getting their hands dirty and putting away those screens. Originally, I wanted to introduce global culture through baking, not necessarily as a family-focused or educational concept. It started as global recipes from around the world. But when customers began asking for more, more stories, more cultural lessons, it became clear there was a need for something educational. That’s when we pivoted toward family learning through baking.
Zoe Fisher: You describe BāKIT Box as both educational and global. What problems do you think your box helps solve for home bakers and families, and what makes it different from other traditional subscription boxes?
Shelley Gupta: Great question. At its heart, our outlet is baking, that’s the constant. But what makes BāKIT Box different is that we introduce families to other countries through food. We stay away from recipes people already know and instead offer things like Persian Love Cake, Black Pepper South African Cookies, or churros. We want to show that with the same basic ingredients, you can experience a whole new culture. Each box also includes an activity booklet that goes beyond baking. It weaves in science, technology, engineering, math, art, and culture, so it’s a STEAM learning experience rooted in creativity.
“The beauty of baking is that even if it doesn’t look perfect, it still tastes amazing.” Shelley Gupta
Zoe Fisher: That is so cool. I was looking on your website, and the love cakes are beautiful! They’re not just fun to make, they’re gorgeous. You’d be proud to share them with family and friends.
Shelley Gupta: Completely. That’s one of my favorites. It has rose water in it and smells amazing.
Zoe Fisher: Your brand has such a creative, family-centered energy. How do you balance the fun of baking with your strategic background from Chicago Booth and consulting?
Shelley Gupta: I’ve always loved to bake, especially during the holidays with my family. It was never professional, just something that made me happy. Baking can be intimidating for people, though, so we wanted to take out the hardest part, measuring. We premeasure everything by grams to make it foolproof. Then we create opportunities for kids to practice math through smaller, fun measurements during the process. For me, it was a natural mix of passion and business sense, seeing a market opportunity for something joyful that wasn’t being done yet.
“We wanted to introduce culture through baking, it’s a fun, screen-free way for families to learn together.” Shelley Gupta
Zoe Fisher: The story behind your brand is so relatable. I think everyone has had a baking disaster or two! How did your early experiences shape your mission to make baking accessible and joyful for everyone?
Shelley Gupta: I have so many funny memories of baking with my siblings growing up. The desserts always tasted great but didn’t always look perfect, and that became our family motto: it might look funny, but it’s going to taste amazing. That’s the beauty of DIY baking. It’s personal. We make sure everything in our boxes tastes great, but we encourage creativity, add sprinkles, change the shape, make it your own. Seeing customers share their creations is one of my favorite parts of this job.
Zoe Fisher: I love that. And I like how you said the premeasured ingredients mean it’s going to taste good every time. That’s such a relief for beginners!
Shelley Gupta: Exactly. We give customers all the hard-to-find ingredients, and the only things they need to provide are perishable items like milk or butter. Our products are shelf-stable, and our instructions are written in friendly, simple terms without baking jargon. We want kids to be able to follow along and feel confident.
Zoe Fisher: That’s such a smart way to bridge the gap between parents and children. When I was growing up, I didn’t learn much about cooking. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I started experimenting and realizing how intimidating it could be. You’ve created something that helps parents and kids connect while teaching valuable life skills.
Shelley Gupta: Thank you! That means a lot. We didn’t have anything like this growing up either, and I think it’s so important. I also love that it introduces global culture. When I was a kid, I didn’t know you could bake something from India or Mexico or Italy at home. It’s such a fun way to learn about the world.
Zoe Fisher: It’s true, and it ties into this cultural movement of people exploring their ancestry and roots. Baking something from another country is such an exciting way to experience culture. Even if you’re not from that place, it creates connection.
Shelley Gupta: Absolutely. I love that aspect. When we test new recipes, it’s incredible to see how the same ingredients, flour, sugar, butter, can turn into completely different desserts through technique and tradition. That’s the magic of what we do.
Zoe Fisher: You mentioned removing baking jargon and focusing on accessibility. How do you use print to amplify your message and connect with families?
Shelley Gupta: Print is everything for us. One of our biggest goals is to create a screen-free experience, to get people off their phones and into the moment. Baking engages every sense, touch, smell, taste, and print supports that. We’ve tested digital recipe books, but the experience isn’t the same. If you bring an iPad into the kitchen, you get notifications, distractions, and it breaks the moment. We went all-in on print for that reason. We even separate our recipe guides and activity booklets so families can multitask, maybe a parent handles the baking while a child works on an activity. It’s all designed for real interaction, and print is key to that.
Zoe Fisher: That’s so intuitive. You must have a “mom brain” to think through those details!
Shelley Gupta: (Laughs) I don’t have kids, actually, but I have a big “auntie brain.” I’ve got a ton of nieces and nephews, and I love spending time with them. Seeing how they learn and how short their attention spans can be really shaped how we design our products. I also get input from my friends who are parents to make sure everything feels natural.
“Sometimes as founders, we have to ask what’s important to us versus what’s important to our customers.” Shelley Gupta
Zoe Fisher: I love that. Every growing business has its milestones, what have been some of yours?
Shelley Gupta: One big turning point came a few years ago when we were shipping perishable ingredients like butter and milk. We experienced one of the hottest summers ever, and everything melted. It was a disaster! That moment forced me to rethink the business model. I surveyed customers and realized they didn’t actually need the perishables, they had those at home. What they valued was the experience and the flexibility. So we switched to a completely shelf-stable model. That change opened huge opportunities for us and made shipping much easier.
Zoe Fisher: That’s such a great example of adapting to what your customers really need.
Shelley Gupta: Definitely. As founders, we have to listen. That experience taught me that what seems essential to me might not be for the customer.
“With the same ingredients, you can experience a whole new country, that’s the magic of baking.” Shelley Gupta
Zoe Fisher: On the flip side, what are some of the challenges you’re facing right now?
Shelley Gupta: Funding is always a challenge for small businesses. I’m currently fundraising, mostly through angel investors who support startups like ours. Another big challenge is inventory management during the holidays. We’ve only been around for a few years, so we’re still building our data. It’s hard to know exactly how much to produce, too much and you have waste, too little and you miss sales. It’s a constant balancing act. We’ve shifted from seasonal boxes like Halloween to more evergreen options so people can enjoy them year-round.
Zoe Fisher: That makes perfect sense. I’m sure after a few more seasons, you’ll have that down to a science.
Shelley Gupta: That’s the goal!
Zoe Fisher: You mentioned fundraising, how are you approaching that?
Shelley Gupta: Mostly through traditional fundraising and pitch competitions. We actually won three last year, which was amazing. I pitch whenever I can. Every opportunity helps spread the word and build connections.
Zoe Fisher: That’s awesome! So if you weren’t busy managing operations and inventory, what would your perfect day look like?
Shelley Gupta: I’d probably fly home to see my family. My sister has four kids, so it’s always a lively house. Or honestly, if it’s been a long week, I’d just relax, order food, and not cook for once!
Zoe Fisher: I love that! What’s your favorite cuisine?
Shelley Gupta: That’s tough, but probably Mediterranean or Indian food. I could eat either every day. And when I do get time to unwind, I’m a big fan of Friends and The Morning Show.
Zoe Fisher: Great choices! Before we wrap up, how can our listeners connect with you or try BāKIT Box for themselves?
Shelley Gupta: Visit our website at BaKitBox.com, that’s B-A-K-I-T box.com. You can also find us on Instagram, FaceBook, YouTube, and TikTok at the same handle, @BaKitBox. We love engaging with customers and seeing their creations, so please share your photos with us!
Zoe Fisher: Perfect. You heard her, go check out bakitbox.com or follow BāKIT Box on social media. Shelley, thank you so much for joining us. And to our listeners, thanks for tuning in to another episode of Behind The Print Podcast, where we explore the artistry and innovation that make print a powerful tool for storytelling and business growth. Order a free PrintingCenterUSA sample pack today and explore our options!
Where Baking Meets Connection
Through Shelley Gupta’s story, we see how something as simple as flour and sugar can become a bridge for culture, creativity, and family connection. BāKIT Box has transformed kitchen time into a hands-on learning experience that celebrates diversity and imagination through print and design. Shelley’s approach reminds us that tangible materials like recipe cards, packaging, and booklets do more than deliver information, they create moments of togetherness. Whether you’re a small business owner building your brand, a marketer crafting your message, or a designer shaping your next campaign, this episode proves that print still has the power to connect us in the most human ways. Visit PrintingCenterUSA today and bring your big business dreams to life with print!
