For Sherolyn Galomule, owner of Sherolyn’s Fancylicious Cakes, baking began as a simple act of love for her daughter. Today, it has grown into a thriving business that provides income, training opportunities, and inspiration for women and young people in Port Vila.
Sherolyn first discovered her passion for baking in 2015 when she attempted to make a birthday cake for her daughter. The cake was a success, and soon friends and neighbours began placing orders. As demand grew, she continued to refine her skills, experimenting with flavours, designs, and techniques. Over time, her reputation for creative and beautifully crafted cakes spread throughout her community.
Between 2021 and 2023, Sherolyn participated in the PALM Scheme and worked overseas for three years. When she returned home, she was determined to relaunch her business with a stronger foundation. She registered her brand, Sherolyn’s Fancylicious Cakes, and rented a small space in the Ohlen area where she could bake and sell her products.
Her business now offers a wide range of cakes and desserts, including custom birthday cakes, wedding cakes, novelty cakes, tiramisu, cupcakes, and seasonal treats. She also sells smoothies, milkshakes, and thick shakes to complement her baked goods. Many of her customers have been with her since the early days, and her client base continues to grow each year.
Applying for the Rebuilding Port Vila Grant
In September 2025, Sherolyn attended a Business-to-Business workshop organised by the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). During the event, she learned about the Rebuilding Port Vila Grant, delivered in partnership with Business Link Pacific. When the grant opened for applications in October 2025, she decided to apply.
Her application was successful. Through the grant, Sherolyn was able to purchase essential equipment for her business, including a large stove, a one-door display fridge, a two-door display fridge, an electric cake mixer, and baking trays. Before receiving the grant, she relied on her personal household stove, which limited how much she could produce at one time.
The new equipment has significantly increased her production capacity. She can now bake eight small trays and four large trays at once, allowing her to meet growing customer demand and increase her income. The equipment has also improved the quality and consistency of her products.
Sharing skills with the community
As her business grew, Sherolyn began receiving requests from customers and young people who wanted to learn how to bake and decorate cakes. She decided to offer beginner-level training sessions and advertised them on her Facebook page. The response was overwhelming.
She initially planned for 30 participants, but more than 50 people registered for the first session. The first training was held on 1 May with 52 participants, followed by a second session on 14 May with 36 participants. Many of the participants were students and housewives who were eager to learn new skills that could help them earn income.
During the training, participants learned cake decorating, piping techniques, cake stenciling, embroidery cake design, baking methods, and how to create fillings for layered cakes. Each participant received a certificate of completion and a small start-up kit. The new equipment purchased through the grant was used throughout the training, giving participants hands-on experience with professional tools.
Reflecting on the experience, Sherolyn said:
“That moment reminded me that I am not just teaching cakes. I am helping build confidence, creating opportunities, and planting seeds for dreams to grow.”
She also expressed her appreciation for the support she received:
“A huge thank you to VCCI and Business Link Pacific for supporting me financially and with the certificates.”
A growing business with a growing impact
Today, Sherolyn continues to expand her business while empowering others through training and mentorship. Her journey shows how determination, creativity, and the right support can help small businesses grow and create opportunities for the wider community.
The Rebuilding Port Vila Grant is part of Business Link Pacific’s commitment to supporting SMEs to rebuild, strengthen operations, and increase resilience. By partnering with local organisations like VCCI, BLP helps entrepreneurs access the tools and resources they need to succeed.
BLP supports SMEs across 12 Pacific Island nations by connecting businesses with quality advisory services, business tools, grants, concessionary lending, and other financial services designed to support inclusive and resilient private sector growth.
To start your journey with BLP, you can self-assess your needs by using the free online tools available to help small- and medium-sized businesses diagnose areas in their businesses that an advisor could improve.
The first step can be the online Business Health Check. You can also check your business’s resilience to respond to crises or climate change challenges on the Business Continuity Planner and the Climate Action Sensor. If you prefer to meet a local BLP representative in person to discuss your business, get in touch with our local partners to arrange a face-to-face Diagnostic.