How a Full-Time Healthcare Worker Built a Thriving Bakery with Temu

An ultrasound tech by weekday and a baker by weekend, a Californian baker turned her passion into a successful side business with smart planning and cost-saving solutions.

While most of the city is asleep, Christina Kimpton is already up, preheating her oven at 3 AM every Sunday. As an ultrasound tech and healthcare leader at a VA hospital in California, her schedule is demanding—but that hasn't stopped her from running Kimpton Farms Bakery, her in-home micro-bakery in Norco, California, where customers eagerly pick up freshly baked sourdough.

What started as a personal hobby about one year ago quickly gained a loyal following, and now she bakes more than 100 loaves a week from just six—on top of her hospital shifts. Kimpton is part of a growing trend of Americans turning their passions into profitable side businesses. About 36% of U.S. adults have a side hustle, according to Bankrate, amounting to over one in three Americans. The popularity of side hustles is easy to understand, as they allow individuals to follow their passions while supplementing their income.

However, running a bakery alongside a full-time job isn’t without its challenges. From sourcing quality ingredients to managing time efficiently, Kimpton had to find ways to streamline her operations. Keeping expenses in check while maintaining high standards for her products has been crucial to her journey. She turns to Temu, an online marketplace that provides a variety of affordable, high-quality products, to source baking tools, bread packaging, organization gadgets, and more. “Temu has been a huge part of helping me grow and support my in-home micro-bakery—allowing me to source quality essentials at great prices,” she says.

Kimpton’s experience mirrors that of many Temu users who are discovering the value of accessible, budget-friendly options. In fact, according to a recent Ipsos survey, Temu shoppers estimated they saved an average of 24% by shopping on the platform in 2024.

Temu has been a huge part in helping Kimpton grow her business and support her in-home microbakery. Behind every fresh loaf is a story, a little love and a lot of heart from Kimpton farms to the community.

Early on, she realized that scaling up would require strategic investments and cost-conscious decisions. “I started with a very small setup, just a few ingredients and equipment in my kitchen, but I quickly realized I needed more capacity,” she recalls. To meet growing demand, she invested in a commercial oven and refrigerator while using cost-effective solutions like Temu for everyday essentials that keep her business running smoothly.

Time management is another key to her success. Kimpton has a structured weekly schedule that ensures both her personal life and business run efficiently. Sundays are her pick-up days, so she starts her prep work on Thursdays, measuring out flour and preparing ingredients and packaging. Fridays after work are spent preparing bins and getting starters ready, while Saturdays are dough days all day long. On Sundays, she sets up the oven at 3 AM to ensure the breads are in the oven by 5 AM—allowing her customers to pick up freshly baked goods at the scheduled times. This level of organization is crucial for avoiding burnout and ensuring her bakery remains sustainable.

Her meticulous planning also allows her to stay engaged with her growing community online. Social media has been an essential tool in expanding her reach beyond Norco. Through Instagram, she shares the baking process, customer reviews, sneak peeks of upcoming products, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of her family farm. “Social media allows me to connect with my community, even beyond Norco,” Kimpton explains. “It’s amazing how many people share the same passion for bread, and I’ve learned so much from my followers. We’re all part of something bigger.”

Beyond connecting with fellow bakers, Kimpton is also strengthening bonds with her children through baking. Inspired by her mother and auntie, who nurtured her love for the kitchen from a young age, she now often bakes with her toddler—believing these shared experiences will become lasting memories. Like Kimpton, many parents on social media share moments spent in the kitchen with their children, using affordable, kid-friendly tools from Temu to make the experience both fun and accessible. Through these everyday rituals, families are passing down not just cooking skills, but the love, care, and tradition embedded in food—one recipe at a time.

For Kimpton, success has come through a mix of savvy spending, careful planning, dedication, and a deep love for her craft. But it also required overcoming doubts—both her own and those of others. “You are already working a full-time job, and people told you it wasn’t worth the risk. That my plate was already too full,” she reflects. “But here we are—selling out, building community, and proving that passion and persistence will always rise. If you’ve ever been told ‘you can’t’—let this be your reminder that you absolutely can. Keep going. Keep building. The results will speak for themselves.”