Today we’d like to introduce you to Mina Everett-Breconidge
Mina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I always loved cooking and baking. I used to cut out recipes from magazines and try them out lol! Eventually baking became away of relaxation and creativity. I decided that I wanted to follow my passion of baking and turn it into a career. After graduating from Johnson & Wales University, I went the traditional route of working in restaurants, bakeries, and four star resorts. I found it to be a thankless experience and decided to break away and start something of my own.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting and operating a business is one of the bumpiest roads I’ve ever been on, but that’s the cycle of life. With anything there will be peaks and valleys.
There are countless of challenges to name, but one consistent struggle is adapting to the growing pains that come with each new level of business success. It’s uncharted territory, requiring you to not only support the business where it is now but also strategize for continued growth.
Meanwhile, it also challenges you mentally. There are moments of insecurities that will create doubt of your abilities and will. Maintaining a spiritual relationship with God and having a support system helps me overcome these mental challenges, but it’s still ongoing obstacle.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Imo’s Bakery specializes in plant-based pastries. We are most known for our fluffy cinnamon rolls and flaky empanadas. Our pastries are crafted to taste like the “real thing”. I continuously work hard at crafting transitional plant-based pastries because I think that no matter what your dietary preferences are good food should be just that- good food! Most of my customers are actually not vegan, which makes me proud because I’m accomplishing my goal to make tasty food for everyone to enjoy.
Imo’s Bakery, as of now is a mobile bakery so you can find us at local food festivals in various cities all over the state of Florida. We’re currently building out a food truck so hopefully in 2025 we will start participating in other events nationwide. We offer catering for corporate and private events, and we wholesale our products to a few Orlando based businesses.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I’ve learned two important lessons during Covid, which I carry with me now. The first lesson is adaptability. Imo’s Bakery technically started off as a food cottage bakery, making custom cakes. Obviously, when Covid hit people were not celebrating special occasions, so I had to pivot to continue business with the new times that we were in. Things are always changing and you have to be flexible with the ebb’s and flow’s.
The second lesson that I learned is to create moments of silence for my mental and spiritual well-being. To be honest if it wasn’t for Covid, I wouldn’t have learned to actually meditate to reconnect with myself and God. I try to have this moment of meditation at least two days a week. It helps me focus, regulate thoughts and emotions, and aids in not become overwhelmed with everything going on around me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/imosbakery
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/imobakescake
