Today we’d like to introduce you to Mindy Gray
Hi Mindy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I decided to attend culinary school at the local Technical College, WTC in Citrus County Florida. I started a home based cottage bakery on April 12th of 2023 and began doing farmer’s markets. By February 27th of 2024, I was a licensed mobile vendor cooking out of a local commercial kitchen in Lecanto and I also started vending at major events and festivals in Orlando, Mount Dora, Brooksville, Ocala, Tampa and more. I began initially, baking only traditional bakes for those who have no dietary restrictions. 6 months into my baking business journey, a client reached out to me to ask for gluten free desserts. I honestly had never made them before and didn’t even know where to start. I asked my client if she would give me a few weeks to test out some recipes and to get a feel for this type of baking. She agreed. 3 weeks later, she arrived at my home to pick up her Gluten Free treats. When she looked inside the bakery box, she got so excited and started hugging the box. It was at that moment I realized that folks with dietary restrictions literally had no options to choose from. I wanted to be the one to provide those options to them. We have worked very hard researching, practicing recipes, using unique ingredients and learning how to bake for everyone. This past year, we have grown so much. We still bake traditional diet desserts, but we also bake vegan, keto, sugar free, dye free, egg free, dairy free, gluten free, and allergy free treats.. This year began wonderfully as we are getting ready to open our own brick and mortar bakery in Citrus County at some point in February. We will still be in attendance at the same markets and festivals around Florida like we always have. I didn’t do this all by myself at all. I may have worked hard, but it was God who.opened the doors and brought the funding for the brick and mortar. I owe all of success to Him and Him alone.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I made alot of mistakes my first year. I signed up for events that were terrible because I didn’t take the time to research them properly The Florida sun caused us to lose a bunch of product and I had to regroup and come up with some solutions quickly. The first summer was extremely frustrating and difficult, but we got through it. We learned alot and are better for it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Mimi’s Bakehouse ?
The thing that sets Mimi”s Bakehouse apart from.other bakeries is our client’s ability to order off menu items. A client only needs to reach out to us to tell us what they have been craving and what their dietary restrictions may or may not be and we will make it happen for them..We want to provide ALL people with beautiful bakes that they love and are also safe for them to consume. Making our clients smile with joy is the reason why we do what we do! I personally love to be challenged by a client. I love it when they ask me to bake them something in a way I have never done before. It’s always so fascinating to learn new techniques and expand my horizons. We also work with local community agencies to provide vocational rehab to disable individuals. Mimi”s Bakehouse is an inclusive work place..
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Start off slow and easy. Be well.organized. Research, research, research. The biggest advice I can give a new entrepreneur is to charge your worth. It’s so easy to second guess yourself on pricing especially. Your business may take off and be successful from the beginning, but it’s usually not that way. Don’t be discouraged if your sales begin slow. DO NOT LOWER YOUR PRICES. This is most people’s initial thought when their sales are low or when they first start out. Dont do it because you may find yourself working for only pennies after that. You can always lower your prices. You can always raise them though. I promise that if you stay motivated, consistent, and work your hard, you will see you business grow without ever having to.lower your prices.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.mimibakehouse.com
- Instagram: Mimi’s Bakehouse
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15Jh1kE323/
