We recently had the chance to connect with Jessica Mayer and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jessica, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
A couple months ago, I entered into the MN State Fair baking contest professional category. I was nervous about going up against other Cottage Food Producers and professional bakers. Even with a few years of experience under my belt, there’s always someone out there with more. I entered just for the fun of it, and hoped for a ribbon. The first day of the Fair the results came out, and to my delight I had not only won a 3rd place ribbon for my Reese’s Pieces Brownie, but had also won 1st place for my English Muffin Bread! I was so excited, and called my parents right away to share the news! It filled me with pride to have some of my favorite recipes place!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a cottage food producer specializing in all things baked. Something I believe sets me apart from other bakers is that everything I make is completely from scratch. I do all my baking the day before markets, and make custom orders the day they are delivered to ensure my clients get the freshest, best quality treats possible.
There are so many exciting things about having my own bakery! Being able to say I’ve achieved my dream of opening a bakery is definitely one of them! One of the happiest memories of starting my business was getting orders minutes after my first post! I love seeing my clients excited about the cake I designed for them, or seeing a regular at a market grabbing their favorite scones. Having interactions with customers at farmers markets always makes my day. It means the world when they return to tell me how much they enjoyed their previous order or come back to try something new. I try to bring back favorites as much as possible, while bringing in new ones to keep them on their toes. That’s part of what I love about my business-I enjoy baking for other people, and my baking makes them happy; thus the name Bake You Happy.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents have taught me the most about work. Whenever I have a question about the professional work environment, or need a proofread on something before sending it, they are always there to offer advice. Both my parents have a lot of experience dealing with people as well as problem solving, and are a wealth of information when it comes to how to handle things in a manner appropriate for the workplace. My time in marching band also helped teach me about discipline and the importance of being on time. My director always said to be on time is to be early, and I take that with me every day I go into work or to meet a client. Their time is just as valuable as my own and it shows my clients respect and that I am grateful for their business.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell myself that your dreams may change, and that’s okay! Not every dream is going to be everything you hope it will be, and your priorities of “the dream” in life can change. I worked in a professional kitchen for several years. The pandemic really made me stop and think about what I wanted to prioritize in life. I had always dreamed of opening my own bakery, and I did that, in a way I never thought was possible. Having the Cottage Food exception in Minnesota gave me the opportunity to start my own business without the overhead risks. I was able to start it during a time when the world was on pause, which gave me the time to really go for it. Taking that pause and starting out on my own made me realize that my priorities had shifted-spending more time with family and friends, as well as exploring the world had become more important than ever. By creating my own menus and hours, building my client base, and baking on my time making what I want, I found a balance that makes me happy. Having learned a lot about the business side of things through culinary school, and learning time management and other technical skills while working in the food industry helped set my business up for success. I would not have been as confident without those experiences.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I believe my friends would say making people happy and being there for friends and family are what matters most to me. My friends and family have helped me through many obstacles in life, and are always there when I need advice or a helping hand. My business allows me to bring a little joy to people’s lives in the form of a delicious treat. They would also say my day job as a pharmacy technician matters to me. It gives me a great sense of purpose to go into work each day and know that I am helping someone who may have just had a scary diagnosis, or is having a hard day. I love to make their day just a little easier by having their medication ready and waiting for them. Being able to put a smile on someone’s face is so rewarding-I’m so lucky to get to do that in both my careers.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
It can be stressful at times, but I’m always excited to go to markets. I love creating a new menu, setting up an eye catching display, and engaging in conversation with new and returning customers. These conversations allow me to discuss my passion for baking, as well as grow my business by helping gain insights into what my clients would like to see added to the menu, and which treats have become their favorites. This is especially important around the holidays. I love making extra Christmas cookies during that time of year for my business and my family. Some customers gift the cookies I make to others, or ask me to make a special treat for a gathering they are hosting. I love to take some holiday stress off clients’ hands doing something I love. Christmas cookies were how I launched my business, and it’s always a great reminder of how far I’ve come!
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