We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Feehan recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Rachel with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
Observing both of my parents be industrious in their work has been such a gift to me while I was growing up. They both have demonstrated a good balance of working hard, playing hard, and resting well. They made it a top priority to be present for my siblings and me. I am prone to overwork myself into exhaustion sometimes, and I have learned that that is not a badge of honor. Balancing work with family life, connecting with my customers on a personal level, and running my business with honesty, transparency and integrity are all top priorities for me. My parents taught me a good work ethic, but they also taught me to keep my life priorities in the correct order.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I own and operate Rachel Mae Bakes, an Organic Sourdough (and More) Bakery which I officially started over 5 years ago.
I have been baking sourdough baked goods off and on for over 10 years ago. I have been selling sourdough baked goods for 5 years, and over 2 years ago, I decided to merge both 100% Organic ingredients with 100% Sourdough. Our family went through a serious health crisis that was the catalyst to my decision to switch over to using organic ingredients for my family. This decision carried over into how I currently operate my bakery. As there were not many if any organic sourdough bakeries locally 2 years ago when I made the switch to organic ingredients, Rachel Mae Bakes gained quite a bit of traction in a short span of time. I have a strong and loyal return customer base, and I continually have record sell-out weeks. Some non-negotiables that set my bakery apart are my use of 100% organic ingredients, distinctive and delicious recipes I have developed exclusive to my bakery, and the small batches of freshly baked items I bake daily. I love bold yet classic flavors, a variety of textures, and beautiful colors in my baked goods. Offering new and exciting items to my customers has ballooned to posting over 60 different offerings on my website. A brand new endeavor that has been in the works for quite some time now is that I will be offering sourdough baked goods prepared entirely with freshly milled unsifted flour – as in the organic wheat berries are milled and before the flour even has a chance to cool, I am mixing up the dough. My reasons for adding freshly milled unsifted flour to my bakery are many, the most important one being my hope that my daughter will be able to enjoy bread again.
Despite being asked by several local businesses to provide sourdough baked goods for their establishment, I currently sell from my home and deliver to just one establishment. Sunago Coffee Co in Hardin Valley carries my organic sourdough, and keeping my loyal customers and the coffeeshop well supplied is my #1 priority. Serving the customer base I currently have fills every spare minute, and I am humbled to be able to do what I do.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
To those who are just starting out in their journey, I would advise that you work to not only provide an excellent product or service, but also work diligently to make genuine connections with your customers and other local, small businesses. Choose generosity, run your business with honesty and integrity, remain teachable, and set your prices fairly for both you and your customers. If criticism from unhappy individuals comes your way, humbly consider what you can learn, make right if needed, and remember why you started in the first place. Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals will provide you with a supportive community during the highs and lows. You will meet an incredible number of really wonderful people, and some of them will become dear friends.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My husband is my biggest cheerleader. He picks up ingredients for me, provides honest feedback for how to make improvements, give me great ideas for new baked goods, steps in to help during my busy, busy seasons, helps with the business side of things, and he believes in what I do and why I do it. In fact, he is the one who purchased my WonderMill for me after he knew I wanted one. He is truly a wonderful husband and my biggest fan.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rachelmaebakes.com
- Instagram: Rachel Mae Bakes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelmaebakes?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Image Credits
Jan Feehan Images
