Why Rachel Mae Bakes?
In the last blog post, we considered the ins and outs of the Abundance Mindset and why that has been one key to how I run my business. In this post, I want to share 5 reasons as to why you would benefit from purchasing from Rachel Mae Bakes. That being said, if you already have a baker you support, please read no further.😊 I have never, nor would I ever target someone else’s customers! Please stay loyal to your baker if you have one. They work hard, and they serve you well. One last item of business - my making the following statements below are in no way implying that others do not operate their micro-bakeries in the same way. I have followed several amazing local sourdough bakeries these last few years, and I would purchase the hamburger buns, English Muffins, and pretzels from these talented bakers if I did not already make my own. This is not meant to be a self-aggrandizing post whatsoever, and I enthusiastically support other honest and hard-working bakers.
Originality - I would have never considered trail blazing to be true of what I am doing in the bakery world, but I have been able to carve out my own brand in this saturated space in two specific ways - 1. Baking sourdough and exclusively using organic ingredients. 2. Offering items with amazing and unique flavor profiles that cannot be found anywhere else. Creating Distinctive and Delicious baked goods has been my tagline from the very beginning, and now merging it with 100% organic sourdough has given this micro-bakery a very specific differentiating factor. I can confidently make this claim as I have created the majority of the organic recipes I use, whether they are sourdough or not. While I certainly do provide all of the classic sourdough baked goods, the numerous avant-garde baked goods that are offered has yielded a high percentage of return clients.
Quality - I am committed to using the best I organic ingredients I can source. I love using local ingredients when possible, but it it is entirely unfeasible to source every item I use from TN. I am grateful to be able to responsibly source 25 lb. bags of Redmond Real Salt or Baja Gold Mineral Salt and 50 lb. bags of organic flour from UT, organic wheat berries from a national co-op, gallons of organic maple syrup from a small farm in my home state, and purchase everything else from the best places possible. “We eat first with our eyes” is a quote attributed to Apicus, the 1st Century Roman gourmand. How right he was too! I strive to create baked goods that appeal to all of the 5 senses, not just to the tastebuds. Initiating that mouth-watering experience from the moment the customer receives their product is my end goal every single time. The Freshness Factor is also a very important value to me. The organic sourdough baked goods special ordered are always made the same day they are picked up, or will have been baked no longer than 24 hours prior. Having spent good money on baked goods myself only to be disappointed in the quality and freshness, I am committed to making sure the special orders of organic sourdough orders are as fresh as possible. To sum it all up, it is of utmost importance for me to use the best organic ingredients available, to create an aesthetically pleasing product, and to provide baked good items at the height of freshness. Handing a customer a loaf of warm bread or bag of cooling bagels is actually quite the common occurrence here at Rachel Mae Bakes.😍
Integrity - I am fair and consistent with my prices, and I give customers ample warning if an increase is needed. I am forthright in my marketing, always making genuine claims about my products and sourcing. EVERY item I list has its own photo which I have taken myself. As much as is possible, I provide dimensions and weight of the baked goods making sure that the customer knows EXACTLY what he or she is purchasing. If something does not measure up, I will offer it at a heavily discounted price (Factory Seconds, if you will). Having customers place their trust in me is a matter I take seriously and will always steward to the best of my ability.
Experience - While I am not interested in dating myself TOO much, I have been baking for several decades, and I believe experience matters. This bakery has officially been in existence since 2017, and I have been dabbling off and on with sourdough for quite a long time. In the last several years, I made the decision to bake sourdough much more seriously, adding the TRULY 100% organic ingredients later on in the process. It is not unusual to find me diligently researching, learning from the experts, creating recipes, and practicing my craft in the kitchen. By the time my product makes it to my customers, it has been tried, tested and tweaked until it is worthy to be offered to the public.
Hospitality - I truly care about my customers. I know their names. I pray for their families when hard times come. I take time to remember what their likes and dislikes are. I listen to their suggestions. I take the time to have real, meaningful conversations with them. If they have a small business, I eagerly promote their goods on my page. I make sure to respond quickly to messages. This business really is an outflow of what I have enjoyed doing for so long - bake for others and taking the time to get to know people! Having this opportunity to serve my community is truly a dream come true for me.
To close out, my hope is that if you do not already support one of the absolutely incredible bakers in the Knoxville area, you will stop by and give my TRULY 100% organic sourdough baked goods a try. You can either place an order through this website, or contact me via Facebook or Instagram Messenger. I would be so honored to serve you.