Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachael Roach.
Rachael, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Born and raised in Jamaica I’m just your regular girl, but I’ve always been multifaceted. I honed my talents in college. My junior year I had to pay for school, my apartment and car. It took me two jobs to barely cover bills and I had to drop out due to lack of time and several anxiety attacks. Entrepreneurship has been a had working dream ever since. Cooking has always been a passion of mine. I’m pretty sure I got that love from my mom, who also happens to be a classically trained chef. Although I’ve had a passion for cooking, baking has always ben a fear of mine. (much less vegan!) and would rather buy from my local bakery.
Fast forward to this year, everything changed; my partner struggled to find vegan desserts in our area. Add COVID to the mix and it’s became even worse. So I put on my apron and got to working. The first attempt of my vegan cinnamon roll was… tragic to say the least. Great flavor… it just happened to look like play-dough. I tweaked the recipe and the 3rd time was a charm. After a couple of weeks he suggested I sell my rolls. I was a bit hesitant so I sent it to a couple friends to make sure he wasn’t playing with me. They agreed they were amazing and I went to work on my Etsy website.
Great, 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?
My life has always been a touch dramatic so it’s only right that my business would follow suit. I went viral one night, in my first month, and received over 80 orders in three days. Needless to say I was unprepared and ran around like a chicken trying to find supplies for my new business. After a week of going to bed every morning at 4am and then waking up at 7am, I requested lesser hours at my 9-5 in order to meet the demand of my new business. They thought it best that we part ways and deep down I knew it was for the best. It was still a blow to my expenses as a new baker and business owner as I had to put my website launch, assistant and other things on the back burner.
Each month since opening has been a learning experience and I’ve been blessed to have some great opportunities come my way even during the bumpy spots. Being your own manager, assistant, social media liaison, food packer and delivery driver is no easy feat, but overcome each obstacle daily.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Vegan by Rachael is a brand that is in the works of becoming a common household name for any and all plant based goods. From sweet treats, to savory meals, and cosmetics, I do it all. As for right now I specialize in vegan desserts. Being able to educate people that vegan doesn’t have to be boring or bland has become my mission for my brand. Every time I receive a review with someone saying that they never could have guessed their food was vegan, I’m on cloud 9 knowing that I took another step towards fulfilling my mission. The fact that I myself am not 100% vegan and a picky eater plays a big role in my food. If it’s not good enough for me to eat it, I refuse to serve it.
My vegan cinnamon rolls honestly put me on the map in the past five months. I’m extremely proud to have over 14k in sales, more than 500 completed orders, 130 plus five star reviews, and to have successfully catered to an international company and their 257 employees, all by myself!
Every month since I’ve started my business, I’ve rolled out new, tasty desserts made from my heart and soul. I’m proud to say that as of now, I have five different products available! I strive for consistently providing fresh and great tasting products. Never freezing or making my items in big batches and 2-3 day shipping so you get to enjoy then in no time!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My hard work and determination have definitely been the strongest qualities to contribute to my success thus far. Some days everything can feel like it’s going wrong. Despite that, I’ve mastered the art of seeing days as they are, and also recognizing that you can’t change the past, so push forward! Even if I have to take a five minute break to get your frustrations out! Working by yourself and for yourself can quickly get overwhelming at times, but if you dig deep, it tends to really be worth it all in the end.
Pricing:
- 6 cinnamon rolls – $25
- 12 cinnamon rolls – $40
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/VeganByRachael
- Phone: 2566846057
- Email: chefrachaelr@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/veganbyrachael
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/veganbyrachael
Image Credit:
MoonMan TV
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