Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Pratt.
Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have been baking for 17 years. After recently going through some major career assessments, I realized I wanted to pursue my passion of baking professionally. I started Pratt & Co Bakery as a way to share my passion with others while testing out the idea of being able to support myself while doing what I love.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh, absolutely not. I mean, I started my business mid pandemic for starters. But besides that, I have hit the normal start-up roadblocks as well as struggling to find products that people want to pay for. I started out making cookies and brownies, which I lovemaking. They’re quick and easy and oh so delicious. But I quickly found out that people really want the unique or customizable baked goods like custom cakes and sugar cookies. It’s been an interesting journey trying to find the sweet balance between what people want to pay for and what I am able to provide.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently specialize in banana bread and cookies/cookie bars. My banana bread is my favorite bake that I make and it uses an old family recipe that I grew up eating. I get so excited to share the love I have for banana bread with other people. I think the biggest thing that sets me apart from others is my willingness and eagerness to try new things and to make those things for my customers as if they are family. I like to say that if you place an order with me, you’re part of the “Co” part of Pratt & Co. You become family.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love the amount of diversity our city has and the large LGBTQIA+ community that we have. As part of that community, I feel very fortunate to live in an area like this. I hate the traffic. All the time! And the fact that our city isn’t a grid city makes it hard to navigate sometimes but I know why it’s not.
Contact Info:
- Email: Prattandcobakery@gmail.com
- Website: www.Prattandcobakery.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/prattandcobakery
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/prattandcobakery
Image Credits:
Tiffany Gerber – Gerber Family Photography
