Today we’d like to introduce you to Nela and Zara Salehi.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Shirini was founded in 2018 and launched in April of 2019. At the time, I (Nela) was interning at the WellStar Foundation and brought a box of freshly baked macaroons to a meeting that my dad and I baked at home. The amazing feedback I received from everyone encouraged me to continue bringing them. I eventually found myself taking orders from people within the department and spent all my free time learning about the food industry and jotting down business ideas until Shirini blossomed.
After a few short months, my sister Zara started helping out where she could as the business started to pick up. This eventually led her to being my business partner. I think a lot of our success comes from our unique dynamic–we’re very different people and bring different skills to the table, which has created a brand that is a true reflection of us.
Alright, 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?
Not even close! It’s been a roller coaster ride for us. Neither of us had experience in starting a business, so we had to teach ourselves a lot without having much guidance. It was sort of a blessing in disguise because having little background in the industry allowed us to not limit ourselves in any aspect–it was rarely a “we can’t do this” but more so “how far can we take this?”
Then right as we were starting to get more comfortable in the industry and thought we had it somewhat figured out, COVID-19 swooped in and knocked us down. All of the businesses that we were working with, events we had planned, potential partnerships all went out the window at the same time. In retrospect, COVID was oddly the best thing to happen to us because it forced us to take a step back and re-evaluate what our step forward was going to look like.
We eventually decided to rebrand Shirini to be more reflective of us and what we wanted to portray, and officially relaunched in August of 2020. The pandemic did slow us down, but it has forced us to get creative and work on expanding our ideas. We’re regaining our momentum and have a lot of great things that we’re excited to share later on this year!
We’ve been impressed with Shirini Bakery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Shirini is a Persian-inspired bakery that serves macaroons, cakes, and other Persian delights. We hand deliver Shirini to Atlanta locals and ship nationwide. We also offer gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options so that just about anyone can enjoy our items!
We’re the first Persian-American fusion bakery in Atlanta where you can indulge in desserts that combine your favorite classic flavors with popular Middle Eastern spices and ingredients.
All of our menu items (current and future) are inspired by Persian cuisine and flavors or heavily influenced by them. We’re very proud of our Iranian-American upbringing and want to share part of our culture the best way we know how–through food!
We’ve also made a strong effort to provide options that are not only delicious but can accommodate those with food sensitivities. We know how hard it can be to find items that are delicious and free of gluten and dairy in Georgia so it has become one of our priorities when introducing new menu items.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We’re a small business and appreciate all forms of support! Buying a mac, sharing our bakery on social media, or referring us to your friends are all super helpful in spreading the word about Shirini! If you’re interested in joining our Shirini Team or collaborating with us, send an email to contact@shirinibakery!
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@shirinibakery.com
- Website: shirinibakery.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/shirinibakery
- Facebook: facebook.com/shirinibakeryllc
- Twitter: twitter.com/shirinibakery
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/shirini-bakery-atlanta
