We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Taylor Varble-williamson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Taylor below.
Taylor, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I knew from a young age I wanted to be in the industry. I went to school, got an internship and through there got hired on to that same local bakery. I worked my way and was able to manage some employees and run the social accounts and business emails, I had a hand in a lot of the things that went out the door. Sadly, the business closed, and I went to work at another local bakery. I knew I envisioned a life for myself where I could take my creativity to different levels, and I wanted everything that went out the door to have my name on it, so I started making cakes from my house under my own name after leaving that bakery. The Mixing Bar was created from a passion to work for myself after an unfortunate situation when my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I never would have been able to spend that time with her had I not had this little successful business. For that I am forever thankful, and I intend to show that by taking this to new heights and pushing myself the way I was raised and how I saw my parents do every single day. Coming up with my name was actually a family occasion and with my parents being gone it is a memory that I will never forget! At a birthday event I told my family I was serious about starting a bakery business and I needed help creating a name. It took a while for us to come up with it because I was set on adding the term “Bar” in there somewhere and I couldn’t get it out of my head, I just wanted it so much and I couldn’t explain it! Finally, my sister said you mix things together on a daily basis, that’s pretty much what you do with every item, so, what about The Mixing Bar?! And that’s how it came to be!
Taylor, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
At The Mixing Bar, I bring a passion for creating beautiful and delicious wedding cakes. After earning my Baking and Pastry Arts degree from Sullivan University in 2015, I honed my skills working at various bakeries, discovering my true love for designing wedding cakes. I pride myself on crafting creations that are not only visually stunning but are also packed with unique and delightful flavors. My commitment to perfection means I ensure every cake is an exquisite blend of taste and beauty, no matter the occasion. I’m proud to be a part of people’s special celebrations and look forward to continuing to create memorable wedding cakes that exceed expectations.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I definitely feel as if I had my foot in the door already by the time I started my business. I had worked for a few bakeries by then and had the wonderful opportunity to work with some amazing vendors in the business. From there, my name spread through word of mouth mostly! As far as my reputation of my services- I strive for my work to be clean and pretty close to perfect. I set a standard for myself when I first started that I wanted all of my cakes to be similar in a way that they all looked uniform, just in their own customized and personalized way. Personality and the way you interact with your customer base really helps with this too. I personally love to connect with each and every client through the ordering process any way that I can, even if it happens to be at pickup too. A nice gesture and a “I hope you have a wonderful celebration” really does go a long way when someone is paying a pretty penny for your services!
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
We’ve Honestly leveraged the power of social media to connect with our community and showcase the beautiful, custom cakes we create. Through platforms like Instagram and Facebook, we share photos of our latest designs, behind-the-scenes baking moments, and client testimonials to engage with both potential customers and fellow industry professionals. Word-of-mouth marketing has played a significant role in our success as well, with happy clients spreading the word about our work, helping us build a strong reputation. Additionally, we’ve partnered with some of the best wedding professionals in our local area—florists, photographers, planners, and venues—to ensure that our cakes are part of the most memorable celebrations. These collaborations help us connect with a wider audience and ensure our cakes are part of a seamless, stunning wedding experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.themixingbar.com
- Instagram: themixingbar
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMixingBarLouisville
Image Credits
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