We recently connected with Bailey Gauci and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Bailey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is deeply personal. For over a decade, I kept a secret that shaped every aspect of my life: I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease as a teenager. Growing up, I was afraid of being “gross” or “weird,” so I hid my illness from everyone outside my family. This meant constantly worrying about what I could eat, what I had to sneak away to do, and what my friends might think if they ever found out. This chronic, incurable illness made me feel isolated and completely different from everyone else.

My family and I chose to pursue an alternative treatment—a highly restrictive diet that eliminated gluten, dairy, sugar, and many other common ingredients. The doctor was completely unsupportive, telling us it would never work and that I’d be on medication for the rest of my life. But we had hope. It was incredibly difficult. My mom cried in grocery stores and I ate only eggs for a long time. I couldn’t share food with friends at school and had to sneak away to drink my “liquid food” in the nurse’s office.

But we persevered. Not only did my health improve, but after two years, my doctor found zero signs of the disease. My illness was gone. This incredible journey—from being told I had an incurable disease to being completely healed through diet—changed my perspective on everything. It taught me that there is hope, even when the odds are stacked against you. It also taught me the immense power of food and the devastating feeling of being excluded from it.

I spent years working in the food industry after my recovery and it was very eye-opening. I couldn’t taste anything I made, yet I became an expert at creating delicious food. The biggest frustration was the consistent dismissal of dietary needs. When I would suggest creating menu items for those with allergies or restrictions, I was told, “No one cares about that.” I realized that this dismissive attitude was the same one I had feared as a teenager.

This is why the mission of Beaubelle Honey is so meaningful to me. It’s not just about selling baked goods; it’s about making people feel seen and valued. I’ve been in the exact shoes of my customers—the person with a health condition, feeling embarrassed and left out. My mission is to ensure that no one feels that way when it comes to celebrating a special moment or enjoying a sweet treat.

I want to change the perception that “allergen-friendly” desserts are miniature, tasteless, or like cardboard. By creating beautiful, delicious, and inclusive products that everyone can enjoy, I’m not just serving my customers—I’m a living testament to the fact that you can have a full, joyful, and delicious life, no matter your dietary needs or health challenges. Our mission is to bake with purpose, bringing hope and happiness and love to those who need it most.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Bailey, and I’m the founder of Beaubelle Honey Bakery. My journey into baking isn’t a traditional one; it’s a story born from a deeply personal struggle and a mission to create something meaningful.

As a teenager, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic and incurable autoimmune condition. I was terrified and felt immense shame. The doctors told me I’d be on medication for life, but my family and I had faith that there was another way. We decided to try a highly restrictive, and at the time, unproven diet called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD). It was incredibly difficult. I couldn’t eat gluten, dairy, grains, sugar, or many other common ingredients. I felt isolated and different, especially in high school, where my “friends” would make fun of me for what I ate.

Through perseverance and my faith, this diet not only significantly improved my health, but eventually, it led to a complete remission. The doctor who said it wouldn’t work was stunned to find zero signs of the disease after just a couple of years. My journey from being told my disease was “incurable” to being healed is the cornerstone of my mission.

That experience ignited a passion in me for food and baking. As I learned to bake with my dietary restrictions, I discovered the joy of creating delicious desserts that my friends and family loved—so much so that they couldn’t even tell they were “different.” This passion for creative baking eventually led me to work in the food industry. However, in every role, I was met with the same dismissive attitude towards dietary needs. When I would propose inclusive menu items, I was told, “No one cares about that,” or “That’s not important.” I realized there was a huge gap that needed to be filled. I wanted to create a place where people like me could feel “normal” again.

Beaubelle Honey was born out of this desire. We are not just a bakery; we are a haven for allergen- and dietary-friendly baked goods and custom cakes. We specialize in making everything completely gluten-free, which makes us a safe place for people with Celiac disease. But we don’t stop there. We also offer options that are dairy-free, vegan, keto, refined sugar-free, and even Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) friendly. We solve a profound problem for our clients: we give them back the joy of enjoying a special treat without fear or worry. I create birthday cakes for children with Celiac disease, wedding cakes for couples with a long list of allergies, and simple celebratory desserts for people with chronic illnesses such as Crohn’s, IBS, or Hashimoto’s.

What truly sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to quality and our personal mission. Every product is a testament to my own journey. We’re challenging the misconception that “gluten-free” or “allergen-friendly” means tasteless or like cardboard. We’re proving that these desserts can be beautiful, delicious, and indistinguishable from their conventional counterparts.

What I’m most proud of isn’t a specific cake or recipe, but the impact we’ve had on people’s lives. I’ve received phone calls from parents crying with relief because they finally found a bakery that could make their child’s birthday special and safe. A new client recently told me, “You made me feel normal for once in a long time,” after she enjoyed one of our cakes following a new diagnosis. That is everything to me. This isn’t about making a profit or going viral on social media. It’s about bringing hope and happiness to people who often feel overlooked.

For anyone who wants to know about Beaubelle Honey, I want you to know that our brand is built on a foundation of faith, perseverance, and a deep-seated mission to serve others. We are here to show you that you can have a delicious and beautiful dessert, regardless of your dietary needs. We are here to make your special moments as sweet and stress-free as they should be. And for those who may be struggling with their own health battles, I want our story to be a beacon of hope—a reminder that there is a purpose in your pain and that with faith, strength, and trust, a beautiful new beginning is always possible.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Yes, Beaubelle Honey Bakery started as a side hustle, and the transition to it becoming my full-time career was a huge leap of faith that happened much faster than I ever anticipated.

After I moved to North Carolina, I knew I wanted to start this business, but I quickly realized there were significant legal roadblocks. I had to learn the local laws and regulations for operating a food business, and it was a lot to take in. To support myself while I navigated all of that, I took a job as a pastry chef at a local restaurant. This was a critical time for me; I was working long hours, but every spare moment was dedicated to building Beaubelle Honey.

I was constantly learning. I’d have one headphone in while I worked, listening to countless YouTube videos on how to start and scale a successful business. I took notes while I listened to my state’s small business seminars over and over again. I did endless research and even started taking college classes in business entrepreneurship. I set up meetings with local business advisors to create a comprehensive business plan and check off every legal requirement. At the same time, I was building my website, developing my brand, and perfecting my menu items.

Once I had everything in place and was officially legalized, I launched Beaubelle Honey. I knew I didn’t have all the answers—you never do—but the best way to learn is to jump in. The day after I launched, I got a call while at my job from someone who needed a custom cake within 24 hours. I was completely overwhelmed, but I knew I had to say “yes.” As a small business owner, it’s so important to take every opportunity that presents itself, as long as you can do it well and in a way that represents your brand positively.

That first cake was the start of everything. I posted professional photos of it, and from there, orders started to roll in slowly but surely. It quickly got to the point where I was struggling to keep up, juggling my full-time job as a pastry chef with a rapidly growing business. I’d be at the restaurant all day and then leave to bake orders and manage every other aspect of Beaubelle Honey all night. After just one month of opening, I knew it was time. I prayed about it, and with a deep sense of faith, I quit my job and took on Beaubelle Honey full-time.

It was the best decision I’ve ever made. The past few months have been incredibly busy and rewarding. We’ve been booked with custom cakes for birthdays and weddings, sold out at weekly markets, and even started hosting our own community events. I’m so grateful that my patience, perseverance, and faith have allowed me to turn my passion into a full-time career where I can make a real difference in people’s lives.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Before I launched Beaubelle Honey, I spent countless hours researching successful businesses and listening to the advice of entrepreneurs. One story I’ll never forget came from Warren Buffett. He was speaking to a group of college students about a man who started a car rental company with just 17 cars, facing stiff competition from much larger companies. He couldn’t compete on scale, so he made a different promise: he would provide the absolute best customer service. He stuck to that principle, and that business grew to become Enterprise, one of the most successful car rental companies in the world.

That story stuck with me because it perfectly aligns with the mission of Beaubelle Honey. For too long, people with allergies and dietary restrictions have been dismissed, ignored, or even made to feel like a burden for asking too many questions. My goal is to completely change that experience and foster brand loyalty by building trust and genuine relationships with every single client.

It starts with listening. I want my customers to know they can ask me as many questions as they need to feel completely comfortable and safe. The payment is always the last thing we discuss; the safety and details of their order are always the first and most important.

After a client places an order, I personally reach out to them to double-check every detail and ensure their specific dietary needs are fully understood. Everything is always double- and triple-checked. This process builds a deep level of trust with our brand from the very beginning.

But it doesn’t stop there. A few days after they receive their order, I follow up to get feedback on their experience and to hear how they enjoyed their treats. The positive responses I get are the most rewarding part of my job. I also take detailed notes on my clients, learning their birthdays, their favorite flavors, and even their names, so I can make their future experiences even more personal.

I don’t run Beaubelle Honey like a traditional business; I run it like a relationship with my customers. This approach has allowed us to not only retain clients but to grow a community of loyal customers who know they are seen, heard, and cared for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beaubellehoney.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beaubellehoney?igsh=MTRqbTV2N2s3d3hv&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AqKxEKipV/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: google profile: https://share.google/HGRpwBVTB9bN5FPyR

Image Credits

Credit for the photo with the woman and man standing at the table: Rebecca Hester Photography