We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Blair Gianatti. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Blair below.

Alright, Blair thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

I think we need a major change in our educational system to adapt to all types of learners. The system has always heavily focused it’s efforts on kids who are categorically “book smart” or “good learners” and a significant portion of kids are hands on learners or don’t fit the traditional learning mold. We are seeing a significant decrease in the next generations of workers for the trades industries and we need to help educate but also prepare the kids to work labor intensive jobs. Not everyone needs to go to college, not everyone needs a higher education to have an incredibly successful life and that needs to be talked about more. Adapting our system to keep up with those book smart kids while also accommodating different styles of learning so that every kid in the system can get a productive education is the most important thing.

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.

I have been baking since I was 3 years old with my grandmother and it has been my love and passion my entire life. My parents supported me constantly growing up with baking classes, etc. to help me continue my love for it. I took all the offered culinary classes in school and ended up going to Johnson and Wales University for a Baking and Pastry Arts Associates Degree with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Service Management. I worked in bakeries, hotels and catering companies as a pastry chef where I eventually decided to open my own business. I currently own a bakery with my husband specializing in custom desserts. I am not a traditional bakery where I do retail sales, everything I do is custom order and pre-order and then made to accommodate that individual event.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I have gotten majority if not all of my clients from social media and word of mouth. Up until this year I never spent any money on marketing and utilizing free resources out there has been incredibly helpful for gaining customers.

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

I actually started my business out of my house with a special license from the state which allowed me to bake from my home. I started it as a side job to my regular job to keep my love of baking alive and do it as more of a “hobby”. It grew exponentially to the point where I made the leap to do it full time and get a certified bakery license and have a commercial kitchen.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @esweetsbakery
• Facebook: @esweetsbakery