We were lucky to catch up with Denna Barnes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Denna, appreciate you joining us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard

I definitely march to the beat of my own drum. I do not chase trends whether it be baked goods, social media or others expectations. As a custom order baking studio I create based on the desire to provide first and foremost a delicious dessert that exceeds customer expectations with a pleasant customer experience.

I believe that as long as my intent, execution and energy is aligned the content will speak for itself. The products, customers and relationships build upon themselves and I have been blessed with the work naturally aligning into continuous growth.

The baking industry a multi-billion dollar annual industry where conglomerates consuming the majority of the market share. Barriers to entry are numerous and grand in scale but I believe that there is always room in a crowded market for a good product.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I love learning about people and their stories. Oftentimes it is hard to translate individual stories into final products or projects. So much of what I do has a connection to memories and feelings from past experiences.

I grew up in rural Oregon on a farm. As a child my experiences were all about farming, game hunting, fishing and being outdoors. Harvesting from the garden, canning food and baking were not uncommon to me. I do not remember a time of not knowing where my food came from to include processing our own chicken for the night’s dinner.

We would pick apples and other fruit from our trees and Mom would make dessert. I do not remember a time when I wasn’t around some sort of fresh baked good. My mom used to say that at the age of 2, I would gather ingredients and tell her “bake now” ~ to which I’m told she always obliged. I was taught to bake with my senses while using a coffee cup and tableware for all measurements. The recipes we used listed only ingredients and never included instructions, timing, temperature, etc. I feel this format allowed be to be free from the strict baking rules often taught (rightly so) and allowed me to cultivate the mindset of  “it can’t be that hard”. An approach I use frequently in my daily life both personally and professionally.

I grew up and left the small town life building a family and starting a financial career. That chapter of my life lasted over 20 years and it was not until 2018 when I had the time to dedicate to turning something I’ve always known how to do into a viable business. Like so many others life hands you unexpected U-turns and bumps and after a few of those events I founded North of 72, Co.

Having a financial background forced a business plan that was sound and made sense, The personal evolution of N/72 has shifted the more I learn and engage with myself and my customers. Having your own business that has personal meaning often elicits feelings akin to raising a child,

I am grateful for all my experiences and am looking forward to what comes next for N/72.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

Near death experiences for N/72 have occurred primarily when I would question my capabilities. Product disasters, disappointments and unmet expectations (both my own and my customers) often take time to learn from. I truly don’t believe in failure as only I can determine if that would be the case. I try my hardest to remain open to learning and growing, both individually and business wise.

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

The best source for new customers is via my current customers and by my own engagement. I believe that talking, sharing and learning about people provides a base that is comprised of shared experiences and understanding that ultimately lead to new customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.northof72.com
• Instagram: Northof72
• Facebook: Northof72

Image Credits
Natalie Chiles – www.Nataliechiles.com This is for the photo of myself (in white) only.