We recently connected with Kate Knowles and have shared our conversation below.

Kate, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about an important lesson you learned while working at a prior job?

Before opening my business, I was an elementary art teacher for 15 years. I loved my job and my kids, and getting to share the beauty of creativity all day was very special! As a teacher I learned the importance of being prepared for anything. (Fire drill? Check. Technology not working? Let’s go old school. Kids having a hard day? Let’s switch things up a bit.) Working in an elementary school is a wild ride for any teacher or paraprofessional, and having a plan for your day is one of the ways we stay sane.

I try to bring that experience of preparation to my current job. Baking schedules, staffing schedules, and planning ahead all help us to run smoothly and work as a team. I also bring in creativity with our flavors and beautiful presentation. I know that I am so much more organized and prepared thanks to my background as a teacher!

Kate, 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?

I have always loved to bake from a young age, and it was always a place that I went for comfort and self care. I love baking and cooking for others, probably more than cooking for myself! Manchester Place Baking Co. was born when my husband and I moved from Dallas, Texas to Buffalo, NY in 2021. I had taught during the pandemic in Dallas for one year (after being a teacher for 15 years total), and was pretty burnt out. After much back and forth, I made the decision to sit out teaching for a year and try my hand at opening a licensed home bakery. A year turned into two, and now three! And my home bakery has moved into it’s first location.

I feel that I’ve combined my love of art and baking in Manchester Place Baking Co. Our goal is to make cookies that are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat! Our specialty is giant gourmet cookies and cookie pies. One of my favorites is the tie-dye sugar cookie, which we also make into a cookie pie. It’s so colorful and delicious, it satisfies the artist and the baker in me! We are proud to use real ingredients in our goodies, and we think that this sets us apart. You’re getting the real deal here!

We are currently located at the West Side Bazaar, a business incubator space in Buffalo, NY. It’s exciting to be with so many other small business owners, and we’re honored to have been chosen to be here. If you haven’t checked it out, stop on by!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

The main things that helped me build a reputation were to be visible and to have high standards. I attended as many markets as I could get to, and I would apply to things even if I wasn’t sure I would get in. People see you everywhere and you begin to get a following, customers who are coming just to see you. I’ve always had high standards about my product and how it is being presented. You eat with your eyes first. If something came out of the oven wonky or had a mistake in decorating, it doesn’t go to the customer. My husband loves this rule!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I think anyone who is a business owner knows that you have to have resilience or you won’t make it! I think I first developed this skill as a much younger person dealing with chronic migraines. There have been many times when it felt like they took over, but you have to bounce back mentally and reclaim your life. I see this move into other areas of my life, my previous work as a teacher, and now as a business owner.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.manchesterplacebakingco.com
• Instagram: @manchesterplacebakingco
• Facebook: facebook.com/ManchesterPlaceBakingCo
• Other: TikTok: @ManchesterPlaceBakingCo

Image Credits
Brian Knowles Molly Beres