Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Liza Mercadante. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Liza, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

Before launching my own business, I worked for many years. What’s interesting is that the workforce provided stability and yet, despite that advantage, it drained me of nearly everything else. For years I questioned, why isn’t this enough for me? No matter what new company I joined or position I earned, I was left feeling deeply unfulfilled. Becoming a business owner took immense sacrifice and comes with its own array of challenges but that nagging feeling is gone. Little Hippie fuels me, it makes me light up with joy and allows me to express my full creativity.

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.

Hi, I am Liza Mercadante, a self-taught baker and owner of Little Hippie Bake Shop. I make 100% organic small batch jams, breads, biscuits, and granola.

I worked in public health for 10+ years before switching industries entirely. During my time spent evaluating different health programs, I became really intrigued by our agricultural practices and how the food system at large impacts health outcomes. One book led to another, which led to another documentary, which led to me learning how to cook and bake from scratch. And here we are! I love making delicious foods from whole, nourishing ingredients that are 100% organic and made in a clean, non-toxic kitchen and am very proud to be able to share that with the community around me.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have learned to pivot quite a bit in life. If anything, I’ve learned being open to a change in direction is a huge strength personally and in business and a lot of people resist it because it’s obviously a scary thing. Rather than staying in my previous career because of how much I invested in it, both with my time and financially with student loans, ultimately I knew I had to make a huge pivot. Although it was both painful and terrifying, pivoting has afforded me the opportunity to do something more aligned with who I am, sharing something I absolutely love.

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

I believe producing a quality product is the first essential step, but ultimately the credit belongs to the wonderful, appreciative customers who help build my reputation. Beyond that, I feel it’s important to remain consistent in my products, source the highest-quality ingredients, and conduct business in a way that truly reflects my brand’s identity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.littlehippiebakeshop.com
• Instagram: @littlehippiebakeshop