We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maria Gentile a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I was so fortunate to grow up in a family who encouraged children to be hands-on in learning traditional methods of cooking and gardening brought from small Italian hometowns generations before. Some of my earliest memories are of my grandfather handing out warm, juicy peach slices from fruit picked in his back yard, and of testing our fate by sneaking a rustic “s” cookie or anise pizzelle from the precarious towers of cookies stacked in all of our houses during the holidays.

The time we spent in the garden together (a tradition my husband and I are passing on to our two little girls) taught us so many lessons about how interconnected we are with nature. I’ve always marveled at how the smallest, nearly unseen actions are the often most important in the garden. Nectar is this sweet liquid created by some flowers to attract bees so they will help pollinate plants that ultimately grow food, and it’s collected to make honey. It’s almost elemental in the way that it connects us.

This beautiful flow of love through growing and sharing food and time together is the absolute heart of “Nectar Bake Shop.”

Nectar is a sweet treat, but it fundamentally connects us in so many ways. Every bake crafted through Nectar Bake shop is crafted with this in mind.

Maria, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Nectar Bake Shop is an expression of my love for food and intentional gathering, but also my creative outlet. I have a background in marketing and public health communication. Something I absolutely loved about my public service career was the opportunity to use my creative writing and visual communication skills to help people understand public health programs or policies that could positively impact their lives and the lives of those they care for.

I took a break from public service to open a small bakery in Columbus, Ohio, where I was living at the time. Aside from the invaluable trial-by-fire education in food service and running a brick and mortar store, it was such a wonderful experience to see what joy our little products brought to people every day. When I left the bakery to pursue another opportunity, a little piece of my heart knew I would return to baking for others in some way, some day.

The most unique aspect of Nectar Bake Shop is that it’s a small, cottage bakery that is a direct expression of my heart. Working at a boutique scale allows me to craft unique desserts while working directly with clients. Collaborating to concoct the perfect cake or a well-curated dessert table is often the most rewarding process. I’m so fortunate to have many clients trust my creative instincts and say “I know you’ll make it look great!”

With a foundation in traditional Italian recipes and methods gifted to me, I am otherwise self-taught. I love to play experiment with flavors and textures. I am proud to craft delicious and gorgeous bakery to make it effortless for my clients to share, connect over, to help make those moments all the more special. My personal “secret garden” aesthetic is an ode to my love of vintage, to the garden, to the relationships we nurture and grow.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It’s easy to play the comparison game to others in our industry, particularly with local and independent businesses. The importance of fostering community over competition is such a game changer, in my opinion. We all have a unique take on our product or service – even if it’s a similar offering. There is enough space for everyone. Connecting with others who provide something similar and building a strong community only helps serve your clients in the long run.

In my particular niche, I know I’m not the only person to provide boutique custom cakes or gourmet treats. I’ve been actively building my community because there are absolutely times when I need to refer a client to someone I know and trust. I want to know my referral is going to support another small business and that my client will be happy. We can all learn from each other, be inspired by one another, help support each other through all that comes with building a business.

So much of this stems from the social media vacuum – we only see the pretty pixels, and not the whole story. I learned pretty quickly to not internalize the success I was seeing and to channel that energy into my own work.

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

Word of mouth is the absolute best source of new clients! When my current clients refer their friends and family to you, that is a huge compliment and I do not take it lightly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nectarbakeshop.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nectarbakeshop/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nectarbakeshop

Image Credits
All Photos provided by Maria Gentile of Nectar Bake Shop