Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Hatton
Hi Vanessa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I learned to bake and show love to people by way of food from my grandma in Gainesville, Florida, where I grew up. She cooked a Sunday lunch spread every week that I still miss to this day. We were always encouraged to invite guests over after church, even if we had to set up the card table in the living room to accommodate all of us. There was somehow enough for everyone to eat seconds with leftovers to send home every time. You could also count on multiple homemade desserts that you indulged in no matter how full you found yourself.
Grandma didn’t let just anyone in the kitchen, but as I got older, she started to show me some of her recipes and methods. I still remember calling her from college to get the directions for making peanut butter fudge (which I flubbed because I misheard her when she said “soft ball” and thought it was “soft boil.”) I started cooking and baking more and more when I lived on my own. I found that people responded to it and encouraged me to keep it up.
Following the pandemic, I think I found myself craving connection with people. In 2022, I decided to start selling my baked goods and in the following months created my business, every tasty thing. In the spring of 2023, I signed up at the Mt. Juliet Farmer’s Market and attended almost every week from the end of April through October. I learned a lot in a short time, made connections, and gained confidence.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a small business owner is never easy, especially when it’s not your only job. Until recently, I had a full time work from home job that was pretty demanding for a large part of the year. I have a husband and daughter who are very supportive but had to do without “mama” quite a bit. It seemed like there was never enough hours in the day, and the priorities were always shifting. I think one of the main struggles has been figuring out how to support my passion and keep growing without burning out. Another struggle is figuring out how to get my baked goods to people in a way that’s convenient. I live a bit outside the main area of town, so getting people to come to me has been difficult. Having to rely on attending markets or events can be frustrating.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently working on ways to make more people happy through food. I have also found quite a few customers who have encouraged me to make more gluten sensitive items to fill a hole in the current market. I enjoy testing and perfecting recipes, so this is going to be fun!
I have just started selling some products on Market Wagon, an Online Farmer’s Market, that delivers to 19 different counties. It’s exciting to find a way to get my baked goods to those outside my own area.
I will also be at craft:Ed, a market benefitting Mt. Juliet High School, on November 2nd.
And I’m participating in The Baking Notification Project, a text-based baked goods subscription where I’m able to share my extra goodies with local neighbors who love them!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My biggest cheerleaders are my husband, daughter and my parents, who live next door. I couldn’t do this without their patience and understanding. They also step in often to help with packaging, setup, and of course, taste testing!
I wouldn’t have even started without the inspiration of my friend, Chelik Barrett-Norville. She lives in a different state, but I saw her start her own home bakery, Chelik’s Sweets, and persevere to make it work! I got most of my early advice from her. I owe a lot to her support and paving the way for me.
My other close fellow support baker is Jessica Wilder of Bakers Gonna Bake in Sweetwater, TN. She and I share our joys and struggles on the regular, and I owe part of my sanity to her friendship!
And honestly, I have met so many other local bakers who have inspired me and shared their stories and experiences that make me feel like I’m not alone in this journey. It really encourages me that we can all lift each other up even if it seems like we should be competing. There’s room at the table for all of us, and we’re better together!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/everytastything
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everytastything?igsh=a3lreThxbzBla2Ji&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087860349716
