Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Pierce.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Even as a child, I loved to bake. Years ago, I started making small cakes for friends’ dinner parties and birthdays and later, for their weddings. There was something incredibly special about being a part of their celebrations. I realized there were very few places to get a beautiful cake made from high-quality ingredients, that tasted as good as it looked – and I knew it was what I wanted to be doing full time.
I left my job and enrolled in The French Pastry School in Chicago, before returning home to start Mayflour. I’ve always been passionate about environmental causes, and the way in which we use our natural resources. At Mayflour, we source as much as we can from local New England farmers who are producing food thoughtfully or larger organic producers, and run the kitchen with a commitment to sustainability, producing almost no waste.
We are now in our sixth wedding season and have recently expanded production to offer smaller celebration cakes in rotating seasonal flavors, and last fall opened a tiny, weekend coffee shop called The Flour Shop, just next door to our catering kitchen.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think there is such a thing as a smooth road when it comes to running your own business. It’s incredibly hard work, with so many ups and downs. Industries like the wedding industry, which is both events based and seasonal, are especially hard as they are so unpredictable from year to year.
I would tell women in the very beginning stages of starting a business that it’s going to cost more than you think and take longer than you think. Save as much as you can for as long as you can before launching into your new business full time – there’s nothing harder than trying to keep a new business thriving while managing a lot of depts. I’ve always really believed that a business can’t be everything to everyone, so decide what you are most passionate about- what your specific and special product or service is going to be- and focus all of your energy on that. Make your one specific thing as good as it can be, and share your passion for it! Your work will speak for itself and the right clients will find you. I think that this kind of focus, along with slow and careful growth is what creates longterm success.
We’d love to hear more about Mayflour.
While we offer a selection of smaller sweets, like our much-loved Coconut Macaroons, our specialty is cake. I’ve always thought that cake is happiness – that there’s just nothing more celebratory than a simple buttercream cake dressed with fresh flowers, or a pretty slice on a plate. We make our cakes using good butter, fresh eggs, and flavorful ingredients like Lavender, Spring Rhubarb, Bittersweet Ganache, Pistachio, and Wild Flower Honey.
I’ve always believed that less is more, and simple is beautiful, especially when it comes to the design of our cakes. We choose to frost all of our cakes in buttercream rather than fondant and cultivate an aesthetic that is both imperfect and elegant. There is so much joy that comes in sharing good food and I want everything we make at Mayflour to look and taste homemade – in the very best way.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I was lucky to connect early on with a network of incredibly creative, inspiring, and kind women in both the food and wedding industries. These women have sustained me over the years, providing friendship, advice, collaborative opportunities, and so much love and support. It’s easy to feel isolated working long hours alone, and it’s so valuable to reach out to peers and mentors for feedback and support. I think it’s important to remember that everyone can benefit from the connection – so never hesitate to reach out to someone whose work you admire – I’ve always been amazed by what new opportunities and experiences have presented themselves when I have.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1 Whistlestop Mall
Rockport, MA 01966 - Website: mayflourconfections.com
- Email: jocelyn@mayflourconfections.com
- Instagram: @mayflourconfections @flour.shop
Image Credit:
Mark Spooner, White Loft Studio, Hello Love Photography, Fat Orange Cat Studio, Deborah Zoe Photography
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