Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Women-Owned Bakery Overcoming Covid-19 Impacts

Beth Bilbo submitted this guest column in honor of Women's History Month. 

As Women’s History Month comes to a close, we are also coming upon the one-year anniversary of Mississippi’s Shelter in Place order. It’s an anniversary that many business owners want to forget due to the abysmal business climate we’ve suffered through. While owning a small business is never easy, it has been particularly challenging during COVID, especially for minority and women owned businesses. To these entrepreneurs, I want to encourage you during these hard times and help lend my voice and advice. 

During these challenging times we ask ourselves what is one of the main keys to happiness during a global pandemic? The answer is easy -- sweets! Cookies and cakes are always a fan favorite for most when wanting to put a smile on your face. And that’s exactly what we strive to do at Magnolia Grace Cakes.  

We are a locally owned small business that has been a one-woman show based out of Clinton, since I started it out of my home in 2015. Starting as just a young lady cooking with my mother, I later evolved into owning a full time bakery. When COVID first hit I worried about losing business due to many halting their weddings, parties, and company gatherings since not as many people were getting together during the pandemic. Yet even with the lack of events, I was still able to find ways to not only survive but increase my sales. And I have social media to thank for that.

I credit much of our success during COVID to our adaptability. With most of our customers stuck at home, we leaned heavily on platforms like Facebook and Instagram to generate sales. Now, 85% of my business comes directly from Facebook and Instagram.  Using tools like Facebook’s Business Suite feature, I’ve been able to organize and manage my business between both Facebook and Instagram, which ensures very smooth and great encounters with our customers. 

We’ve also been able to connect with other cookie and cake shop owners from across the world to share ideas and strategies on surviving in unprecedented times through Facebook groups. These features make it easier for Magnolia Grace Cakes to do it all for my very loyal customers from Mississippi and beyond. 

While I’m thankful for the role social media has played in helping us adapt and survive during Covid-19, many small businesses in Mississippi have not made the same digital pivot and are still struggling to stay afloat. I encourage small business owners, especially minority and women-owned businesses to stay positive, lean into their community, and get creative online with social media. With vaccines coming and restrictions lifting, I am sure Clinton will be bustling with business in no time. Let's ensure that Clinton businesses feel our support. 

 

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Small businesses have been hammered during Covid. Glad this lady found a way to survive.

Anonymous said...

Great read!

Anonymous said...

Love to see small business owners getting support during these challenging times!

Anonymous said...

Amazing how businesses can persevere

Anonymous said...

Great article!

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry, but ALL businesses have suffered within the last year.

" it has been particularly challenging during COVID, especially for minority and women owned businesses."

I'm not sure you made a valid point.

For example, I lived in Natchez from the mid 1980s until the mid 2000s and witnessed some of the best business minds I've seen. They were all older Black Ladies.

These Ladies had a better business model than the most famous CEO's within the nation today.

One did very well selling tamales from her house.

Another made even more money by selling homemade pralines from her home ... and overcharging yankee tourists that would waddle off the riverboats when "docked" at Natchez.

But the best of these entrepreneurs was Miss Nellie.

Nellie operated the cleanest, safest and most efficient brothel this side of Nevada.

Only a few times did Miss Nellie "get into trouble".
Nellie had more shit on Mississippi,Louisiana and other USA politicians than the KGB had ... back then.
Her business is easy to fact-check. (If someone may have never heard of Nellie's)

My point is ... one's race or gender has nothing to do with the situation we have had to endure for the last 12 plus months.









Anonymous said...

How refreshing to see someone figure out a way to overcome the obstacles and succeed rather than crying about "when is my goverrnemt assistance coming?"

Anonymous said...

She represents the voice of so many...so many folks that American needs and what makes us great.

Anonymous said...

Well written article, and glad to see that she figured out a way to survive and thrive during the strange last year. I know of other businesses, many restaurants, that found they actually did better during the past year (bottom line numbers) than regular times, but not necessarily true for their employees. Those were places that could adapt to take-out orders, which many could not.

All said, glad to see that the writer here improved her business and developed a new, improved business model.

But I was going to make the comment that 4:57 did - without the reference to Ms. Nellie Jackson of Natchez, who operated a very specific, and illegal, operation.

The pandemic was not 'particulary hard on women and minority owned businesses' - it was color and gender blind. Just because this is "woman's month" or whatever the moniker it has been given does not justify the claim (without making any supporting statement to justify it) that women owned businesses suffered any more than the mom and pop businesses (which would imply being half-women owned) or any other structure. My male owned business suffered quite a bit the past 12 months, and its failures and successes has nothing to do with the fact that I don't have a spouse, nor do I have a partner - male or female. Nor do my customers do business with me based on my gender or my race for that matter. It was a tough year for all of us; no need to try to claim the 'women' mantle or the 'minority' mantle to garner support.

Again, proud of her for developing a new and better business model and hope she does well in the coming year.

Wilford Brimley said...

Diabetus!

Anonymous said...

Several things jump off the page:

1) Brief and well written

2) Takes control of her own situation and conquers it

3) Very positive

4) No mention of government responsibility

Anonymous said...

Amen! @4:57 PM. Your last sentence is golden.

Anonymous said...

Great piece to wrap up Women History Month. I love to see the Jackson Jambalaya helping support small businesses in general, but especially in these current times. This article may highlight Beth Bilbo, but this story represents so many men and women that are small business owners across our country.

Anonymous said...

I have had cookies and a few bites of a cake made by this bakery and I can not praise them enough. Some of the best cookies and cake I have ever eaten. The young lady that owns it was very polite when she dropped off the baked goods. It is a breath of fresh air to read an article like this. Keep up the good work!


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

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This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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