Creativity ... secret to Natalie's success
Published:Saturday | March 2, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Horace Fisher, Gleaner Writer
MOCHO, Clarendon:
MAKE HAY while the sun shines is a mantra that 30-year-old Mocho businesswoman Natalie Richards has adopted as her guiding principle.
The College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) food and beverage graduate has set up her home-based, all-occasion pastry business in Mocho, Clarendon, where she makes some of the most mouth-watering and tantalising pastries and home-made natural juices.
Richards, who graduated from CASE in 1995, spent 18 frustrating months job hunting, but without success. She then decided to add a skill to her résumé. To this end, this enterprising woman registered for a cake-baking and decorating class in Kingston, and as they say, the rest is history.
With certificate in hand, she quickly established herself as one of Clarendon's best pastry makers, baking cakes for birthdays, weddings, baby showers, anniversaries, reunions, Valentine's Day, christening, and other occasions.
She admitted that she had a passion for cake baking and decorating, plus a big need to earn an income.
"Pastry-making is like science to me. I like to experiment a lot, to create unique pastry products for my clients, and in the process, make a name for myself because my business thrives on my reputation," she told The Gleaner.
Richards insisted that the secret of her success was her passion for creativity, affordability, and product variety.
"I experiment with different types of ingredients for my pastry creations like cho-cho, mango, cocoa, crackers and just about anything that is edible around the kitchen," Richards said.
She said her products include cakes, gizzadas, pizzas, puddings, buns, pies, jams, jellies, and juices, and her next big step is to establish the business in May Pen.