Check Out Annie Paul’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Paul

Hi Annie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In my bakeshop, I have a picture of me in grade school, smiling, leaning on the side of an oven in my childhood home. The image reminds me that no matter how crazy things are around me, I can come back to my craft of baking to ground myself. My love for baking was not just an enjoyable activity. It held me together. When looking back, I still can’t believe I am here today. As I am typing this, the sound of my oven fan is comforting as I reflect on my life. I was adopted after three months to what appeared to be a happy home. The truth is it was full of secrets and various forms of abuse. The most consistent thing in my life was baking. Little did I know my dream of baking and owning my own business would come true. I worked in several bakeries since I was 14. They provided me with the structure and support I did not have at home. I saved all my money and bought a house when the market crashed; with freedom from my adoptive family, I began to focus on my baking business. I was determined not to recreate patterns that were modeled for me growing up. I met my husband shortly after buying my home. My husband Joe has always believed in me and is a dreamer. We decided to buy a small place in the country and build a bakery on the property where we would raise our family. That is what we did, and we have been operating since 2020. I have since won a baking competition on the Food Network and Magnolia Network. I am most proud of my loving relationship and two beautiful girls. What a gift. What brings me so much joy is watching people enjoy my baking creations. The joy from my customers and loved ones will always be the heartbeat of my artisanship and keep me in the kitchen.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With all the hardship I experienced growing up, you would think this would be my biggest obstacle. I do not mean to mitigate the adversity that I experienced or the effects of abuse, but it is essential to note my most significant obstacle can be myself. That is true for most of us if we think about it. We all say things like not being smart enough, not being pretty enough, or even looking at others in comparison. Baking has provided me with a lot of time alone. This has allowed me to challenge negative core beliefs. I continue to struggle at times with my negative self-talk, but the love from family and friends continues to encourage me to paint the life I want to live both in and out of the kitchen.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I own a small business called AP Baked Goods, where I create artisan baked goods for my local community. I make a custom menu monthly; customers order online and then pick up at the bake shop. I also have a bakery stand at a local greenhouse selling my product. I look forward to creating more creative ways for customers to get my product. Fun things will come in the spring. I stock the bakery stand every Wednesday and Saturday. One of the beautiful things about setting up my business is that I can bake whatever inspires me. I am most proud of this and what sets me apart from others. I really care about my customers and products. It’s not just a baked good for me. I devote myself to the craft and find it a creative way to serve my community with sweet treats and make someone’s day a little sweeter.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
My husband and I joke that we live in a Hallmark movie. That is the feeling in downtown Zeeland, especially during community festivals and celebrations. I will keep it positive! We love our city.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.apbakedgoods.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apbakedgoods?igsh=MTh6Z3l6aDVka3ZyNQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APBakedGoods