Today we’d like to introduce you to Tajah-Rayne Horning.
Hi Tajah-Rayne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My husband and I got married in 2022, and having worked at a few restaurants/cafés I took on the MONUMENTAL task of baking all of our desserts for our wedding, and that’s where RayneDrop Bakery Co. really started! I thought, “If I can do this three days before I get married, I can do it for other things, too!”
As a teacher and mom unable to do this full time, business certainly did not take off quickly. At first, it was just a cake or an event every other month, and then things started to gradually change.
For two summers, we did pop-ups from home and then we were welcomed to start doing a few pop-ups at amazing local businesses like UR Coffee Co and Red Jacket Boutique and that just made this all so much more real to us!
Cakes turned into cupcakes and cake pops, and then somehow sourdough also got roped into the mix! With that, we opened our bakery stand and it’s been such an amazing blessing to see RayneDrop become a weekly rhythm to some of those in our community!
We a beyond grateful for RayneDrop to be what it is today- as we look at full books and sold out stands month after month, it is truly so sweet to have so much support.
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?
I don’t think any sort of business beginning is smooth! But I can say I feel so blessed to have gone through each stage of RayneDrop. There have been many tears, a few mishaps, and seasons of burnout between my full-time job and this homebakery, but all in all, everything has come together. For all of that, I am grateful!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I think there are two sides of RayneDrop Bakery Co. and I would like to say that makes us unique!
We have our custom orders and event bakery which includes custom cakes, cupcakes, cake pops, decorated sugar cookies, and cookies cakes. We’ve done weddings, birthdays, baptisms, and really any other event that deserves a cake or something sweet. Events is where RayneDrop started so I would say they hold a special place in my heart because I know it’s making a special day extra sweet.
On the other side, we have our “Beige Bakery” which is what I consider what we usually stock in the bakery stand! Our cinnys (cinnamon rolls) are probably our best seller alongside our sliced sourdough sandwich loaves and brown butter chocolate chip cookies. The stand also gets stocked sometimes with sourdough bagels and english muffins, assorted scones, cookie sammies, and lots of other goodies we throw together for our RayneDrop lovers!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I think really just touching base with those around you who are doing something similar! Community OVER competition is what I hear and like to emanate! None of this is really mine anyway, I’ve just been blessed to steward it.
It has been so helpful to chat with other bakers and bakery stand owners that are real and just want to bounce ideas around!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://app.simplybread.com/raynedropbakeryco/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raynedrop_bakery
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573623500423
