Good Neighbor Podcast for the Greater Chattanooga Region

Sierra Shadrick of Rainbow Baking Company: From Passion to Business Success and Community Impact

August 22, 2024 • Scott Howell

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Have you ever wondered how a childhood passion could evolve into a thriving business? Join us on the Good Neighbor Podcast as we welcome Sierra Shadrick from Reignbow Baking Company. From her early days baking with her grandmother to her service in the army, Sierra's journey is a testament to finding one's true calling. We explore the remarkable transformation of Reignbow Baking Company from a simple apartment kitchen to its vibrant storefront at Eastgate Mall. Sierra sheds light on the unique offerings of her bakery, including their specially crafted custom cakes and delectable Latin pastries, and reveals the thoughtful meaning behind the distinctive spelling of "Rainbow" as R-E-I-G-N-bow.

In the next segment, Sierra discusses the hands-on baking and cake decorating classes offered by Reignbow Baking Company, held both at their bakery and at the Chattery. She provides insight into the age restrictions for these classes and the flexibility for young bakers eager to learn. We also highlight the supportive community at the Chattery and the bakery's convenient pre-ordering system, as well as their engaging social media presence. Wrapping up, we emphasize the importance of supporting local businesses in the greater Chattanooga area and celebrate the homemade delights that Reignbow Baking Company brings to our community. Tune in for an inspiring episode that encourages everyone to support local enterprises and make their day extraordinary.

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Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Scott Howell.

Speaker 2:

Hello, good neighbors, and welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast brought to you by the Friends and Neighbors Group of the Greater Chattanooga area, including Cleveland and Dalton George. My name is Scott Howell and I'm your host and Dalton Georgia. My name is Scott Howell and I'm your host. For all you first-time listeners out there that might be wondering, the purpose of the Good Neighbor podcast is to bring awareness to the residents of our communities regarding locally owned and or operated businesses in Chattanooga, cleveland, dalton and all the surrounding communities. You know small businesses are the backbone of our communities and they need our support. And joining me today is our good neighbor, sierra Shadrick at Rainbow Baking Company. Thank you, sierra, for being the special guest today on our podcast.

Speaker 3:

Hello, thank you for having me.

Speaker 2:

It's my pleasure. My pleasure, you know. We're looking forward to learning all about Rainbow Baking Company and everything that you have to offer, but before we do, would you like to share anything with us about yourself or your family?

Speaker 3:

oh, I mean just to preface you might hear her in the background, but I was like, I do have a seven month old. She's, uh, her name's ruby, so congratulations.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, hello, ruby I hope it didn't oh, and what was the name of your puppy?

Speaker 3:

oh, oh, it's actually my neighbor's dog.

Speaker 2:

She warned me before we started recording. Sarah did that they might hear a baby or a dog, so I just assumed the dog was yours, Sarah.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

All right, I'll tell you what. Let's just dive in and learn all we can about rainbow baking. So you take, you take it from here.

Speaker 3:

Happy to. I mean just to tell you a little bit about the business. We're a small, small batch, small batch bakery. We make everything from scratch and we specialize in custom cakes like birthday cakes and wedding cakes, and we also do french and latin pastry. Um, so we do that. And then we also have a storefront at eastgate mall and we host classes with the chattery oh, really, oh, wow, okay, yeah, I saw.

Speaker 2:

I saw the chattery the other day on instagram. Yeah, so that's cool. Yeah, all right. So when you tell me you do Latin pastries, I'm just curious what is a Latin pastry?

Speaker 3:

Sure no problem. So oh, there she is. It'd be like the like a Mexican wedding cookie. Those are called poverones. We do tres leches cake, we do crema catalana which is like the latin version of a creme brulee. It's got cinnamon and orange in it, it's delicious.

Speaker 2:

Oh wow, flan or do all sorts I, I, you know, I've heard of french pastries. Obviously you know, I guess we all have, but I never really under heard anybody say latin pastry. Not not that I was doubting there's a thing, but I thought, wow, I'd like to know what that's all about. So so tell me about your journey. How did you become to be a baker number one? And then, how did rainbow baking come to come to be?

Speaker 3:

sure, I mean, um, I came to be a baker, like I've been baking my whole life, baked with my grandma and um, yeah, like makes me feel very connected to her every time I bake. But yeah, I was in the army for a while wanted to do other things with my life. But then I was like you know what Now, baking brings me joy and like that's really what I wanted to bring to the world was. You know, everyone wants to make the world a better place, so this is how.

Speaker 3:

I bring more joy to the world, make the world a better place. So this is how I bring more joy to the world and um, yeah, so I started in my like apartment kitchen and then we slowly moved to a commercial space and then now we have our storefront and it's been like five years but slow going good for you and and Sierra.

Speaker 2:

Thank you for your service to our country, appreciate that, thank you, thank you absolutely I have a friend that just joined and, uh, she's in her 30s, she just joined, and so I'm like, okay, more power to you, girl. But uh, you know, uh, when you talk about your journey and how you came to be, tell me. I noticed the unique spelling of rainbow. Uh, and for all you, for all of you listeners that maybe can't see, it's instead of R-A-I-N bow, it's R-E-I-G-N bow. So can you tell us how you came up with that unique spelling?

Speaker 3:

I sure can. So, um, I'm so rainbow, I guess. Essentially, you know rainbow is my favorite color, so that's kind of where we started. And then we are. We want to treat all of our customers like the royalty that they are. So that is kind of the play on words with rain like Yas Queen.

Speaker 1:

Okay, okay.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, and then it's also like a little bit of a. We're an inclusive bakery, so we do want to emphasize that we do cater to all couples and we won't turn you down for your wedding cake.

Speaker 2:

So Okay, yeah, yeah, okay. So that, well, that that's wonderful. I love that name, rainbow. I thought it was because you were the queen. I thought maybe that was the reason. That's a whole other podcast, ain't it?

Speaker 3:

I do have a shirt that says Baking Queen, and then my wife got our daughter a little onesie that says Baking Princess.

Speaker 2:

Oh, that's hilarious, I love it. Well, you know, let's talk about just for a moment, you know, when someone let's talk about some of the myths and misconceptions around, you know, baking in a bakery and I kind of want you, I know, I know we don't, I don't, I don't like to dive into big controversial subjects. Okay, that's not what the podcast is about, but you did mention that you won't turn anyone down, so I just want you to talk about that a little bit, okay.

Speaker 3:

Oh, I mean, yeah, it's kind of been a thing. I mean it hasn't really. Thankfully, chattanooga is a super accepting place. I absolutely love it here and I feel very safe here. The community is wonderful, wonderful. I just do know that there are places where bakeries will turn people down, for you know the relationship that they're in. So I just we really wanted to make sure that everyone knew that there was a safe space and when we grow and we have a second location, like it will be a safe space and like our name will be known as a safe place to come. We are very accepting people and like we're part of the community.

Speaker 2:

So okay, all right. Well, that's great to know. You know, because when someone gets a, it gets a cake made. Then they know there's a place they can go. There's no controversy. They can go there and have what they want made, right, okay?

Speaker 3:

yeah, absolutely yeah. And then, um, yeah, about, like, the misconceptions. I mean, yeah, one of one of our biggest things is that, um, when clients come in, they usually have like an idea, like where they see something on Pinterest or on Instagram of like a cake they really want. And, um, I, I really want to like make sure people know that, like, when you bring stuff in, like that we treat it as inspiration and that we're not gonna, you know, make it like an exact replica just because not only is it like disrespectful to the original baker, original designer, like we want to be respectful to our own craft as well. So that's kind of, really. What I would like to mention is that, like it is inspiration so, yeah, so when you come in and bring it.

Speaker 2:

But I know that Sierra and and her staff is going to put their own, their own spin on it to make it look like that is unique at the same time right, yeah, and you deserve a bespoke cake, so like we want to give that to you absolutely, yeah, absolutely, that's. That's a great concept, you know. Let's just step out of work for a minute, sarah. Let's walk out of the bakery. You got a seven month old. What do y'all do for fun? What do you and your family do for fun?

Speaker 3:

Yeah Well, I mean being a like a first time mom, it's kind of of there's a lot of learning happening. So I mean there's not a lot of fun happening right now, but I do. I listen to a lot of like audio books, I listen to a lot of podcasts, so that's kind of like my fun for right now okay, um we are. She's getting bigger, so we are looking forward to like going to nightfall um coming up here in the summer.

Speaker 2:

So yes, yes, absolutely so. Right now, your fun is is just basically digging in and learning how. So, yes, absolutely so. Right now your phone is it's just basically digging in and learning how to be a first time mom, right.

Speaker 3:

Pretty much. And then every once in a while I get to listen to my horror podcasts, fantasy books and just really get out of my head for a little bit.

Speaker 2:

Straight from mom mode to horror mode. Right Sure Straight from mom mode to horror mode, right.

Speaker 2:

Sure, oh, that sounds like fun. Well, I'll tell you what. There's no better journey in life than being a good mother, because nobody will ever influence a child more than their mother, whether it's good or bad. So I applaud you, hopefully. Good, yeah, trying to be a good mother. There's nothing better. Yeah, definitely, I'm sure you're a great mom. I just know, you know, some people don't have that in their life and they learn how to not be that type of person as well, as good moms teach you how to be the type of person that you know that you have inspired you, if I could put it that way.

Speaker 3:

Oh, yeah, no, absolutely, absolutely. You know, if any of these kids want to come to one of these baking classes, I will be your grandma. I'll teach you how to bake.

Speaker 2:

Grandma Sierra. Hey, Sierra, is your grandmother still living?

Speaker 3:

She is, she is, and I'm expecting to go visit her in a few weeks. I'm really excited.

Speaker 2:

Oh wonderful, Is this first time she's seen the baby?

Speaker 3:

Yes.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, oh, she was probably so excited, that's great. Yeah Well, you know you're talking about your grandmother being involved. I know she's got to be proud of what you're doing, especially since she's the one that kind of taught you More than likely. But you know I miss my grandparents. I've lost all of them now and I applaud you for taking the time to go see her, and go see her as often as you can, because when she's not around anymore there's going to be some wonderful memories. Wonderful memories no-transcript.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah, that's a good question. Um, I would say um, do you remember like a few years ago there was this like little global pandemic Seems?

Speaker 2:

like a hard debit yeah.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, um, but yeah no. I decided to quit my day job and go full in on this business in like the end of 2019. Oh, wow, oh great.

Speaker 2:

It was great timing.

Speaker 3:

Um, but yeah, no, we, um, we kind of we made it through the pandemic, you know, even though we had to like downsize a bunch of weddings and, um, like, our classes went completely online for a little while. But, um, yeah, we've just've just, you know, had to learn the, the other p word, you know, to pivot. So, um, yeah, um, but ever since then, I mean like I've just starting a business in general is just such a huge undertaking and I've definitely had my own little like you know personal failures, but you learn a lot, you learn a lot through it. And hopefully, you know I personal failures, but you learn a lot, you learn a lot through it. And hopefully, you know I become a better person, partner, friend, all because of it.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, well, you know the pandemic was hard on a lot of folks, so I applaud you for pulling through that. There was a lot of businesses that didn't maybe by choice, maybe by force, but there was a lot of businesses that didn't, so I applaud you for that. When you were talking about the classes while ago so the people come into the bakery and you actually show them there how to how to make things, is that correct?

Speaker 3:

Yeah, yeah. So we we have a couple options. We do cake decorating, which is actually at the Chattery which is in the South Side area, or we have hands on baking classes. Or we have hands-on baking classes, so people are coming into the bakery after hours and we are learning how to bake eclairs and tarts and focaccia and just a whole bunch of fun stuff, and you get to go home with everything you bake.

Speaker 2:

Oh wow, that makes me want to come. And I couldn't cook anything without burning it if I saved my life, but I love eating it, that's for sure. Couldn't cook anything without burning it if I saved my life, but I love eating it, that's for sure. And just so people know that, if people haven't heard of the Chattery, can you kind of just tell us about that and why you?

Speaker 3:

have the classes there. Oh yeah, I mean, it's a wonderful organization. They do adult learning, so really they have classes from like candle making to canva pro or like financial learning or just baking just, or sewing, hand, hand stitching things, um, but they have like a super wide array of classes that you can choose from um, and it's all like conveniently downtown.

Speaker 2:

You just show up and you know, and that's wonderful, it's wonderful to know that something like that's available, and I kind of wanted people to understand why you go there. That's why because it's kind of the whole atmosphere is go there to learn something.

Speaker 3:

And it's run by two incredible women who are allies to my community, and they're just great.

Speaker 2:

That's great. I'm glad you explained explained that.

Speaker 3:

Thank you for doing that for us. Oh yeah, of course, and do you have an age range on the the baking classes uh, typically everything through the chat or it's well, I don't know about everything, but my classes are typically like 18 and older uh, mostly because I can't afford the uh insurance that goes along with the liability of kids.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely so a lot of people don't realize that's a thing that you have to deal with, you know.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, but every once in a while. I mean, if the parent knows that like, say, like a 15 year old is super interested in baking and they want to like attend the class with them, that's fine. I'll sometimes make an exception for the age is super interested in baking and they want to like attend the class with them, yeah, that's fine. I'll sometimes make an exception for the age that's what I was going to ask you.

Speaker 2:

Is it okay if a parent brings their child, but you prefer it to be an older child, right?

Speaker 3:

yeah, yeah just to make sure, like that, you know people who are also taking the class get everything they want to get out of it well and a lot of, a lot of the listeners might not understand.

Speaker 2:

You know there's a lot of risk in having a minor child around. You know cutting products and mixing things. You know it might, might hurt. Yeah, hot ovens, yeah, uh. And so you know there's a liability involved there, that that would require her to carry extra insurance, and some of that liability insurance isn't. Is it inexpensive? Some of it is not bad, but some of it's not inexpensive at all. So but either way, it's just an added cost, you know.

Speaker 3:

Right, just want everybody to understand.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, absolutely. Well, yeah, when you're a small business, you just have to. You have to do everything you can just to stay on top, you know.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 2:

I tell you what you've made me hungry. Now I'm hungry. I want to try a Latin pastry now. That orange just really piqued my interest.

Speaker 3:

Oh, it's delicious, it's creamy, it's orangey, it's spicy.

Speaker 2:

It's so good I'm coming, I'm coming to see you. Okay, that's all there is to it. Hey, tell us what your hours are there.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, so right now we have hours of Wednesday through Friday and we are kind of open like during the lunchtime hours, so like 11 to 2. Just Eastgate, there's not a ton of traffic in there. But, yeah, but if you want to order ahead of time, we do have a website that you can order through. And then, yeah, I was like you can schedule a pickup time for pretty much anything from cakes to any of our pastries.

Speaker 2:

Since you mentioned your website, you want to go ahead and give it out.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, sure it's. It's a rainbow baking cocom, so it's R-E-I-G-N-B-O-W baking co dot com and then that's pretty much our socials. It's rainbow baking co. Emails rainbow baking co or Gmail.

Speaker 2:

What socials are you on Sarah?

Speaker 3:

We're on Instagram and Facebook. Instagram and Facebook and.

Speaker 2:

TikTok. Oh wow, what socials are you on sarah um we're on instagram and facebook.

Speaker 3:

Instagram and facebook and tiktok. Oh wow, I gotta go as long as tiktok stays up, we're.

Speaker 2:

We got our fingers crossed, that's for sure. Yeah, yeah, we've got. We've got a tiktok account. We haven't started using yet, so I'll be disappointed if I don't get to use it. Yeah, hey. So if there was one thing before we close, if there was one thing that you wish our listeners knew about Rainbow Baking Company that they probably wouldn't know if you didn't tell them and I'm talking about not just the company but Sierra Shadrick and the Rainbow Baking Company that they probably wouldn't know if you didn't tell them, what would that be?

Speaker 3:

If I didn't tell you. A lot of people ask, so I'm guessing they don't know um, yes, we do offer vegan and gluten-free options okay um, that, and like my mom's, gluten-free, so they are mom approved desserts. Um, and just mostly that we are like I want to hone in that we are an inclusive bakery, we serve everyone and, yeah, we just would like to share that joy with everybody and we make everything from scratch.

Speaker 2:

That sounds wonderful, I tell you, when you talk about making things from scratch. Now, you, you, you already crossed over to my side of the street Cause I love, I love that homemade cooking, that's for sure. Oh yes, oh yes.

Speaker 3:

I may have said that wrong.

Speaker 2:

I may have actually said that wrong. Sometimes I do that. I say things in my head, I hear them right out of my mouth. They come out wrong. What I meant to say was, if they wouldn't know it, if you did not tell them. I'm not sure if I said that exactly right or not, but that's what I wanted you to tell them was what would they know, want to know, about your bakery? So all those things you just said answered the question perfectly.

Speaker 3:

So if I said that right or said it wrong, you did. You answered wavelength yeah, I'm good, we're, we're connecting.

Speaker 2:

When I had her it was blonde, you know. So oh well, sarah, I've had fun. Thank you for being with us on the podcast today. We really appreciate it. And everybody. Go down there and try a Latin or French pastry down there at the Rainbow Baking Company. Get your cakes down there. Whatever you need, support them. You know these local, little, local shops that are trying their best to provide a good, fresh product and service for us. You know you can go anywhere in town and buy something that's been sitting on the shelf for days. You can go anywhere in town and buy something that was shipped from somewhere else and maybe weeks old. But there's not a lot of places in town that you can go, like Rainbow Baking Company, where they just made it from scratch and it's fresh and it's there for you to buy and enjoy. So let's go down and support them. One more thing before we go Sierra, tell us your address.

Speaker 3:

Yeah, it's at Eastgate Mall, so it's 5600 Brainerd Road and it's going to be an entrance B which is right behind the EPB, so it's a little tricky to find. But if you find EPB you'll find the food court.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely. And you know what, if it don't take that long to get off the interstate and run over there to Brainerd and get a, getting a Latin pastry with some orange in it, let's do all we can to support her. All right, thanks for being with us today, sarah.

Speaker 3:

Thank you so much To Thanks for being with us today, Sierra.

Speaker 2:

Thank you so much To all the good neighbors yeah, absolutely, we're so glad you come and to all the good neighbors of the greater Chattanooga area. You know, all the way from Cleveland to Dalton, everywhere in between, all the little communities that are important to all of us have little small businesses in them and let's all do all we can to support them. And, of course, after meeting Sierra and Rainbow Baking Company, I know that she hopes she'll take a moment to consider all they have to offer Homemade, homemade y'all Homemade goodies. So remember them when the next time you get hungry and your sweet tooth is just about to bite your tongue in two and run down there and get you something good to eat.

Speaker 2:

And before ending this episode, I'd like to thank you all the listeners of course for taking the time out of your busy day to visit with us at the Good Neighbor podcast. Always remember again I say this a lot, but I mean it Always remember to support the locally owned and or operated businesses in the greater Chattanooga area, from Cleveland to Dalton and everywhere in between. This is Scott Howell, with the Friends and Neighbors Group. Everyone, go out and make this a remarkable day.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPClevelandcom. That's GNPClevelandcom, or call 423-380-1984. 1-9-8-4.

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