Today we’d like to introduce you to Brianna Hodges.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
It started with my mom. Growing up, she made all our meals from scratch every day. This embedded in me a deep appreciation for good food.
From here, I knew I wanted to share what I felt with as many people as I could through baked goods. Because of the demand for our products, it went from baking for fun, to friends and family, and now a full-fledged business.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Starting a business from scratch is not easy by any means. Growth is definitely a challenge. As a small business owner, every penny I make gets invested back into the business which means I have little capital to work with when it comes to growing the business. It seems no matter how successful my business is, finding someone to lend us capital is a huge task for such a new endeavor.
But it’s not always so bad. Our customers have definitely been a shining light in a long, dark tunnel. They’re so supportive and loyal it’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come in the few months we’ve been in business.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Dough Rye Mí is more than a bakery, we are a community of food lovers and artisans. We specialize in fresh, handmade French macarons, bread, pastries, desserts, and other classic entremets. All of our products are made fresh with ingredients right here in Memphis, TN, from jams to whipped cream and fruit fillings, we make sure our customers get the freshest, most high-quality baked goods in town!
Although our menu is full of variety, we are infamous for our French macarons. Dough Rye Mi is more than a play on words, but the essence of everything a classic bakery is; Dough, a crucial foundation to many of our baked goods, Rye, a type of bread (my favorite) and Mí, the Spanish word for “me”, representing the cultural inspiration driving our business.
We are different from other bakeries because our menu is not dominated by one specific culture (French, American, Hispanic, etc.), but a blend of many cultures. Good food can come from anywhere, and our goal is to introduce different cultures through amazing baked goods.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve learned to just put myself out there. Networking may seem like this giant beast, but it’s simply going out and talking to people. You’d be surprised where your business may lead you. The mentor I have now was right at the university I was attending.
I saw that we had an entrepreneur program and from there we met, discussed my ideas and it has led me here. Don’t be afraid to approach people, it only takes one person to point you in the right direction.
Contact Info:
- Email: doughryemi@gmail.com
- Website: doughryemi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dough_rye_mi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doughryemi/
