Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Alkoby.
Hi Natalie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started the paleo diet after my second son was born. I was overweight & knew I needed to do something about it so I researched different diets. The paleo diet stuck out to me the most because it was based on whole foods as well as natural sugars such as raw honey, pure maple syrup, & coconut sugar. I cut out dairy also and lost about 50 pounds in 7 months. I started posting photos of the recipes I made on my personal instagram page and friends/family started reaching out. I made a bunch of samples and personally delivered them. I got great feedback and decided that I can make a business out of this because there was not a lot of bakers around my area that bake this way unfortunately. I created an instagram business page and named myself The Paleo Queen and started gaining followers. I even reached out to Ryan Seacrest on 102.7 KISS FM and got interviewed LIVE by them which gained me a some extra followers as well. Now, 10 years later I have clients coming back for more. I am a home based self-taught baker and my goal is to open up a successful gluten-free/Paleo/keto bakery in the near future.
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?
It has not been such a smooth road. In the beginning, most of the gluten-free sweet treats I was making tasted like cardboard, so I had to trash a lot of things that I made which cost a lot of money, time & ingredients. I learned a lot from trial and error. In the beginning people used to place orders but not put deposits, so I would bake items and be left with them if clients didn’t end up picking up. Then I started taking deposits and that stopped happening. Some weeks I had zero orders and some weeks I was overwhelmed with orders. Mostly during the holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those are my busiest times of the year. My ovens are on 24/7.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I bake gluten-free, keto, Paleo, dairy, free, sugar-free sweet treats and cakes. I bake according to my clients Needs. If there are any dietary restrictions or allergies, I try to modify my recipes in order to make it happen for them. It gives me a sense of joy to know that people who are restricted get to enjoy a healthy sweet treat on their birthday or any special occasion. I’ve done wedding cakes, anniversaries, baby showers, bridal showers, Halloween themed, and pies galore on Thanksgiving. The main thing that sets me apart from others is that nobody bakes the way I do. I am the only one.
How do you define success?
Success is not only based on money (even thought that’s definitely a plus). It’s also who you have behind you, your support system, and how you feel when you accomplish your goals. I feel a sense of pride knowing that I am making a positive difference in my clients lives. All of their positive feedback and great reviews are very heart-warming.
Pricing:
- I make regular/traditional cakes which start at $100.
- My vegan cakes start at $150.
- My Paleo/keto cake start at $165.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepaleoqueen?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: The paleo queen
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/_CiRNMU1fQ
