Today we’d like to introduce you to Pauline Berndt.
Hi Pauline, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I remember when I was around 6years old, I was sitting in my grandmother’s kitchen just watching her in her element, making something sweet for the family to enjoy and she said something that I will never forget. She said,, “you can ALWAYS taste the love baked into the pastry.”
I’ve been fortunate to have a mother that instilled an “entrepreneurial” mindset from a young age, and after working in the industry and learning some professional techniques, it helped me realize that I wanted to actually give this passion of mine a chance to blossom into something bigger. That’s how Polly’s Pretty Pastries came to be.
I didn’t even have any clients, no vendor events booked – nothing. So I knew from the get-go it was going to be an uphill battle, and that’s when I started basically going door-to-door to local businesses and cafes, coffee shops, etc. Eventually the “no’s” and “maybe’s” started turning into a single “yes” here and there. I walked parking lots at StarLight, Arrowhead, Cable Dahmer, and many others (even got kicked out of a few) just to get my name out there and let people try my sweets. I was determined from day one to find a way to make it happen. Polly’s Pretty Pastries has now officially been open & active since February 2025.
Additionally, one of my very first “yes’s” came from Nirvana Coffee Bar in Independence. I’ve been providing their baked goods since April of 2025, and it’s honestly been one of the most important partnerships that we currently have. Drop by and ask for one of Polly’s Pretty Pastries!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s definitely been a learning experience. Having no experience with the operations of running a business, I can certainly say that I’ve made some mistakes here and there. But those experiences are also what helps me determine my approach, execution, and ultimately helps me decide what the best path forward is for Polly’s Pretty Pastries.
One other struggle I’m currently facing is weighing the cost of groceries these days vs. being able to price my products to where it still provides some level of value to the customer. It seems like it’s getting more difficult day-by-day. Nonetheless, I don’t plan on throwing in the towel anytime soon, so one way or another, I’ll make it work.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a baker! I create all kinds of custom sweet treats, my motto is “You Dream It, We Bake It”! I’m always eager to hear about new ideas or suggestions from people because what’s the fun in making the same thing over and over? I know that I love having options, and variety is something I think sets me apart from a lot of other local bakeries.
I think the thing I’m most proud of has to be the fact that I actually run this baking business all on the side. I work full time at my family’s bookkeeping/accounting firm called Jenny’s Love Accounting in North Kansas City. So not only do I keep other small business’s finances organized and up-to-date, it makes it much easier to be able to do that for my own business as well!
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is that my customers leave after having an experience with Polly’s Pretty Pastries that makes them want to come back again. Even for the individual that just wants to find out more and simply walks up to my booth to ask me questions, I always try and make a point to make them feel welcome and comfortable. People are ultimately the driving force behind whether or not a business is going to see success – you have to invest in those interactions, no matter how small or brief they may be. I find that just being genuine and honest goes a long way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pollysprettypastriesnow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pollys.pretty.pastries
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dhqpz2RuS/
