Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!
You're IT butter and sugar!
Three questions with Maya Noren, founder of butter and sugar.
Why did you start your business?
butter + sugar first began out of necessity-- my son was diagnosed with Celiac when he was just 2 years old and I was determined that he would never miss out on anything just because he couldn't eat gluten. I began baking and testing recipes and as they got better and better, I realized that there are plenty of other folks diagnosed with Celiac or gluten intolerance who would also enjoy my baked goods. butter + sugar allows those with a gluten restriction to have their cake and eat it, too.
They no longer have to choose between safety and taste. Because butter + sugar only eliminates gluten from its recipes and always bakes in a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, our cookies taste like "real" cookies, our brownies melt in your mouth like "real" brownies and our bread smells like "real" bread. We don't skimp on quality or taste, just the gluten.
butter + sugar is now a licensed cottage food bakery, baking custom orders and selling at local markets. You can see what we're baking and contact us via Instagram or via email.
What is your best-selling product/service?
Although chocolate-loving customers have gone crazy for our GF Salted Brownies, I'd say that the product that created the most buzz has been our donuts. Our GF Baked Vanilla and Chocolate Donuts with vanilla and chocolate glaze (and sprinkles, of course!), as well as our GF Maple Glazed Pumpkin Donuts, have been huge hits. We also recently successfully created a GF Boston Cream Donut which I hope to offer when the weather cools off again.
How many local businesses do you use to support your business (products and services) and can you name them?
Finally, I've received support and tips from loads of small businesses that I've met at markets. Fellow vendors are always very helpful when it comes to offering advice on packaging or future markets. I've made friends with fellow small business owners like Bella's Custom Treats, Kylie's Custom Kreations, and Made by T.
Maya would like to nominate Kylie from Kylie's Custom Kreations in Stamford and Lisa Murphy from Starling Skincare to be featured next!
Visit butter and sugar online here, and make sure to check out their Facebook and Instagram pages as well!
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!