She quit her job to start a baking business. Now she’s taking over Detroit one jar at a time

Jars of Perfection owner Brittany Gregory is taking over the baking scene state by state, one jar of goodies at a time.

"I'm really good at doing this. It doesn't take effort, I have fun doing this,” she tells BLAC. “This is what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Inside each of Gregory’s jars are handmade pastries, beautifully decorated inside glass mason jars: Oreo cheesecakes, banana puddings, strawberry shortcakes, and the like. Gregory, based in Oak Park, began posting her creations on Instagram, and instantly gained a following, with more than 11,000 followers and counting.

There have been growing pains. Being that Gregory is young, black, a woman, and that Jars of Perfection is a home-based business, she noticed a few things when it came to possible customers.

“A lot of people are not professional. I have people who text me 11 or 12 at night asking ‘how much is this?’” she says. She wonders if she were a company with a store front, would customers approach her differently.

With that in mind, Gregory advises that when ordering from Jars of Perfection, always include in every order, your name, number, how many people you’re feeding, what you want and the date you need the product.

This is not the way Gregory thought her life would go. She graduated from Ferndale High School in 2012. In high school she says, “Any program that did not overlap another program, I did.”

She was involved in food drives, cheerleading, basketball, volleyball, mentoring programs — you name it, Gregory did it. But one program shines a little brighter in her memory than the rest: Her tenure as president of DECA, a business marketing program. During that program is when she first began exploring skills as a businesswoman.

Gregory briefly attended college and finished prerequisite courses, but then she wondered what was next. She knew she didn't want to continue with classes, and told people around her that you’re not the one sitting in the class, I am. And if I don't wanna do it, I'm not going to do it.”

While working at a credit union she began selling cakes – and juggled both at the same time. “I would put people on hold like, ‘hi, hold on a second let me search your problem,’ and run to meet a customer.”

After missing baking business opportunities due to work, “I called my best friend and said, ‘I think I'm gonna quit my job.’” She emailed her resignation letter to the credit union and began baking full-time.

Gregory wants Jars of Perfection to be a one stop shop for all things bakery. She has expanded beyond the jars and offers larger baking orders. She has dreams of opening a restaurant where people come for the desserts, but have a beautifully complimented dinners along with it.

“When people love my stuff that makes me happy,” she says. “A lot of people don't put the time in that they should. You gotta put the time and work in. Those hours pay off.”

For more about Jars of Perfection, visit Gregory’s Facebook and Instgram accounts at @jarsofperfection.