Gourmet Cakes in Satin Keepsake Boxes

MidWest Living

Neiman Marcus

The Horchow Collection

Boutique Bakery Gets National Exposure

Tuesday, August 22, 2006
By Anita Szoke of the Journal Star

PEORIA -
Mary Markovich seems to have found her niche in the gourmet food industry. Her new "boutique bakery" business, Gemstone Confections, has caught the eye of high-end fashion retailer Neiman Marcus, which likes her product so much it will be featured on the Neiman Marcus Web site later this fall and on the retailer's luxury mail-order catalog business, The Horchow Collection, Web site as well. The Peoria business is on the verge of gaining some highly coveted national exposure. "It's very exciting," Markovich said. "When a top retailer in the United States tells you they want your product, that's pretty exciting." So why is Neiman Marcus knocking on Markovich's door? It's all about having a quality product and, of course, the presentation is crucial, she said.

The gourmet "GemCakes" Markovich bakes are packaged in satin hand-beaded keepsake gift boxes that are adorned with a gemstone or in one of several styles of Austrian crystal brooches a customer selects from her Web site, www.gemstoneconfections.com. She adds a hand-glittered enclosure card to complete the presentation.

"I knew the packaging was vital; I wanted to do something over-the-top, something special, that made people feel special when they received it," Markovich said. "I knew in the gourmet food business I had to really stand out with extra packaging, because there is a lot of competition, a lot of choices out there."

Markovich opened her business in March. With her three children grown, Markovich thought she could turn her love of baking into a business and sought input of her design from friends who work in the premium gift market in New York City and Chicago. "They said, you got something here ... people are always looking for something new and different," she said. "That gave me the confidence to move forward." Markovich sent some samples inside the GemBox to Neiman Marcus, which was impressed with the presentation that pays attention to every detail, including the tissue.

"It's a shimmering tissue, not just regular tissue," she said. "The detail and the response from customers are very important to Neiman Marcus. It felt good for them to say that I am in their niche." Markovich's GemCakes are unfrosted bundt-style cakes loaded with what she calls "little gems of summer" - cherries, blueberries and cranberries. The cakes are available in two flavors, cinnamon spice with pecans or chocolate. A spritzing of fine brandy helps keep the cake moist and increase its shelf life, she said.

She said her customers are able to customize the packaging with the various crystal brooches, which include different themes, from a puppy dog brooch to a person with a new dog to a big diamond ring brooch for bridal showers. The cakes can be delivered anywhere nationwide. Markovich does her baking in her three ovens at her business at 8207 N. Hale Ave. and with the help of two friends when she needs it.

Gemstone Confections is mainly a Web-based and phone-based business, selling over the Web or by phone at 693-3891. Although Markovich does not promote her business as a retail store - she is often busy either baking or doing the handbeading on the gift boxes - local customers still can come by and pick up orders, she said. "My business is all about fun," Markovich said. "It's about getting a great cake in a beautiful presentation."

Anita Szoke can be reached at 686-3248 or aszoke@pjstar.com