Rolling with the Punches and the Dough

IgniteCast S6 E3: “Rolling With the Punches” Featuring Tiffany Grice of Kreechers Creations

In this inspiring episode of IgniteCast, hosts Taylor Tutor and Judd Wilson sit down with local entrepreneur Tiffany Grice, owner of the beloved French-inspired bakery Kreechers Creations. From buttery croissants to bold business moves, Tiffany shares the real story behind her rapid rise—from baking out of a shared studio space to opening (and reopening!) her own thriving brick-and-mortar shop.

Tiffany opens up about navigating unexpected setbacks, finding her niche, embracing creativity, and learning to balance business with life. She also reflects on her Pitch Competition experience, the power of community partnerships, and the mentors who helped her build confidence along the way.

Whether you're a small business owner, a dreamer with a side hustle, or someone in need of a reminder that “there’s always something” in entrepreneurship—but also always a way through—this conversation will leave you encouraged, motivated, and hungry for a croissant.

🎧 New episodes drop every other Thursday, packed with insight, inspiration, and actionable ideas to help you grow as a leader—right where you are.

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Visit 👉 www.igniteleadership.com

Transcript

Taylor Tutor: [00:00:00] Hey, Judd. 

Judd Wilson: Hey Taylor. 

Taylor Tutor: Do you know what's coming up? 

Judd Wilson: When? 

Taylor Tutor: On Thursday, January the 29th. 

Judd Wilson: The Ignite Leadership Conference. 

Taylor Tutor: That's right, Judd. And where is it? 

Judd Wilson: The Orchard. 

Taylor Tutor: That's right. Again. One more. Do you know where to get tickets? 

Judd Wilson: Ignite leadership.com. 

Taylor Tutor: And you're right. Again, for more information on Ignite, you can follow us on social media.

Judd Wilson: Look forward to seeing everybody at Ignite Ignite.

Taylor Tutor: Welcome to Ignite Where Ideas Spark Action brought. You by the Community Development Foundation, your Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Engine for Tupelo and Lee County, thank you to our presenting [00:01:00] sponsor, iHeartMedia for powering this season of Ignite Cast. I'm Taylor. 

Judd Wilson: I'm Judd, 

Taylor Tutor: and welcome to Ignite Cast

Judd Wilson: Taylor. Another episode of At Nightcast, when I start thinking about the things I love doing during my day, you know what ranks up there, 

Taylor Tutor: surely Ign Nightcast, hit 

Judd Wilson: Nightcast. It's right up there. Very high, very high up there, and we got a great guest today. But before we turn to our guest, you know what's coming up around the corner?

Taylor Tutor: What's around the corner? Shed 

Judd Wilson: at night. 

Taylor Tutor: Woo woo. 

Judd Wilson: It's hard to believe. If you've not gotten your tickets, I know you, you've got your tickets the other day, didn't you? 

Taylor Tutor: I got my tickets. Of course I did. 

Judd Wilson: So hopefully if you're listening to this, you need to remember, Hey, I need to get my tickets to at night.

Judd Wilson: 'cause it's coming up. Get 

Taylor Tutor: your tickets or at night, don't miss out. 

Judd Wilson: That's right, that's right. Taylor, you know what I love about having a guest today? What? Her name's Tiffany. So I'm like. [00:02:00] Tiffany. Taylor. Taylor, Tiffany. It's always awesome. We have a ttt. Yeah, you got it All right there. So, Tiffany, welcome.

Judd Wilson: Look at that. Look at that. Awesome, awesome. Tiffany gr tell us a little bit about your business. You're an entrepreneur, um, and, and welcome. So we wanna talk a little bit to you and, uh, and just learn more about you. So tell us a little bit about your business. 

Tiffany Grice: Okay. Um, my business is Creatures Creations here in Tupelo.

Tiffany Grice: Um, it is a bakery, but it's not like, you know, what you think of with cakes and cupcakes. It is more of a French style inspired bakery or patisserie as they say. Um. We are heavily focused on homemade croissants. We have probably 20 different flavors of croissants. Um, we do lunch sandwiches, uh, breakfast sandwiches.

Tiffany Grice: Um, we do have sweet croissants and savory. We just, we have all kinds of croissants and it's really been a hit here in Tupelo. [00:03:00] 

Taylor Tutor: That's 'cause it's delicious. It is delicious. 

Judd Wilson: Tiffany, you had me at croissant? 

Tiffany Grice: Mm-hmm. Buttery, flaky layers. 

Taylor Tutor: Yes. 

Judd Wilson: She's laying it on. She's laying it on. 

Taylor Tutor: Well, I, one of, um, when I first started at CDF, one of my first ribbon cuts was one of your ribbon cuts when you were at midnight pottery.

Taylor Tutor: And shortly after that they closed. So you had to move and, um, find a new location, another brick and mortar. So talk about that a little bit and just the change with that and just, you know, balancing that change. 

Tiffany Grice: Yeah. Um. Of course, I'd never thought when I went into that that, you know, we would be having to look for a new LO location in just eight months.

Tiffany Grice: Um, but we just, you know, I just kind of roll with it. Uh, when, when I got the news that. I would have to look for somewhere else. Um, I'm like, okay, that, that's just kind of how I am anyway, I, I work very well under pressure. Um, so [00:04:00] situations like this, I just kind of, you know, spring into action. So, um, I actually only called one number and it was Debbie with VM Cleveland, and she was like, oh, I think I have a building.

Tiffany Grice: And literally everything else just went from there. I mean. It was, you know, it took a little longer than it was supposed to, but it was the most, you know, smooth process that could have happened. Um, because like I said, I just called one number and then there was a building ready, you know, and so that was awesome that, that, that happened so quickly.

Tiffany Grice: But, um, you know, of course the transition, um, you know, closing and, you know, moving to another place that was a little bit of a disruption. We're back better than ever though. 

Judd Wilson: Look at that. So Tiffany, I've known you for a while. I know your parents real well, so I've known you for a while, but also I remember you back, um, and it's like 2021.

Judd Wilson: You actually took part in the pitch competition and you did not. Really, I mean, you just kind of had the [00:05:00] idea, I guess at the time you were baking, um, cakes. I don't know if you were doing croissants at the time. I was not. So kind of tell us a little bit about your entrepre entrepreneurship journey. Look at that.

Judd Wilson: That's kinda hard to say in that Wow. Almost sets up my wasn't supposed to, but, um, tell us a little bit about that journey from when you were doing the pitch and maybe some of the advice your mentors gave you during that time and what you learned from them. To make the pivot to, to start what you're doing now and, and kind of what you kind of talked to Taylor about is even making, uh, a new location and all that kind of where mm-hmm.

Judd Wilson: Maybe something that sparked from the pitch way back there in 2021. 

Tiffany Grice: Yes. Um, of course my mentors were Bev Crossing and Britney Brittany, and they were just awesome. And I still carry some of the things, uh, you know, that we. Talked about back then. Um, but I guess the biggest thing, entrepreneur, entrepreneurs, I can't say it either.

Judd Wilson: It's contagious. Tiffany, I apologize. [00:06:00] 

Tiffany Grice: Um, I guess the biggest thing is being able to just roll with the punches because there is always something, I mean, you know, everything can be, be going. Perfect, smooth, and then here comes something, there's always going to be something. So, um, and I think, you know, they kind of told me that, so you just kind of have to pivot.

Tiffany Grice: And then I know we talked about, you know, finding like that niche thing that, that's really the key, the niche thing, like a, a need that the city has or wherever you are, just the niche thing. And, um. Of course, like you said, I wanted to do cakes, but it just kind of organically transformed into something else.

Tiffany Grice: But I realized there was a need for a different type of bakery here in Tupelo, and it's, and so I found my niche and that's just, that's what has really made it thrive. 

Judd Wilson: And, and talk about this a little bit too, because I know at your, when you started, um. You know, you really didn't have a location. We could go and visit, uh, Tiffany to get her croissants.

Judd Wilson: You actually had relationships [00:07:00] with, with some local, uh, vendors here locally. Yes. How did that kind of help grow to where you are and some of the things you learned go through that? 

Tiffany Grice: Oh yes, absolutely. Um, I'll always be thankful for that because. The people that just, you know, gave me an opportunity, a chance, saw something in me and you know, kind of wanted to nurture it.

Tiffany Grice: I'm always gonna be appreciative of that. And, um, yeah, it definitely helped get my name out all around town. And even if maybe they didn't know my name, if I started talking about like, oh, that's that bread that's in, you know, wherever Char cutie or, you know, wherever it be the case. Um, it just really helped me, you know, to get my name around town and even beyond, um.

Tiffany Grice: Town. But, uh, yeah, I'll always be thankful for the people who just took a chance on me and gave me a place to just build that up. Yeah, 

Judd Wilson: that's great. That's great. 

Taylor Tutor: Tiffany, uh, going back. You know, talking about finding that niche, niche thing. What is it, sorry, Taylor, today. It's 

Judd Wilson: funny. It's great 

Taylor Tutor: it, [00:08:00] anyways. Um, I know sometimes leaders and entrepreneurs will struggle with when their passion becomes their business and getting burnt out over that.

Taylor Tutor: I'm sure you've experienced burnout. We all have. So talk about how you've handled that and kind of. Overcame that. Yes. 

Tiffany Grice: And I think that is the biggest part of why I love doing the bread, the croissants, all that, uh, more because there is so much to learn. Mm-hmm. There's so much to learn with bread. Um, there's so many ideas.

Tiffany Grice: Like, I mean, like I said, we, we took a croissant and then we have made, you know, 20 or more different things out of it. So I feel like. When I was doing cakes, I kind of just felt stuck creatively, you know, because there was only so much that I could do. But now with bread, there is just like almost infinite things.

Tiffany Grice: Mm-hmm. And I think that's what really keeps me engaged and from not being burnout. And then my creativity just flows just. You know, endlessly. And it's almost to the point where I'm like, okay, I have all these ideas [00:09:00] locked and loaded at any given time, but I can only, I can only do so many. So, like, I have ideas just, you know, on the back burner.

Tiffany Grice: Yeah. Mm-hmm. 

Judd Wilson: I love it. She used back burner when you asked her back burnout. Did you notice that? That was good. 

Taylor Tutor: Good job. Good job. 

Judd Wilson: Let me ask you this as, as of, you know, somebody that owns your own business, um, how is it kind of having that. Hey, I'm actually working on my business now, or I'm actually working on Tiffany.

Judd Wilson: Mm-hmm. You know, how do you, how do you balance, Hey, this is life. Yeah. But this is also career. Mm-hmm. 

Tiffany Grice: Yeah. I'm, I'm still figuring that one out. I just, you know, um, yeah, it is, it's very difficult. But, um, I try when I get home to just. You know, let myself decompress. Um, I try to, you know, not look at my phone so much, and it did help me get in a business phone.

Tiffany Grice: I have, I'm a big girl. I have a business phone now, so I can kind of, you know, put that to the side and then, you know, just, you know, be at home and be present. But it was definitely something that I had to learn and something that I'm still learning and [00:10:00] working on every day. 

Taylor Tutor: I think everybody's that way, figuring out their boundaries and creating new, new lines in the sand.

Taylor Tutor: I say, you know, as we learn a little bit every day and in every new job, a new role in every, you know, thing that comes our way, like you mentioned, you just roll with the punches and you learn from 'em too. So, yes. That's really good. So I, I just wanna know like, what's your favorite thing to, to make and then to eat of yours?

Tiffany Grice: Hmm. 

Tiffany Grice: Yeah, so when we were at midnight pottery, I came up with this jelly donut croissant. And so what we do is we put, um, raspberry jam inside of the croissant, and then I make a glaze 

Judd Wilson: preach. Mm-hmm. 

Tiffany Grice: That goes on top of it. Amen. And it's just like this perfect, you know. You got the tart and then you got the sweet and it is just mm-hmm.

Tiffany Grice: It's so good. And I, and I haven't made it since we were at Midnight Potter, but I just brought it back last week and I have eaten one every single day. Ugh. But I get, I make them lump so I get to eat one. 

Judd Wilson: Yes, you [00:11:00] do. Yes, you do. You know, the one thing I love about at night is we get to hear from a lot of different speakers.

Judd Wilson: We're actually gonna hear from a, um, one of our local speakers. Uh, we always try to do a, a local spotlight when we have our night leadership conference. And, um, back in 2020, we actually had Mitch McCamey, um, who. Owned several, uh, restaurants in our area, and it's done a lot of different things, uh, as far as entrepreneurship.

Judd Wilson: I just said that, so you could say that. I could actually say the word now. Um, but local entrepreneur and, and kind of the struggles he's had as an entrepreneur and, and we want you to hear this quote and maybe kind of give us some insight on, on what, what he said, 

Mitch McCamey: just to be able to create. Um, is really what it comes down to, right?

Mitch McCamey: Just creating something, building it, design it. Um, but you know, not all of it's been great. You know, we've, when you create and you're learning, learning to be an entrepreneur, there's a tremendous amount of failure sometimes, and so gotta be careful what you ask for. [00:12:00] 

Judd Wilson: So Tiffany, tell us, I mean, where, where have you learned from the failures you think As, as Mitch mentioned, 

Tiffany Grice: that was, that was deep.

Tiffany Grice: And um, initially when I, when I hear that, I, I feel a lot of emotion because yes, I can definitely relate even though I'm just, I'm new to this thing. But, um, yeah, you know, going back to when we had to close at midnight, pottery and the transition in between, um. The process went on a little like a month longer than it was supposed to, and so.

Tiffany Grice: He was talking about just being able to create, there was a moment when I couldn't do any of that, and it's just, you know, you just feel like, what am I, what am, what do I do? Like, I just, I felt like, you know, I didn't have anything to do. I need, I just wanted to get back in there and create. So, but, um, so yeah, those failures, they're really, and we, we as entrepreneurs take it really, really hard, like probably harder than anybody else because we put everything into this and everything is on it.

Tiffany Grice: So [00:13:00] that's kind of how I felt in that transition. Coming back and seeing my business open up in a, in another place, and the way it's just thriving and people are just wanting to, you know, support it. Just, just loving it and that just makes it all so worthwhile. It's amazing. 

Judd Wilson: Yeah. Yeah. So you see, you know, when you're there at, at the midnight pottery location and things are going good.

Judd Wilson: Mm-hmm. You never drain how much even better they are now. Right, right. 

Tiffany Grice: Never, never imagined that it would be this way, but I mean, the first two weeks we were selling out every single day before, before five o'clock. So, um, it's just been amazing to watch it all unfold. 

Judd Wilson: That's great's. Great. 

Taylor Tutor: So Tiffany, who in your life like, helps you stay motivated and, and you know, when you, when you do hit those ruts, who do you turn to for that?

Tiffany Grice: Yeah. Um, well. My grandmother, uh, my, my mom's mom, she was a baker and that's where I get all my passion from. But, um, she [00:14:00] passed away back in 2005 before I graduated high school. But I feel like I've always just carried her with me, you know, and just, you know, watching her do things when I was younger, just.

Tiffany Grice: I know she would be amazed at all the things that I do, but, um, so I carry, you know, her and my heart. And then of course my parents, they're extremely supportive. Um, I wouldn't have this business without them. Um, 'cause they definitely nurture, you know, what I love to do. And obviously God a lot of, uh, you know, spiritual growth.

Tiffany Grice: I wouldn't be able to do this without the spiritual growth for sure. 

Taylor Tutor: Yes. Every time I've been in your store, your parents have been in there. 

Tiffany Grice: Yes, yes. They, uh, they're very, they're retired, but they love going there. That's their favorite, you know, breakfast spot in one spot now, so yeah. I bet they're good taste testers.

Tiffany Grice: Oh yeah, 

Judd Wilson: absolutely. I think Kenneth has had the Raspberry Croissant Creek as the Oh, oh yeah. Too many 

Taylor Tutor: times. 

Judd Wilson: I think it's actually called the Kenneth Raspberry Yum. But let you tell that he never gets anything. Yeah. I'm sure [00:15:00] that's the case. 

Taylor Tutor: Yeah, I'm sure. So, um, we always ask this question on every podcast and.

Taylor Tutor: Talking about, you know, people inspiring you and everything, but what's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? 

Tiffany Grice: Hmm. 

Tiffany Grice: Well, I guess since we're on the, uh, subject of, you know, the, the negative things that happen, but that's, that's what I've been told from many different business owners. Just, you know, whenever something comes up.

Tiffany Grice: 'cause like I said, there's always something. I mean, in the wintertime, the pipes freeze the, the whole gas outage. Thing. Yeah. That, you know. Yeah. Um, there's always something. So I guess you just kinda have to expect unexpected in a way. Um, and just be prepared to just, you know, just roll with it. That that's, that's the biggest thing that I have to carry with me is just, there's always gonna be something.

Tiffany Grice: We're just gonna be pre-prepared for it. We're gonna push through. Yeah. Yeah. Just have positive outlook on That's right. And it's hard sometimes, but it does help to be, [00:16:00] to just keep in that positive space. Mm-hmm. And that's 

Judd Wilson: good advice. I mean, as a, as a leader, we know if you know things are gonna happen mm-hmm.

Judd Wilson: You don't know what's gonna happen. 

Tiffany Grice: Right. 

Judd Wilson: But you know, something's gonna happen, so Yeah. 

Tiffany Grice: Yeah. 

Judd Wilson: Push through it. Yes. Because there's always. There's always tomorrow. Well, 

Tiffany Grice: I always say it seems stressful in the moment, but I know that I've always made it through, so I know we're gonna make it through whatever it is, you know.

Tiffany Grice: We'll, we'll figure it out. Yep. 

Judd Wilson: Yeah, yeah. 

Taylor Tutor: Also, at this new location, you, you didn't serve lunch at midnight, right? You just started lunch and then in the McCullough one. 

Tiffany Grice: Right. Um, so I think midnight kind of. Helped us transform into a lunch space because we had teachers coming at lunchtime, you know, kind of wanting lunch type of thing.

Tiffany Grice: So we just kind of carried that over to the new spot, but it just really took off. Mm-hmm. That's a 

Taylor Tutor: great addition. 

Tiffany Grice: Yes. Yes. 

Judd Wilson: Well, I'm gonna, I'm gonna kinda ask this question, um, 'cause I kind of look at you somewhat as a leader. Or when it comes to social media, I, [00:17:00] I'm not a big social media person. I always tell people that I'm on my space and that kind of, they realize my level of, uh, social media.

Judd Wilson: But, but you do sort of have a big presence on social media. How has that kind of helped your business and things, you know, tools that you've used as, as being a leader on, on social media? 

Tiffany Grice: Yes. Um. Yeah, I think that at first I didn't really embrace the fact that I was such a leader on social media, but I have, um, come to embrace that and I, you know, love connecting with the community and, um, I make a point to, you know, share anything that's local.

Tiffany Grice: Um, anything that I feel like, you know, people need to know. Um. I don't take my position lightly, for sure. Um, so that's why I say I've embraced it. But, um, I just wanna be, you know, somebody who spreads the good things, um, spreads the light. You know, I, I grew up here, so I love, you know, Tupelo and it's very important to me.

Tiffany Grice: So I, I want people to love it too. And, you know, more things. I want to [00:18:00] nurture the people. Like me that came, you know, humble beginnings. I wanna be able to lift them up and, you know, I don't gate keep anything. And even if another business is making the same thing as me, I I still share it because, you know, there's, there's a no for us all here.

Tiffany Grice: And if, if people understood community over collaboration, oh we would be so powerful. 

Judd Wilson: She just dropped a truth bomb there. Do you see what she just did? Taylor? I love that line. I love that line. Yeah. Um. This has been fun. 

Taylor Tutor: It's been so fun. 

Judd Wilson: Now I'm starving. 

Taylor Tutor: Yeah. Now I need a jelly filled donut. Croissant.

Judd Wilson: Yes. Don't we all? Don't we all? Well see. We're not open on Mondays. Well, 

Taylor Tutor: how you do that to us? 

Judd Wilson: Well, there. Yeah, exactly. But there's always tomorrows. No. 

Taylor Tutor: Right. It's 

Judd Wilson: tomorrow. We push through them. We don't have that horse now. That's right. Tiffany, thank you so much for, for what you do in our community and, um, and, and what you do as an entrepreneur.

Judd Wilson: We, uh, we appreciate [00:19:00] that and we know that, uh, you're a great leader in that community, so we.

Taylor Tutor: Thanks for tuning in to another episode of Ignite Cast, presented by iHeartMedia. For more leadership insights and engaging conversations, be sure to hit subscribe. And if you enjoyed today's episode, we'd love for you to leave a review and remember, go forward and do good things.