Meet Brenda Hill | Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brenda Hill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brenda, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The success of my brand is providing a quality product that’s memorable and unique from any other within the same industry. I pride myself in filling every single jar with my turn reflection – that I’m passionate about “spreading” the love of canning and preserving. It’s all about celebrating the flavor!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have over 25 years of work experience in the corporate world – on the creative side. Many moons ago, I started as a graphic designer, but quickly learned that I was better at driving the creative ideas than the actual execution, so a move to management as a creative/brand manager was a very natural fit. That experience afforded me the understanding of what makes a successful brand, differentiating yourself in the marketplace, connecting with customers, and so many other important aspects to the success of ANY endeavor. Of course, having a cool look and feel doesn’t hurt either. So, I’ve been able to apply many of those best practices to my small business. A short hiatus from the 9-5 allowed me the time and effort to accomplish that. Today, I work a full-time job as well as operate The Passionate Preserver. It’s hard work, but there’s nothing like customers who tell you they love your product and tell their friends about it. I enjoy the escape the small business affords me, and appreciate the challenge the corporate world delivers. Both take strong work ethics, attention to details, and passionate. See… there’s that word again. It’s in everything I do!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Atlanta has so much to offer! In a non-pandemic time, we’d visit the National Center for Civil and Humans Rights, Georgia Aquarium, and all of the Sweet Auburn district. I love antiquing and I have a vendor booth at City Antiques in Roswell, Georgia. A trip to north Georgia (Blue Ridge, Helen), hitting every antique stop along the way. I enjoy cooking and entertaining, so a lot of cooking at home, but also hitting some of my favorites: Hola Taqueria & Bar, The Battery, Paschal’s South City Kitchen and whatever capture our fancy. Maybe a trip to Savannah, which I love!!!! It’s so awesome and we’ve eat our way through the seafood bounty!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It’s impossible to recognize just one – as I have many. My small business happened accidentally. I was working with a healthy chef friend, Nancy Waldeck, who knew of my canning recreational habit. I would occasionally bring in a jam and she would ask me if I could develop a lower sugar version of a jam, chutney, or soft spread to be featured in a class dish. When it became more often, I seriously considered launching what is now my home-based business, The Passionate Preserver. Two other people deserving of a shoutout are Jennifer Gantner and David DiCorpo. I honestly wouldn’t have been interested in reconnecting with my canning roots as an adult were it not for Jennifer who wanted to learn this long-lost art a few years ago. We were both assistants at another local business where David was scheduled to facilitate a canning class. I tried my best to discourage her from wasting her time on something I didn’t think she’d be interested in based on my own experience growing up. To my utter shock, at the end of the class, I was hooked. Little did I know that the experience would unearth a passionate for the ever popular Mason jar like nothing else.

Website: https://www.thepassionatepreserver.com
Instagram: thepassionatepreserver
Twitter: @PrassionatePrese
Facebook: facebook.com/thepassionatepreserver

Image Credits
Brenda Hill Chloe Clark Adam Hawkes