WHAT IS THE MISSION OF
YOUR BUSINESS?
To provide beautiful and tasty desserts. I
make the majority of my cakes and fillings
from scratch and strive to always use the
freshest and highest quality ingredients. I
want everything that goes out my door to be
pleasing to the eyes as well as the palate.
WHAT LESSONS DID YOU LEARN
BECAUSE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?
I learned how to pivot! All of my weddings
and birthday/anniversary celebrations were
delayed or changed to family only gatherings,
so I had to come up with other ways to keep
customers engaged. I started making small
cakes and advertised "decorate your own
cake" kits. I delivered three days a week and
people could pick up two days a week. It
was a huge success.
HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
Doing something that you love and being
able to make others happy while you do it.
Don't be afraid to set your goals high, but
also, don't get discouraged if it takes a little
longer to achieve them.
YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW:
This is my second career. I was in
telecommunications installation and sales
for 30 years prior to turning my love of
decorating cakes into a full-time business. I
was so surprised when Natalia [del Basso
Orsini of Natalia's restaurant] saw one of my
cakes and told me that I could do this full
time. I credit her with giving me the gentle
push to try.
WHAT NON-WORK RELATED PASSIONS
FUEL YOU?
Spending time with my family and
grandchildren. Jeff and I love to camp, and we
enjoy it most when the kids join us. Coming
back to Macon has brought me closer to my
sister and given me the opportunity to spend
more time with my parents.
2023 Women in Business
MARY VIRGINIA GAGE
OWNER, MARY VIRGINIA CAKES
221 CLEVELAND AVE., MACON, GA 31204
(404) 771-8241 | MV@MARYVIRGINIACAKES.COM
MARYVIRGINIACAKES.COM
S P E C I A L A D V E RT I S I N G S E C T I O N 86 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2023
