Inspired by her mother’s work in founding the company, Monica Smith has worked hard to make Raven’s Nest the evolved and curated brand that it is today. The name Raven’s Nest came from the loving nickname “Raven” Smith’s father called her mother, and the nest that was their family home.
After working for Raven’s Nest since childhood, helping out with painting, sewing, and markets, Smith bought the company from her retiring mother to keep the family legacy alive. It wasn’t easy– Smith was a busy stay-at-home mom and felt great pressure to maintain the family business with her mother’s impending retirement and her father’s cancer diagnosis. It was a challenging start, but Smith gracefully prevailed and embraced her mother’s entrepreneur mindset and work ethic, doing everything from forklift operations to customer sales– “It’s a labor of love,” says Smith.
Smith tells us that her mother has been her greatest inspiration in both her work and personal life. Smith’s mother truly broke the glass ceiling with her incredibly motivated and business-savvy mindset. Raven’s Nest was founded and created both in the midst of a recession and at a time when female entrepreneurs had an especially difficult time. Smith’s mother was not only an incredibly motivated force, but also harnessed a range of talents and perspectives. She brought her ardent work-ethic, her effervescent creativity, and her rich cultural background to make Raven’s Nest sparkle as a gourmet company.
Smith followed in her mother’s footsteps and has worked incredibly hard to make Raven’s Nest thrive and grow in new directions, despite purchasing the company after a historical recession in 2008. She has brought a youthful and beautiful touch to the company by rebranding previous packaging and branding, making products more accessible through social media and e-commerce, and growing the company’s reach by having a presence in new small vendors. Smith is also the sole full-time employee of Raven’s Nest, with two part-time employees helping her out. Being the driving force of the company is something that she loves, making it a challenge for her to step away– even on a recent trip to Italy, she was still putting out fires.
Smith’s passion for people makes Raven’s Nest shine– she puts in great effort to prioritize the success of her small-business retailers and build lasting connections with her customers. Her background in small-business has given her insight and empathy to the work of her retailers. To promote community over competition, she makes sure to sell her products at vendors miles apart and doesn’t sell to grocery chains, as exclusivity in product is vital to the success of local gourmet shops. More than anything, Smith loves being at market events and getting to engage with customers. She says, “It truly warms my heart to hear about how Raven’s Nest products are used in customers' homes and for holiday traditions.”
The deliciously fragrant spice, Mulling Spice, is a prime component to the Raven’s Nest product lineup, it’s a fan favorite, incredibly versatile, and one of their most popular products, often used for simmer pots, ciders, and baking. Smith suggests that when using Mulling Spice for simmer pots, swap out the water for apple juice to create a deliciously warm and autumnal beverage all while perfuming your home. Jams are another big hit in the company, with five favorite flavors, including best-selling flavor Raspberry Jalapeno, they’re perfectly yummy in simple syrups or on a charcuterie board.
One of the latest products from Raven’s Nest are the gift boxes. Smith put lots of love and care into curating these boxes, from the product itself to the meticulously designed packaging. These gift boxes make the perfect gift for your loved ones this holiday season as they share the passion, love, and flavor of Raven’s Nest.
Written by Emily Currey
