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

Hi Elizabeth, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was a passionate homemaker and DIYer and wanted to create a space that promoted education alongside ingredients and supplies for preserving and fermenting. Ultimately, I wanted to create the shop that I always wanted! So many of these cultural cooking and preserving techniques were traditionally passed down through families. However in modern times, they’re becoming lost arts. I opened Preserved as an effort to reconnect folks to these traditions; to remove the fear factor around canning and fermenting, and to create a community space to learn, shop and share!

What have been some of the challenges to owning a small business?
I’m so proud of what Preserved has grown to become, and the community of folks who continue to support our business. Their participation in our workshops, their dedication to shopping local, their enthusiasm for our products, and their passion for having a greater connection to their food! We are so humbled and grateful to still be doing what we love, with such a great community! But it’s not without its challenges. Brick and mortar stores are struggling in an increasingly digital world. The rise of Amazon, compounded by the pandemic (which increased online shopping) has made it so hard for us brick and mortar businesses. You can order anything and everything online. But what’s the quality of these products? How were they made? How to best use the product, tool or ingredient? And when it comes to the world of preserving, we pride ourselves on being able to provide troubleshooting, inspiration and guidance on home-making endeavours. These are things that only an in-person shopping experience can provide. And we are so grateful to still be offering such an important service to our community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to take friends and family visiting from out of town to some of my favorite restaurants, bars and farmers markets. Restaurants like Sequoia Diner, Tacos Oscar, JooDooBoo, Bombera, Swan Oyster Depot and Fish in Sausalito. Bars like Bar Shiru, Hotsy Totsy, Ordinaire Wine Bar and Prizefighter. Any Bay Area Farmers Markets but especially Grand Lake Farmers Market and the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market. I’d also include a visit to one of our many museums, drive across the Golden Gate to do the Headlands Drive in Marin, then onto Muir Woods and Stinson Beach! 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to shout out all the small business owners who were so kind and generous in sharing their experience and knowledge as I was starting. Local Oakland business owners like John from Oaktown Spice, Yoko & Kayoko of Umami Mart, Karen from Mercy Vintage and Dana from Good Neighbor (to name a few – there’s more of course) provided me with so much support and guidance. Without their wisdom and partnership, I would not be where I am today! These folks have become close friends and we continue to be mutually supportive of each other as our businesses continue to grow and evolve.

Website: www.preservedgoods.com

Instagram: @preservedgoods

Facebook: @preservedgoods

Image Credits
All Photographs by Felicia Kieselhorst

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.