Local TikTok influencer Zachery Dereniowski is at it again, this time surprising the new owner of Nana’s Bakery in South Windsor with cash and a much-needed business boost.
Dereniowski, also known by his username “MD Motivator,” visited Nana’s Bakery on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Dereniowski films his encounters with a hidden camera and often acts as if he has no money to cover the cost of his shopping to see how the business owner or individual reacts.
In this case, Dereniowski introduced himself to the bakery’s new owner, Ray Feng, and said, “I’m going to be blunt, I don’t have any money,” to which Feng responded, “No money? Okay, here you go,” before handing her a cookie.
“It doesn’t make me much richer, so that’s okay,” Feng said, also offering Dereniowski a coffee.
Dereniowski discovered that Ray is married with five children, and had just bought the business in mid-December.
“I have to make it work…I have no choice, now I am fully committed,” Ray said.
It was at that moment that Dereniowski passed Feng a folded napkin filled with $1,000.
“Why?” Ray asked, to which Dereniowski replied, “because you were nice to me.”
“Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this,” Feng commented.
It’s not just the cash. The video has been viewed more than 14 million times across all social media platforms in less than a day.
CTV Windsor caught up with the small business owner today to let him know that since the video aired, he has received nearly 4,000 five-star Google reviews for his bakery, putting it at the top of the list of all restaurants in the region.
“Wow,” Feng commented, laughing. “Yes. I think I will have to be a baker for a long time.”
Feng is taking the visit and the resulting exposure as a sign that he needs to move on.
“You just have to do it. Keep running, keep running,” she said. “This is definitely a confirmation that I am on the right track.”
Dereniowski says he has a soft spot for small businesses because his father is also a small business owner.
“I feel like I have the superpowers of luck. I just don’t want to waste it on every video I make. I want to be able to maximize it,” she said. “You don’t know what people are going through and your support can mean more than you think.”
The video ends with a message of hope and love.
“We need to love, we need to learn to love,” Feng said.
It’s a message Feng hopes will reach anyone who walks into her store to buy lovingly baked goods.
“I choose to love. Everything is by choice. You choose to love or you choose to hate,” Feng said. “It doesn’t happen naturally.”
“I have been practicing love for a long time.”