Adventures in Selling Baked Goods - Page 5

Clodfobble · 09-23-2013, 06:29 PM

Or you could just give away whatever you have left in the last five minutes as free samples (with the understanding, of course, that this would only work one or two times, you wouldn't want customers holding out for free ones at the end.)

Chocolatl · 09-23-2013, 06:46 PM

Good ideas!

I like the goal idea. I'm thinking I may drop a flavor and bring it down to six to streamline production a bit. I might also lower the prices the last 30 minutes of the market day the first time out so I'm at least getting something for them and it's not a loss. I think after the first day I'll have a much better idea, so I'm okay with taking a loss the first time.

Chocolatl · 10-12-2013, 07:25 PM

Tomorrow's the big day -- my first market day! Wish me luck! And thanks again everyone for the kind words and support.

glatt · 10-12-2013, 07:27 PM

Exciting! I wish you the best of luck.

BigV · 10-14-2013, 10:27 AM

Late to the most recent posts here. But now we wanna know..... Well? How'd it go?

Chocolatl · 10-14-2013, 10:58 AM

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It went really well. Here's a hastily taken image of me at the booth.

It was utter chaos when we first got there in the morning. Though the market starts at 10, set up begins at 7:30. Considering we had very little to bring in and set up, we got there at 9:05. My spot had almost been given away because I was "late," so after a bit of stress we got set up in our nice shady spot.

Kitsune was on baby wrangling duty for the day after I was set up, and thankfully Beans was very cooperative! They both fared very well for their longest ever day without mom.

They went to the aquarium and back home before coming back to pick me up at 3.

I went with a goal in mind, and took 36 containers to sell. If I sold 20, I'd break even for the day. I sold 26 at full price, and another 7 at a discount in the last hour of the day, so I came out a tiny bit ahead. Hooray! I ran out of samples around 12:30, so I'll definitely be taking more next time. I also sold out of two flavors by around noon, so I'll be taking more of those next week.

glatt · 10-14-2013, 11:04 AM

Your booth looks great! I'd stop by for sure!

Lamplighter · 10-14-2013, 11:32 AM

I'm very happy for your success on your first day

Clodfobble · 10-14-2013, 12:27 PM

You should think about letting Beans stay for as long as she can handle it. That's a customer draw if I ever saw one. Congratulations on your profit!

BigV · 10-14-2013, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

You should think about letting Beans stay for as long as she can handle it. That's a customer draw if I ever saw one. Congratulations on your profit!

I second all of this post!

You could make another label for the tip jar that says "College fund".

Chocolatl · 10-14-2013, 12:54 PM

Though having Beans around would be great for marketing, the goal is partly to allow me some time away! For 400+ days, she has been my constant companion almost every waking hour, so this is a chance for me to do something just for me. It's essentially a hobby that pays for itself.

That said, she and Kits did come to visit midday, after their aquarium trip, so that I could nurse her before they went home. She enjoyed it for a bit then got anxious to explore. Crawling on asphalt doesn't work too well, though. Once it cools down a bit and she can walk or at least stand on her own, they'll probably hang out with me a bit longer.

BigV · 10-14-2013, 02:32 PM

well, that is a completely different situation.

Big Sarge · 10-14-2013, 03:25 PM

I understand what your saying about Beans, but I'd buy a dozen if that cutie was there. Good luck!

orthodoc · 10-14-2013, 05:20 PM

Your booth looks great, Choco! Having done so well your very first week, I think you'll see a steep upswing in demand as word gets around. I'm so happy for you!

monster · 10-14-2013, 07:20 PM

Love the Canopy

Well done!

09-23-2013, 06:29 PM	#61
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Or you could just give away whatever you have left in the last five minutes as free samples (with the understanding, of course, that this would only work one or two times, you wouldn't want customers holding out for free ones at the end.) __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-14-2013, 10:27 AM	#65
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Late to the most recent posts here. But now we wanna know..... Well? How'd it go? __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

10-14-2013, 10:58 AM	#66
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	Adventures in Selling Baked Goods It went really well. Here's a hastily taken image of me at the booth. It was utter chaos when we first got there in the morning. Though the market starts at 10, set up begins at 7:30. Considering we had very little to bring in and set up, we got there at 9:05. My spot had almost been given away because I was "late," so after a bit of stress we got set up in our nice shady spot. Kitsune was on baby wrangling duty for the day after I was set up, and thankfully Beans was very cooperative! They both fared very well for their longest ever day without mom. They went to the aquarium and back home before coming back to pick me up at 3. I went with a goal in mind, and took 36 containers to sell. If I sold 20, I'd break even for the day. I sold 26 at full price, and another 7 at a discount in the last hour of the day, so I came out a tiny bit ahead. Hooray! I ran out of samples around 12:30, so I'll definitely be taking more next time. I also sold out of two flavors by around noon, so I'll be taking more of those next week. Last edited by Chocolatl; 10-14-2013 at 11:39 AM.

10-14-2013, 12:27 PM	#69
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	You should think about letting Beans stay for as long as she can handle it. That's a customer draw if I ever saw one. Congratulations on your profit! __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

10-14-2013, 02:32 PM	#72
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	well, that is a completely different situation. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

09-23-2013, 06:46 PM	#62
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	Good ideas! I like the goal idea. I'm thinking I may drop a flavor and bring it down to six to streamline production a bit. I might also lower the prices the last 30 minutes of the market day the first time out so I'm at least getting something for them and it's not a loss. I think after the first day I'll have a much better idea, so I'm okay with taking a loss the first time.

10-12-2013, 07:25 PM	#63
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	Tomorrow's the big day -- my first market day! Wish me luck! And thanks again everyone for the kind words and support.

10-12-2013, 07:27 PM	#64
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Exciting! I wish you the best of luck.

10-14-2013, 11:04 AM	#67
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Your booth looks great! I'd stop by for sure!

10-14-2013, 11:32 AM	#68
Lamplighter Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bottom lands of the Missoula floods Posts: 6,402	I'm very happy for your success on your first day

10-14-2013, 12:54 PM	#71
Chocolatl Glutton for Gluttony Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 1,409	Though having Beans around would be great for marketing, the goal is partly to allow me some time away! For 400+ days, she has been my constant companion almost every waking hour, so this is a chance for me to do something just for me. It's essentially a hobby that pays for itself. That said, she and Kits did come to visit midday, after their aquarium trip, so that I could nurse her before they went home. She enjoyed it for a bit then got anxious to explore. Crawling on asphalt doesn't work too well, though. Once it cools down a bit and she can walk or at least stand on her own, they'll probably hang out with me a bit longer.

10-14-2013, 03:25 PM	#73
Big Sarge Werepandas - lurking in your shadows Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: In the Deep South Posts: 3,408	I understand what your saying about Beans, but I'd buy a dozen if that cutie was there. Good luck! __________________ Give a man a match, & he'll be warm for 20 seconds. But toss that man a white phosphorus grenade and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

10-14-2013, 05:20 PM	#74
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	Your booth looks great, Choco! Having done so well your very first week, I think you'll see a steep upswing in demand as word gets around. I'm so happy for you! __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

10-14-2013, 07:20 PM	#75
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Love the Canopy Well done! __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

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