Hi Everyone,
I have been tossing around an idea...tell me what you think. In order to give my cake/cookie business a jumpstart for the new year I am considering having a tasting party. I want to make up several of my products, as I would if a customer ordered them. (Packaged and ready for delivery w/ a price tag of what I am planning to charge). Invite a small, mixed gathering of people from different occupational fields. Have them look, touch and taste each product. Then, have questionnaires for each product asking for honest opinions regarding everything from price to presentation to taste. I figure I'll leave the actual questionnaires annonymous. I think that way, they'll be more apt to tell the truth. I figure I'll do this early January, so that I will have a jump on Valentine's Day. I already have business cards printed...would give each person a handful to pass out for me. I would also give each person a small cookie bouquet as a "thank you" for taking the time to help. What do you think?

Super Idea! I might do the same! Thanks

Absolutely go for it! I was thinking of doing something similar once I get myself legal. I think its a great idea. People love parties and freebies!

I am going to treat it like a Pampered Chef type of party. Send out invites and encourage people to bring a friend. Then I'm going to have a display set up as well as a few different flavors of cake with different icings for people to try.
My focus is just going to be cakes so any other treats will just be there for the guests to enjoy... with their wine and champagne. ( Thats a definite way to get my friends to any party

I'm going to have them fill out questionnaires and give me feedback on what they liked and what I could do better. Then give them a hostess gift with some business cards and a little treat. I'm still working on the logistics as I have not even begun to talk to the right people about becoming legal but I think the idea has so much potential.

Good luck and let me know how it turns out.


*edited for spelling

Wow, that is a GREAT idea, let us know how it turns out for you ladies!!!! Good Luck!

I wonder if it is legal for a business to serve alcohol that was what I wanted to do at a bridal tasting and I didn't know if it was legal to do that serve wine or champagne at the tasting? Does anyone know?

Kathy

I don't see why not, you are not selling the alcohol and you are not serving glass after glass so they are not getting "drunk" and of course, as long as they are 21. HTH

Great idea. I'm sure you'll get a lot of business that way.

It might work for you. A couple of suggestions:

Check with your insurance to see if you are safe to serve alcohol. In a business setting it is different than guests in your home.

Check that you don't need a permit to serve alcohol to the public. You might be better off with coffee or tea. Most cakes and confections are better with coffee than with wine, there are some exceptions.

You might try to get some kind of committment from the invitees. Many business people might be reluctant to come, and you wouldn't want to make food for 50, when 10 will actually show up. Also, January is the month where the highest percentage of people decide to give up sweets.

An alternative would be to take samples to those same individuals.

good luck

Thanks for your input everybody. I will let you know how it goes!

I think this is an AWESOME idea and I'd planned to do the same. I considered it a "launch" party...to officially introduce my business to everyone. I will not be doing mine until the spring...can't wait to hear about yours and get some pointers!!

I am planning the same thing...however I wouldn't overexhaust myself w/cookie bouquets....they're already getting free goodies! Good luck!

The launch party is a great idea. You may get more folks coming in closer to spring though due to NYE resolutions and such where they temporarily give up sweets for awhile. February or March would be a good time to host it.

I would not serve alcohol for a couple reasons. You have to have substantial food (hearty appetizers or dinner) in your system while drinking otherwise all that sugar will make the blood alcohol levels skyrocket. Not everyone likes the taste combination of alcohol and sweets. I know I certainly don't. Unless you have an alcohol permit already, you may not be able to do that anyway. Coffee or tea is a much better option.

Do you plan for the party to be an open house or requiring rsvps?

When I had my B.I.T.S. (Brides Introduction and Tasting Session) meeting I had small cupcakes and 6 different fillings and 6 different frostings all in small covered dishes on a turn table. Each place mat held a small paper plate , napkin, hand wipe, fork and knife as well as a spreader for each of the covered dishes. They were all given a paper with the fillings and frostings listed and asked to rate the ones they liked the most and the least on a scale of 1 to 10. That helped them to determine which flavours they would like on their wedding cakes. The only beverage I served was what I thought would cleanse their palates after each tasted bite which was ice water with a twist of lemon. It seemed to do the trick.

Hope this helps.

Kathy

My guest list is approx 10 people, all of whom I know personally. Their occupations vary. Everything from SAHM to independent consultants. About 50% are self-employed like me. I will invite them to bring a friend. That way I will have opinions from a small focus group I'm hosting the party in my home, so I don't need to worry about any type of permit to serve alcohol. I was planning on just ice water with the actual tasting. Then afterwards, some appetizers with wine. I feel that if there is time after the tasting for informal conversation, I will be able to receive even more input. I'll let you know how everything works out