Home Based Bakers...do You Sell Anything Besides Cakes?
Business By cms2 Updated 8 Sep 2011 , 3:36am by xoxoemilyrae
When I started my business a few years ago, I offered custom cakes, cookies (both drop and hand decorated cut out cookies), cake rolls, pound cake, and fudge. I love all things sugar! 99% of my business has been custom cakes. In fact, only 1 person ordered drop cookies and fudge for a holiday open house (they also ordered a custom cake as well). I took everything but cakes off of my menu about a year ago since nobody ever ordered anything else.
I've been thinking about a seasonal offering. The holidays are especially slow for me. Sometimes I appreciate that, as it makes my holidays less stressed but I would like to at least have some business during that time.
Do you offer anything other than cakes? Do you have much demand for it? Is this mostly seasonal or for wedding favors/ party favors?
My mom wanted me to sell pumpkin rolls but I feel that I have to charge a good bit just to make it worth the time and effort. My local grocery store sells them pretty darn cheap. Although they seem smaller.
FYI..I don't advertise and work solely by word of mouth and my website. (yes, I'm legal) I have been thinking about putting my business on facebook and advertising in my church's bulletin. I'm slightly afraid of advertising. I don't want to get overwhelmed with orders since I do everything myself and I have young children, so I've kept it pretty low key thus far.
I'm just curious as to what seems to be working for other home bakers. Thanks for your help.
Pumpkin rolls are pretty easy to make. I wouldn't worry about what the store is selling them for. You just promote yours as homemade and/or from scratch. That sets you apart.
I'd also say pies would be good for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many people may not want to make the effort to make them (or know how), but would pay for a really good one.
I don't make cakes for family holidays, I usually do some other dessert that we like, so cakes aren't the first thing I think of for holidays outside of birthdays.
I do cakes, cookies and cake balls. That's it.
I offer holiday trays for Nov and Dec. They have a combination of cookies and cake bites on them.
Not sure if it would be worth your while to offer pumpkin rolls if you are competing with the grocery store.
Since I'm better at baking than decorating, I do offer more, including custom truffles and molded chocolate.
Since I'm better at baking than decorating, I do offer more, including custom truffles and molded chocolate.
For the holidays, cookie trays and cookie boxes are a great supplement to cake sales. And cookies can be made ahead in large batches because of their long shelf life. Just don't eat them all before your orders are filled.
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I sell everything, and yes, it all sells equally. I sell everything a bakery would sell and now I've decided to offer yeast bakery good too, such as brioche sticky buns and a few other items using brioche. I don't want to have to make lots of different doughs, so I'm limited right now. But I sell cookies, pies, scones, muffins, cheesecake, pastries, quick bread, bread pudding, homestyle cakes, and gourmet cupcakes. I didn't think I would really sell those things as much, but I do. Not everyone wants cake. My prices are very high because I use premium ingredients. A pumpkin roll would probably be $21.00 for me unless I was doing it as a Thanksgiving special. That is what I charge for two loaves of pumpkin bread. Add a jar of flavored butter or cream cheese and the price is $26.00. Don't worry about the price if you can justify it. People will pay for a premium product, but it better be perfect and the best the person has ever had at that price point.
you should definitely sell pumpkin rolls and cookie trays for the holidays. they are an easy sell!
I'm not sure where you live, but in my region there are traditional holiday cakes that some people don't want to take the time to make-jam cakes, stack pies, Italian cream cakes. maybe you could offer those.
From my home I sell custom cakes (mostly wedding), cupcakes and decorated sugar cookies. The sugar cookies are the least sold item because people always think the cookies are going to be cheap (like the sugar cookies from Wal-Mart with the buttercream and sprinkles cheap).
I sell a lot of cakes and cupcakes.
can you make a living doing this from home? my ultimate goal is to do this from home. I am in the corporate world right now and I hate it. I am trying to get out.
My kitchen is in my home but it is a full commercial kitchen... same requirements as any restaurant. That is why I do what I want. I can even cater if I want. Probably 50% is cupcakes and the rest is all over the menu. I bake from scratch, so the same ingredients go into every baked good, from piecrust to bread to cupcakes... even pastry creams and custards are essentially the same ingredients. The more I master, the more I add. Right now I'm adding breads and more vegan offerings. I've been making breads for years, but now I'm concentrating on bringing them to the highest level that I can. The breads are still pastry oriented in the final products. My days are never the same and I'm never bored with my baking, as I might be if I had a limited menu.
can you make a living doing this from home? my ultimate goal is to do this from home. I am in the corporate world right now and I hate it. I am trying to get out.
It depends upon what you mean by the phrase "make a living." Most home-based food processors would say yes, it's very possible to make enough money to raise a family and feel content. But they probably make less than someone in the corporate world.
I offer pretty much anything you can think of. Cookies, Cake Pops, Cupcakes, Cakes, Brownies, Fudge, Candies, Chocolate, Chocolate Covered Fruits/Pretzels, you name it. I just have a place on my website where I have the "most order 'other' items" then say if theres something you want that you dont see, just let me know. chances are, i can make it.
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