Reality cooking shows have awakened an interest in cooking and baking like never before. People are now willing to try their hand at new food and dessert recipes. Many of them have even gone as far as to try baking and take orders from friends and family.
In fact, sales numbers of cakes and gourmet cookies have gone up with delivery services at a high in Texas and other states. How easy is it really, to turn a hobby or passion into a full-time and profitable business?
Consider the fact that there is enough competition out there from big names. Can home bakery businesses survive? Their unique selling point will be high-quality products and a personal touch. For those aiming to start a home-based business, here are a few pointers for success:
Quality and Not Price
Traditional recipes and small batches can be made and sold to farmers’ markets and friends. Doing so is a great way to get exposure and expand without compromising on ingredient quality. At the end of the day, consumers are willing to pay a little extra to get treats that satisfy the soul. Once the business has been established, the next step is to set up a web page.
Learning the Trade
Many bakers get their start by baking for fun and then getting custom orders. Many institutes and colleges offer specialized courses that can help in expanding one’s repertoire of recipes and baking methods. Even though baking is more local, cookies are easier to pack and deliver than cakes.
Online Brand Building
As a baker, it is possible to launch an online store with a bit of work and excellent photography. There are many venues to do so: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and others. Word-of-mouth advertising also works well to promote a small business. Even if it just a cookie, it takes a lot of time to tweak recipes and make batches of different kinds of cookies in a home.
Baking is very labor-intensive and requires a lot of patience as well as monitoring. Of course, running a home-based business has advantages: no commuting and little overhead. But ordering ingredients on the premise that there will be orders for specific items will need an upfront investment.
Tapping into Trends
Home bakers can use information from TV programs to expand their business. Participating in a show is also a great way to advertise your business and baking skills. You get to learn new techniques and gain publicity.
Finding a Unique Selling Point for the Business
Since there are so many bakers offering all kinds of products, how do you differentiate yourself from the masses? You can do so by specializing in a couple of areas and making sure that products remain fresh.
In the end, baking is a tough job and requires a lot of time to carry out chores, like cleaning up, ordering, invoicing, and delivering products. Knowing that their food is enjoyed by many and remembered for a long time is very satisfying for every cook and baker.
