Another home baker

Hi all,
Earlier last year, a friend and I set up a small business, where we bake cakes to then sell from a stall, going all around the county.

As this is more of a seasonal part time job, I've been looking into baking cakes and selling them from home, for myself as ideally a full time income. While I know all about environmental checks/insurance/all things necessary for being a legit baker (due to the stall) I'm more stuck on the aspect of where do I actually start, regaring selling my produce?

I've contemplated the idea of going round to cafes and asking whether they would be willing to buy my cakes, but then i think it's often a battle between them wanting homemade cakes (baked in the cafe itself, understandable) or buying cakes in from wholesale retailers for cheaper prices than I could compete with.

Do you think it would be worth going round to local offices/bigger companies etc and potentially trying to gain custom that way, or would that be a waste of time? While I am considered to be a good baker,my artistic abilities aren't on the same level, so the likes of wedding cakes and such are out of the question.

Any thoughts/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Comments

  • lindens
    lindens Posts: 2,870
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    Hi all,
    Earlier last year, a friend and I set up a small business, where we bake cakes to then sell from a stall, going all around the county.

    As this is more of a seasonal part time job, I've been looking into baking cakes and selling them from home, for myself as ideally a full time income. While I know all about environmental checks/insurance/all things necessary for being a legit baker (due to the stall) I'm more stuck on the aspect of where do I actually start, regaring selling my produce?

    I've contemplated the idea of going round to cafes and asking whether they would be willing to buy my cakes, but then i think it's often a battle between them wanting homemade cakes (baked in the cafe itself, understandable) or buying cakes in from wholesale retailers for cheaper prices than I could compete with.

    Do you think it would be worth going round to local offices/bigger companies etc and potentially trying to gain custom that way, or would that be a waste of time? While I am considered to be a good baker,my artistic abilities aren't on the same level, so the likes of wedding cakes and such are out of the question.

    Any thoughts/ideas would be greatly appreciated.

    Many thanks
    I'm a bit confused why you see this as seasonal. We have a farmers market 12 months of the year in my local town and the local towns/village surrounding me. Plenty of people selling cakes at them
    Is that an option for you?
    You're not your * could have not of * Debt not dept *
  • Lawcraft
    Lawcraft Posts: 11 Forumite
    Do you think it would be worth going round to local offices/bigger companies etc and potentially trying to gain custom that way, or would that be a waste of time?
    You wouldn't know before you try. :)
  • I attend a local farmers market and have done research into attending other ones, however from our experiences, in our local areas, we haven't been making nearly enough money from them to really make a profit. It'll maybe make enough to make up a days basic wage, though nothing special. That's with selling coffee, too. People aren't as interested in cake as they are pies or "proper" food regarding f.mkts. Especially this time of year, if people want a slice of cake and a cup of coffee, they'd rather go sit inside a cafe in town than take them away, which is understandable.
  • Mistral001
    Mistral001 Posts: 5,346
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    There might be a market for high quality speciality cakes such as birthday and wedding cakes made to order where word of mouth would be your main form of advertising and you could compete with the existing bakery shops.
  • Seanymph
    Seanymph Posts: 2,870
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    Are you firm on only wanting to do cakes? How about afternoon teas? Funeral and Christening Teas? Buffets?
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 45,938
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    Seanymph wrote: »
    Are you firm on only wanting to do cakes? How about afternoon teas? Funeral and Christening Teas? Buffets?
    the person who did our parents' funeral catering (on two separate occasions, I hasten to add) specialised in these. She found they were 'easier' than weddings: not generally held at weekends, not much notice so you could accept or decline depending on your other engagements, and possible to offer a set range of items which were reliable to make and cost effective.

    You might not want to start as comprehensively as this, but she provided all linen and tableware (including teapots!), and would set up and clear away at the end. She knew her way round the local church / village halls. I can't tell you what a bonus it was to be in a relaxed, informal setting, and not to have to give a thought to sweeping the floor at the end of the session ...

    However, another suggestion if you want to stick to cakes: both here and where we used to live, there are fresh home-made cakes in all the small supermarkets and in some of the greengrocers, made by the same person. So not just cafes, where I agree they might prefer to make their own, or be happy to provide mass catering rather than home cooked.
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  • lindens
    lindens Posts: 2,870
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    I attend a local farmers market and have done research into attending other ones, however from our experiences, in our local areas, we haven't been making nearly enough money from them to really make a profit. It'll maybe make enough to make up a days basic wage, though nothing special. That's with selling coffee, too. People aren't as interested in cake as they are pies or "proper" food regarding f.mkts. Especially this time of year, if people want a slice of cake and a cup of coffee, they'd rather go sit inside a cafe in town than take them away, which is understandable.

    do you sell slices or whole cakes? my farmers market sells whole fruit cakes, barra brith, welsh cakes, lemon drizzle. etc
    You're not your * could have not of * Debt not dept *
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