Coming up with ideas to set your baking business apart from the competition is important when launching a home bakery. Trying to bake everything you can is not a winning proposition. Here are 5 unique goodies to consider for your baking business:
1. Mixes in a Jar
One idea to consider for your baking business involves no baking at all on your part. You can layer the dry ingredients of easy-to-bake recipes, and put them in a jar for customers to buy. Attach a small card listing the wet ingredients to add with baking instructions. You can also decorate the jar with ribbons and lid covers to make it pretty gifts-in-a-jar.
Customers will want to buy your cookie, biscuit and bread mixes to give as gifts to others, or to keep for themselves. You might also consider putting together some jars just for marketing purposes. You can attach your business cards, and give them out to the local media, employers and anyone else you wish to network with.
2. Ethnic Foods
Another way to distinguish your baking business is to add a line of ethnic foods. People won't beat down your door if they can buy what you're selling cheaper at the local supermarket. One way to lure in customers in is to offer foods that they won't find (or is hard to find) locally. For example, you can bake Jamaican beef patties, baklava from Greece or British tarts. Customers will be curious to try to new foods, and they'll consider it money well spent to have the experience of tasting foods from other cultures.
3. Gluten Free Goodies
More and more people have to restrict their diet due to celiac and other diseases. This requires them to abstain from foods that have gluten (anything made from wheat, rye, barley or oats). Many companies make gluten free foods, but the local options are slim and doesn't compare to homemade baked goods. You can learn how to baked goods that are gluten free and market them to individuals who have to watch their diet. You can also try to donate to or participate in hospital and other health fairs to reach customers likely to buy from your baking business.
4. Organic Ingredients
One way to offer a unique product is to only use organic ingredients. Many people are opting to only eat organic foods, and you can market to them with your home baked organic goods. You'll have to research companies that will offer you great deals on organic ingredients, so that you can keep your costs low and still make a profit. You should also buy from local farmers when you can, and market goods that are both organic and locally grown.
5. Recipe Resource Website
Another product for your baking business that involves no baking is a recipes-based website. You can list your own recipes and compile more from other sources to list on your website. You can then use article marketing and blogging to attract readers to your website. When you accumulate 400 or more unique readers a day, you can approach advertisers and sponsors to pay for ad space on your website and in your newsletters. This can supplement your baking at home, or become the primary way to make money for your baking business.
Too often your competition will be your local supermarket, and therefore you must think outside the box if you want to run a successful home bakery. That doesn't mean you can't make traditional baked goods for your baking business. You just have to think of unique ways to make your products stand out.
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Daphne Mallory, Esq. is the co-owner of Mallory Writing Services and has written more than 100 articles helping home based business owners and entrepreneurs start and market their business. You can learn more about her here.
