Sunday, August 8, 2010

Baked Goods: Be Creative and Make Money

People who make their own luck in business, especially those found in the area of arts and crafts, or baking, typically begin as a story on being passionate about that specific hobby.

Baking, for so many households, is simply a normal activity, but individuals who take time to create extremely tasty baked treats and delight in presenting them to relatives and co-workers, will soon find out that a hobby can be a very profitable and rewarding financial venture – in every sense of the word.

While the actual baking process may be the most fun part, selling your product and being able to grow it into an income stream, if you chose to, would demand some business-related work that would take you out of the home.

• Stop by a local school and inquire if you can provide cakes for the upcoming bake sale.
This could be an excellent event to market your baked sweets initially to a big audience.
• Visit a family-owned coffee house and ask if you can give them a variety of your baked treats and see if there’s a market.
This could be your intitial occasion to sell ‘commercially’. Spend some effort on good wrapping and really consider the price tag you will be placing on it.
• Go to small shops who also put out baked treats at the counter.
This can be a very fast way to see how your ‘market’ reacts. And the merchandise is located for easy selection at the counter. So you can save and you don’t have to advertise yourself.
• Many consumers prefer organic ingredients, so if you bake with organic, don't forget to say so. Also try some sugar-free products for an older audience.
Highlight what’s best or what makes yours different from regular cookies or cakes.
• Start a website
Use affordable media to interest people outside your community. You can usually work in the comfort of your own house without necessarily renting out a counter space in the mall or in the supermarket.
• Buy some business cards/flyers.
Tell people that you exist! Place phone and website data and merchandise options so they’ll be handy whenever the client’s craving calls. Be ready to answer phone calls and internet orders once you market with fliers. Their first contact with your business has to be effortless so they are assured you can actually deliver the type of product and service you are offering.

• Tell a friend to tell a friend.
The most valuable advertising is word of mouth advertising. When someone spreads the word about your business, it can certainly bring a lot of potential customers right to your doorstep.

A selection of self-made treats wrapped with well-planned advertising and selling approaches can most assuredly bring you a fun and profitable opportunity. Just be consistent with the quality of your goods and don’t forget to appreciate the loyal clientel supporting your dream and before you know it, you will be the preferred ‘baker’ for a lot of people.

Remember to add a splash of hard work and whisk together with good will and you will be on your way to sweet success – in hobby and business.


Criss White is an article author for websites on family, baby, and wedding topics, and a cookie connoisseur. For decorated cookies, visit My Baby Shower Favors.

How You can Best Say Thank You With a Card

Organizing and executing a positive and extraordinary event is difficult, so the help of anyone in making the occasion happen should always be rewarded. Whether it’s time, energy, financial support, or presents – anyone contributing should well be recognized and a basic gesture of acknowlegement will make the event more special even after the party if finished.

Below are etiquette hints that can really show your respect and acknowledgement for a helpful individual.

• For a more individual note, have them handwritten. Instead of buying them stock issued in a simple click, spend the effort to compose your note and write it down. It’s a token of appreciation they will truly value.
• Appreciate everyone, not just those who are invited to the occasion, but especially the individuals who supported you in the planning stages. Family and acquaintances are not to be forgotten. Give them thank-you notes individually, because, of course, it was everyone’s separate but collective support that helped make the event successful.
• Give thank you cards to individuals who gave presents, including cash gifts. Tell them that it’s a symbol of your recognition not just for the offering itself, but also the expended energy and assistance in getting them ready and preparing for the big day.
• If a group of friends presented you with a gift, particularly more than ten, you can mail a combined thank-you note that can be placed or shared in a shared space as well.
• Great thank you note etiquette demands that you deliver the card within 7 days from the occasion. Mailing them after that time would seem to be poorly planned or might appear insincere. A lot of individuals allotted time to support you. Now is the chance to reciprocate their support by being prompt in your recognition.
• There are times when you get gifts or monetary support from a friend for several events. Even in a case where those happenings are separated by little time, send individual cards. The giver expended the energy to buy and present gifts at both distinct occasions, so it seems proper to mail two different thank you cards as well, as a sign of your recognition and acknowledgement.
• Your little ones can make the thank you notes! Typically, children get Birthday presents at a party. In those situations, the children themselves can show their gratitude. You can make it a good and fun learning task when authoring the text, and your little one can also internalize the significance of being grateful. This will probably help teach him or her that people should be appreciated for their effort.

Thank you notes mean a lot and they are not just expressions of thanks. Thank you notes can make your friendships grow, and the bonds that you create may totally last a lifetime. Remember that you by yourself are unable to make an occasion memorable. It requires the effort and input of lots of people to make lasting memories, and a sincere and valued thank you note can make the difference.


Criss White is an article author for websites on family, baby, and wedding topics. For baby shower thank you cards and more articles, visit My Baby Shower Favors.