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Entrepreneurship:  anyone make bread and sell it?  |
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Carolinagirl
True Blue Farmgirl
486 Posts
Kim
Rutherfordton
NC
USA
486 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 06 2006 : 06:32:22 AM
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I'm considering this as a possibility for a home-based business... where I used to work, there was a lady that came around once a week with quick breads (banana nut, cinnamon, chocolate...) for sale, and then took orders for others (which she brought back the next week). It seems she sold them for $3-5 a loaf.
Any comments on making and selling homemade bread? How much did you sell a loaf for? Where did you sell it (we have two summer farmer markets here)?
Thanks-
Kim in NC |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2006 : 09:45:51 AM
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My daughter and I baked for our summer farmer's markets for three years. We used the tinfoil baking pans, about 4"x8" and sold them for $3.50 ea. I found two things that will sell your baking...use as many organic products as financially possible and let folks know it, and give your products earthy/country names! A huge seller for us was our "Hobo Bread"...a very simple raisin loaf with few ingredients. People loved it and I'll certainly share the recipe if you're interested. Another huge seller was "Olde Fashioned Butter Tarts". I didn't make the dinky little ones, but large, well-filled tarts in muffin pans. We sold them for $1.00 ea and they were usually sold out in no time. Also large, oversized cookies sold really well at $1.00 ea, particularly those made with organic oats.
We used strictly organic flour and fresh farm eggs and had a little fancy sign that advertised it. Unfortunately organic butter and sugar made it prohibitively expensive, but people seemed to understand that. (Organic butter is about $7 lb. here!). Oh, and ingredient lists seemed to be a must...most people did take the time to read them and I would think they would be necessary for those with allergies as well.
I didn't find yeast breads worth the time to bake and sell, but some ladies that did did very well. On the occasion when we did bake bread, it sold out in no time. Another lady sold pies for $8.00 each and did very well. I found them to be too much work for the little profit you make.
One thing you might look into is your state regulations with regard to baking in your own home kitchen. We can provide baking here so long as it has no cream fillings or anything that might food poison someone. We were supposed to have our kitchen inspected, however, we just flew under the radar and never had a problem. We always presented a clean and appealing product.
Ok, now I'm rambling...I think your idea sounds like a good idea and wish you the best of luck. Be sure to let us know how it goes for you.
Di |
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Yogifarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
297 Posts
Jenn
Swiftwater
PA
USA
297 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2006 : 10:13:18 AM
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You would want to check into getting your home kitchen licensed first. When I wanted to sell my homemade tea jellies I couldn't because I own a dog. If you have a separate kitchen from the rest of the house you may get away with it. You wouldn't want to lose a potentially profitable business with the state shutting you down. Some people did tell me about local kitchens that you can rent for a nominal fee that are already licensed, unfortuneatley my area does not offer that service. Good Luck!!
"Breathe in the Sunshine" |
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garliclady
True Blue Farmgirl
274 Posts
Reidsville
NC
274 Posts |
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Carolinagirl
True Blue Farmgirl
486 Posts
Kim
Rutherfordton
NC
USA
486 Posts |
Posted - Jul 07 2006 : 7:24:23 PM
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Thanks for y'all's (yes, there is a plural for y'all!) help. I am trying to decide about doing this, and I keep plugging it through my brain to see if the numbers come out right. I have several captured customer audiences with my mom's office (the kind of people who will buy anything homemade because they won't do it themselves), so it may end up working.
Kim |
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Sue-eee
Farmgirl in Training
14 Posts
Susan
Drummond
ok
USA
14 Posts |
Posted - Jul 08 2006 : 05:15:57 AM
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I did baking for about a year. I had a friend who owned a catering business and contracted with me to do all of her baking. But I had to use her kitchen because of the strict regulations about homemade food preperations. Between that and the costs of the ingredients, my profit margin was very small. I did better making pies for friends and family around the holidays and then doing wedding and birthday cakes (under the radar).
~~Susan~~
wife and mommy |
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jamsnbread
True Blue Farmgirl
61 Posts
Is
Worth
IL
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - Aug 16 2006 : 9:36:26 PM
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Hello Carolinagirl,
Just wanted to share my experience with selling bread. Selling bread is how my business began. My mother was over one day and I had made some banana bread and she took some home with her. The next day she called from work asking if I would mind making some more and I said why she said that a few people at work were interested in buying some because they tasted it and it was awesome. So, I gave it some thought and told her yes i would make some to sell and by the end of the day I had an order of about 20 loaves of bread some banana and some other flavors. I sold each 2 lb loaf for $3.50. I used my breadmaker to do them and it was virtually effortless on my part. My cost for the ingredients would come out to less than $1 per loaf. Then people were interested in jam for the bread. Now I only sell the bread locally and dont have them on my web site anymore due to the length of time it would take to get to other states defeating the whole purpose of wanting a healthier fresh bread.
Thats how it all began. So, I would definately give it a try as there is a demand for homemade bread and other products.
Hope that helps and if you have any questions please dont hesitate to let me know. I would be glad to help you.
Take care and good luck!
Is.
Jams -N- Bread
www.jams-n-bread.com
info@jams-n-bread.com
C & A Computer Services
www.cacrs.com
info@cacrs.com |
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Entrepreneurship: anyone make bread and sell it? |
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anyone make bread and sell it?
