Not everyone enjoys baking at Christmas. Some people might hate the heat of an oven or the stress of overdone biscuits. Either way, there is a lot of need for professional bakeries during this time. If you run a baking business, then you better expect a rise in demand.
With this increased demand, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Fortunately, there are tactics you can use to simplify the process. Some of these strategies have been outlined below.
Limit Your Selection
Strategies need to be put in place before the holiday season arrives. One such strategy is limiting the product selection your baking business offers during this time. Not only will this improve efficiency, but reducing the items offered will control costs and ensure quality. However, you must plan ahead if you wish to utilize this tactic.
A small, focused menu is best suited to this strategy. You can base the products on this menu on customer feedback and past sales data. There will be certain items that are incredibly popular at this time of year, and using polls or questionnaires will help you identify them. If you do this, limit your offerings to five or six core products.
Alternatively, you might create a Christmas bundle. For example, if you decorate cupcakes or cookies with holiday images, then these could be grouped together into “treat boxes.” These would be perfect for gifting, particularly as the purchase process would be simple for customers.
Encourage Pre-Orders
To manage high demand, pre-orders should be taken during the Christmas season. This will minimize waste from over-baking and reduce last-minute stress, which is incredibly common for businesses as Christmas approaches. It could also boost customer satisfaction by ensuring shoppers receive the items they want.
Beginning your Christmas promotions early is a good way to do this. Try four to six weeks in advance. Customers require this time to plan, budget, and place their orders. You should post consistently across your social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, to make shoppers aware of your pre-ordering system. Sending newsletters to your existing customer base is another must.
If you find your pre-ordering is lacking popularity, then offer incentives. Complimentary mini-items, discounts, or free delivery will encourage customers to place orders early.
Plan Delivery Windows
The Christmas period brings an increase in demand. Some regular operations might be overwhelmed because of this. Your baking business might benefit from planned delivery windows. This will allow you to control the flow of orders and allocate appropriate time slots for production and delivery. Bottlenecks are prevented this way.
Ensuring you stick with this means setting firm order deadlines. Clear cutoff dates for placing orders must be established to guarantee delivery before Christmas. These deadlines should be published on your website and social media channels to manage customer expectations. Customers will be informed and know when to place their orders.
It is crucial to work with your courier, though. They might have their own delivery deadlines to stick to, and these must be kept in mind. As some couriers will offer same-day delivery, like these Florida couriers, this means your items will be the freshest. If you do work with this type of carrier, then your customers will likely appreciate the extra effort.
To conclude, Christmas is a busy time for many businesses, but none more than bakeries. With customers wanting sweet holiday treats, you will likely experience a surge in demand. This post should help you manage this easily.
