FurFright: Baking all the things

[tabbiewolf]

So I have been encouraged by certain parties -- that is, all of the FurFright staff who I have given baked goods to since last year -- to actually sell my cupcakes and cookies at the convention. This is possible because I have a business license and can follow the rules of a farmers market (instead of having to worry about health code violations), and has been approved by the Folks In Charge.

The questions left, then, are two: What specifically do I sell, and how much do I sell it for?

Obviously, cookies and cupcakes and brownies (and other bar cookies) are what I'm going to be making...but which ones? There are so many types. What homemade baked goods are your favorites?

And, if you were at a convention and given the option of baked goods, how much would you be comfortable paying for them? It can't break the bank for my customers, but I'd like to make a bit of profit, as well (the supplies I'll need for distribution -- boxes, etc. -- will actually probably cost me more than the baking supplies).

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Comments

[tefindeno.livejournal.com]

Are you planning on selling single items or (in the case of a cookie) a pack of 2,4,6,12? I would imagine selling more at once would cost YOU less in packaging but idk..

I would also say doing bulk batches of just a few different kinds of cookies would be cheaper and you wouldn't have to be concerned about time/energy/supplies in different packaging, baking, displaying and such.

The price I'd pay would also differ on the size /quantity of the yumz. But I would say $1-2 per cookie, $2-3 per brownie ?
I like PB cookies, and Chocolate chunk. But I'm pretty plain jane too.

[dalesql.livejournal.com]

Generally, too many choices leads to lots of leftovers. So I'd concentrate on four or five things that you do really well. Considerations include at least one nut free for the nut allergy folks. If you have something good that is low or no gluten, then that would be nice, but gluten issues are less common. Try to avoid things that are really gooey or crumbly, as these will make messes in the hotel carpet to be ground in by folks before the hotel can come and clean them up. A low calorie, or at least low added sugar item for the calorie counters. Might try to find a recipe for some hypercaffineated thing for the dance all night crowd. Something multigrain for the granola crowd. My personal preference would be for a oatmeal butterscotch thing of some kind, or an oatmeal cranberry cookie, because raisins have been done to death.

Prepackage everything, probably in plastic wrap so folks can examine them without getting their filthy fingers on the actual food. Because about 25% of adult males in America don't wash their hands before leaving the bathroom. (Ladies do better, only 10% or them fail to do so. ) For your monetary convenience, all prices in even dollars, so you don't have to deal with small change. For even easier pricing, make all packages the same price. Say a dollar or two dollars. Then you can offer up specials. Say you price things at 2 bucks. You can offer a three items for five bucks deal. Gets the merch moving. Can try a party pack. Say ten or twenty bucks for a plate full of assorted cookies and bars. Bring lots of ones and fives. No, more than that. Remember, everyone gets twenties from the cash machines.

[tabbiewolf.livejournal.com]

Excellent advice!

I plan on posting to the furfright LiveJournal several times before the con for questions concerning gluten-free/vegan/sugar-free stuff. I can do vegan easily and have a few good recipes, but both gluten-free and sugar-free would require me to buy specialty ingredients...and I'm not sure I want to make that investment if people aren't going to buy them.

I'm also hoping that in those posts, there will be some interest in pre-ordering dozens of cupcakes/cookies/etc. (or full-sized cakes, which I only plan on making if they're pre-ordered because it's inconvenient to package individual slices when you can just have a cupcake), but really it depends on who sees the posts.

Packaging is going to be my main upfront investment, either getting cupcake pods/boxes and plastic bags for the cookies/brownies. Besides keeping the product clean (outside of not washing hands after the bathroom, the general con funk that tends to descend...), it will be handy because it will allow extremely easy application of labels showing ingredients, which I have to have on all products.

Pondering doing snack mixes, as well, like a "Con Crud Prevention" one with dried citrus or something. We'll see how much time/money I can invest in this...though I have a feeling my food MAY be more popular than my art.

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

SCONES!

also I think if you want to do a stuffed bread, you might make a killing at that as a lunch item.

[chefmongoose.livejournal.com]

I agree with Dale that you should keep things to a small amount of varieties: No more than 2-3 types each of cookies, cupcakes, or brownies. Price them on the slightly-high side ($1-$1.50 a small cookie or brownie, $2-3 a large cookie/brownie or average cupcake) and have a "Buy 3, get 1 free." or a "$5 sampler!" deal that will be your main mover-of-product.

Don't sell anything less than a dollar. Remember last year and all the candy EVERYWHERE? Furfright will be that again, and you can't compete against free tootsie rolls and mini snickers on the low end. Aim gourmet and high-end.

[firesplace.livejournal.com]

Definitely have a selection of affordable items, even it you have to offer them in little bites to keep costs down. I think $1 is a fine price point!

Personally, I'd be tempted by little truffle-type things, and would even be willing to pay a premium for attractively packaged small bundles. Something small-but-decadent would be a great little indulgence, and since they're just a bite or two, it would quickly leave my hands free to go back to browsing art.

You could also offer room party catering packs via pre-orders - some nice selection of your fave easy-to-make-in-bulk items, perhaps served up on aluminum trays, since they can be crunched down small for easy disposal in the hotel's recycling?

Love the idea of the con crud prevention pack! Heck, you could even do breakfast cookies with lots of nuts/fruit/oatmeal/whatever.

In general, I'd think the classic comfort foods (chocolate chip, oatmeal, brownies) would be the biggest sellers, with a few house specialties and special diet considerations.

Do you have any paper stores near you? The local restaurant supply stores 'round here do have some food serving items at decent prices, but I've found party stores and paper stores have even better deals on big packages of plastic sleeves/Chinese take-out containers/etc.

[world-dancer.livejournal.com]

Here's some pricing options for "gourmet" cupcake places:

http://www.thehouseofcupcakes.com/home
Individual $2.25
Half Dozen
Buy 5 get 1 Free $11.25
Dozen
Buy 10 get 2 Free $22.50
Over 50 Each $1.85

http://www.wickedgoodcupcakes.com/Catering/Prices.aspx
Cupcake pricing starts at $32.00/dozen for standard flavors which includes a simple fondant element.

http://www.yummycupcakes.com/PDF/AUG%202012%20Full%20Menu.pdf
Classic Cupcakes
Ranging in price from $3.25 - $4.00
Special Dozen price = $37.00
Mini Cupcakes
1 dozen assorted in window gift box $21.00
(in bakeshop every day)
Individual: $1.65ea
(Vegan & Sugar Free- $1.75)
(small quantity available in store every day...subject to availability)


Looking at these samples, I don't think you want to encourage people to order 50. So I'd avoid that option altogether.

Based on the pricing for a dozen in both the first and last example (minis), it looks like a good price for 12 cupcakes is $20-$24. If you want to offer them in such a large quantity (pre-order only for a dozen?)

It definitely seems reasonable to offer a 1/2 dozen snack pack. That could easily feed 2 people 1 cupcake per day of the con. I would think it would be your most popular pre-order. Pre-order price $10 for 6, price at the con $13 for pre-packed half dozen? Bulk orders must all be the same flavor?

Individual cupcakes for $2.25-$2.75 day of sales? Maybe $2.25 for pre-ordering individual cupcakes. $2.75 for buying at the con?

Add $0.25 per cupcake for vegan/sugar-free orders?

ETA:

Forgot to mention favorite flavors: Chocolate & Vanilla are going to be winners.

I think Banana with Vanilla frosting would go well. Maybe Strawberry & Vanilla. When I think chocolate, I can see chocolate dipped fruit, but I don't think it would work well on fruity cupcakes. For chocolate, I think you'd get a following for coffee with chocolate or vanilla frostings. And then I could see some people liking fudge chunks/chocolate chips. And finally you might try something with caramel in a chocolate cupcake (if you have such a recipe, it sounds tasty & gooey.

My other thought is that you might try muffins. I know my family sometimes did breakfast muffins, and breakfast muffins were always a hit in college. Then I like something like blueberry or apple cinnamon.

[dalesql.livejournal.com]

That's a good point. Breakfast type muffin things will go well in the mornings. Especially with your fellow dealers who overslept and skipped breakfast to get to the dealers room on time. Bring lots of paper napkins and maybe some of those little wet wipe packets, Dont want customers with residue on their fingers to leave greasy fingerprints on the other merchandise in the room.