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

[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.