So Good, We Sold Out!

Hi Loves,

On only our second appearance the market, we nearly doubled our sales and practically sold out of everything. I wanted to write about the factors that I believe led to such a sweet second day success!

The Weather (the biggest factor): It was overcast and much cooler (70 degrees). I was banking on a substantial amount of foot traffic, as it was a break from the sweltering heat of the days previous. I decided to take a chance and bring double the amount (129 pieces. I’m used to bringing 300. Baby steps.) and variety of products (individually packaged - how I’ve always sold my baked goods). The prices ranged from $5 to $6 a piece.

Bakery Teaser: Previous to becoming official, I was experimenting with my new oven and new altitude (from CO to MA). I made tons of my baked goods and gave them away to everyone, including bank tellers. A customer dropped by with a treat list supplied to her by her good friend, one of the bank tellers. She made purchases on her behalf (because the teller works during market hours). 

Variety of Baked Goods (optional): Varieties do well for me. It’s like being a kid in a candy store. There’s no confusion; folks just want to try everything. Also, for the repeat customers (and there were a good amount from the first market), they wanted to try the new offerings. Variety, for me, keeps things fresh and new for my customers.

Display of Goods: Everything was on display - no coolers this week. I do admit, when the booth appears plentiful, more folks are engaged. Products have to be the stars. They should not be hidden behind an abundance of signage, displays, or busy patterns, which ultimately compete with the products, and draw the line of sight away from them. 

Loyalty Card (optional): It works. Customers receive a punch card. It’s a good way to garner repeat business, and it is a way to gauge how much of the day’s business is from repeat customers. In our case, there was a huge amount of loyalty. 

Social Media Posts: Saved the day. We have to become a destination. No other entity is going to give you as much publicity as you afford yourself. Many customers commented on our posts.

Word of Mouth: As Equally important, if not more so than social media platforms. It can make or break a business. We heard plenty of, “My friend told me about you…”

Products: There’s a saying, “You can’t dress up a pig.” The saying means that enhancements or embellishments cannot disguise the underlying reality of something. A vendor can have the most spectacular packaging in the world. The price point may be as affordable as they come. However, if the flavor profiles are not there, the products won’t be able to be given away. 

Engagement: Read the customer’s energy, and engage accordingly. I’m pretty outgoing, and my brand evokes joviality. In smaller, intimate settings, like this market, I become more conservative. I let the visual appeal of my products sell themselves. How do I know this? Because the customers always comment on their appearance before purchases. 

Confidence: Our market is very small and quaint. There are multiple bakers. It doesn’t bother me at all. Community over competition, always. I am responsible for my products and their translation into sales. Like a grocery store, there is something for everyone. If customer engagement, customer service, and products are on point, we will be rewarded accordingly.

There are so many factors that work into building a viable business. They are all based on individual decisions that work exclusively for that specific scenario. The observations that I made directly impacted our business this past week. 

Will we be this successful in every market? I’d like to be hopeful. However, I’m a realist, and of course, we will have better days than others. I’m just sharing the incredible contrast between our first and second markets, which was gleaned from observations of the day and customer commentary of the day.

So good, we sold out! - 2nd Day at the Market, June 2025