Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy

On today's episode, I'm excited to announce a new program we are running starting the week of August 5, 2024 - Bakery Finance Essentials LIVE!
I've been teaching my flagship bakery finance e-course in one form or another since 2019 ... it's gone through many iterations and revisions, and I'm confident it is the most comprehensive & approachable bakery finance e-course out there today. We re-lauched the latest version of the program last month, and now I'm excited to announce that for the first time EVER, we are running a LIVE cohort of the class!
I’ve never run a Live cohort of this course before, and I'm looking forward to the chance to connect with you all on a deeper level, and to be able to give some more hands-on instruction and work with folks more directly than I’m typically able to do in the self-paced, DIY-version of this course.

I recognize that some folks want a bit more guidance, and an additional component of accountability, that comes with signing up for a Live program. So - if you know that you work better with that added accountability of a guided, group program - then please consider joining us for this live cohort!
To learn more about Bakery Finance Essentials and sign up today, visit:
https://www.bakerybusinessacademy.com/finance

**We discovered while editing this podcast that the episode mentioned with Amy Smith from The Evergreen has actually NOT yet been published! We are working on getting this "legacy" interview episode from November 2022 published - hopefully with an update from Amy - very soon. We will update this page with more info when that episode goes Live!**

Episode Summary: Join us on this inspiring episode of Kitchen Notes as we sit down with Amy Smith, the dynamic owner of The Evergreen Southern Kitchen & Gathering Place, a multifaceted Bakery/Cafe & event venue in Bridgeport, Kentucky. Transitioning from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, Amy shares her journey of creating a thriving business that not only serves delectable treats but also stands as a pillar in the community. Discover how Amy's blend of passion, creativity, and strategic business acumen has transformed The Evergreen into a beloved local destination.

This episode was originally recorded in November, 2022

Episode Highlights:

• Amy's Transition from Corporate America: Hear about Amy's shift from a corporate job to running a thriving home bakery, and eventually founding The Evergreen with her family
• The Evergreen's Unique Business Model: Learn about the multifunctional approach of The Evergreen, incorporating a bakery, cafe, gift shop, thriving catering business, and emerging event space that supports local artists. Amy's smart approach to diversifying her business model sets them up for success, despite their "off the beaten path" location
• Community Engagement and Support: Amy discusses the importance of community in the growth and success of her business, especially in a rural setting where "everyone knows everyone"!
• Challenges and Triumphs: Explore the challenges of maintaining a business in a rural area, and how Amy and her team have overcome them to create a thriving community hub at The Evergreen
• Strategic Business Practices: Gain insights into Amy's strategies for diversification and sustainability, particularly through catering & events - smart!
• Seasonal Business Strategy: Understand Amy's approach to seasonal business operation, including taking a break during the slower months to optimize operational efficiency & care for her team
• Marketing and Outreach: Discover how The Evergreen leverages social media & email marketing to reach new customers and engage the community

Resources or Links Mentioned:

• The Evergreen's Website: Visit The Evergreen's website to learn more about their offerings and community events.
• MailChimp: Amy mentioned using MailChimp for email marketing; find more information at MailChimp.

Episode Summary:
In today's episode of Kitchen Notes, we're diving deep into effective strategies for increasing your bakery's revenue, without the need to expand your menu or invest in new product development.
Focusing on practical, low-effort techniques, we'll explore how things like minor packaging adjustments, "low-fi" subscription models, and regular sales promotions can significantly boost your bakery revenue. Whether you're operating with limited time or looking for creative ways to engage customers, these bakery sales strategies will help you enhance profitability while keeping your operations manageable.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Chickadee Bake Shop Interview: Gain further insights from Katie and Dory on how they successfully implemented a subscription model in their bakery. Listen to the episode here >>
• Revenue, or Pricing Issue?: In this episode of Kitchen Notes from Fall, 2023, we talk about how to identify weather your bakery's profitability issues stem from a revenue / sales issue, or a pricing or spending issue. Listen to the episode here >>
• Facebook Group: Join our free community to share your experiences and learn from fellow bakery owners - Join here

Join us next time on Kitchen Notes for more practical strategies & tips for refining your bakery business strategy to maximum profitability, with minimal hassle.
Like what you heard on today's episode? Don't forget to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave a rating or review! It only takes a second, but really helps us reach more listeners and get the word out about our little home-grown podcast :-)

Episode Summary:
In this episode, we're diving into a detailed post-Mother's Day debrief that reveals how to leverage holiday sales to sustain and grow your bakery business. Join us as we explore practical strategies for maximizing revenue during key sales periods, with real-life examples from our recent successful Mother's Day holiday baker promo!
Whether you're running a bustling retail bakery, are in the thick of online sales, or operate as a "popup" business ... this episode will provide you with actionable tips you can apply to your own business operations, and change the way you think about your finances.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How to analyze sales data effectively to understand your bakery's performance
• How looking at "the numbers" can help you glean valuable insights about market trends, bakery operations, and customer preferences
• Strategies for increasing sales through pre-orders, and the importance of leveraging effective marketing strategies that work for YOUR business
• A reflection on how we can better manage product inventory to meet customer demand (without overproduction)
• The impact of pricing adjustments & marketing on holiday revenue growth
• Tips for using for major sales events to maximize profitability

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Shopify: A comprehensive platform for managing online sales and point-of-sale transactions. Shopify transformed the way we operate our business, and made it easier than ever to access valuable sales + customer data that we use to run our business smarter. Click here to learn more (use my affiliate link if you'd like to take advantage of Shopify's $1 trial, and get $50 to use in their app store!)
• MailChimp: A tool for enhancing your email marketing campaigns and integrating with your sales systems.
• Bakery Business Academy's website
• Screenshot of Sales Data: Refer to the show notes on our website (link here) for a visual breakdown of the discussed sales data (note: specific dollar amounts are redacted, percentages are included).
• Attend our FREE bakery finance workshop on June 4, 2024 >>

Connect With Us:

• Facebook Group: Join our FREE Facebook community for bakery owners to share your experiences and learn from your peers! Join here

Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to stay updated with the latest insights and tips for bakery owners. And, please consider leaving us a rating or review if you like what you hear - thank you!

Do bookkeeping and handling the finances for your bakery business feel like a huge chore? Do you feel intimidated trying to make all the numbers work from one month to the next?
If so - we’ve been there too! And one of the best decisions we’ve ever made in our business was to hire an expert to assist us with money management!
In the episode, we’re sitting down with Daliah Fritz, CEO of Fritz Financial Solutions (formerly My Small Business Pro). Daliah prides herself on helping her clients worry less about money, and concentrate on building their business. She has helped countless businesses whip their organizations into STRONG financial shape (including ours!), and she's sitting down with us to talk about why starting off on the right foot with your finances can make a big difference in the success of your bakery business.
During our chat, we also get into:

• How putting off handling finances actually costs you MORE in the long run
• Why having your taxes in order is absolutely critical
• How understanding all the numbers in your business can help increase your profit margin
• The reasons why creating systems for your finances is the key to plugging any money “holes” in your business
• ...and so much more!

You can learn more about Daliah at MySmallBusinessPro.com
Thank you for listening – if you like what you hear, be sure to leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts! That helps us know what you’re enjoying and bring you more content that is relevant and helpful to you.