Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
Meg Svec
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Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
The January Juggle: Let's Talk Inventory Management Strategies
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
12/11/23 • 21 min
In today's episode, we're diving deep into the nitty-gritty of managing inventory, and practical strategies for deciding how much product you need to produce at your bakery.
Picture this: it's December, we're knee-deep in the "holiday hustle", & sales are booming.
Slow down there, soldier! January's peeking around the corner, ready to throw us a curveball. Inevitably, this is a time of the year when sales start to dip...folks are starting new diets, wallets are zipped up tight after holiday spending sprees, and (for us, at least) snowy weather has folks cooped up indoors.
Tune in to today's episode as we spill the tea on understanding your market, decoding the secret language of traffic patterns, and being the neighborhood ninja - ready to tackle any unexpected road closures or crazy weather. We're sharing our playbook on adjusting staffing, ramping up marketing, and fine-tuning your product production.
We'll talk about managing the fine line between overproducing (hello, waste!) and underproducing (um, missed sales - no thanks!).
It's a delicate dance, and we're giving you the moves.!
Setting your pars and creating your production plan isn't a "set-it-and-forget-it" deal. We're talking real-time monitoring, keeping tabs on sales data, and adjusting those pars like a bakery boss! We'll even discuss some creative ideas for promotions, when you find yourself with surplus goodies.
Grab your apron, a cup of something warm, and let's chat bakery business!
Links to External Resources:
Rising to Success: How Moira Walker Built Her Thriving Bakery Business
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
07/14/23 • 36 min
Moira Walker is a former deli owner who turned her passion for pie baking into a successful cottage bakery business. Moira began her business baking pies on the weekends, and selling from a charming roadside stand, using an honor box for payment.
Her business grew through word of mouth, and the support of her local community.
Before long, Moira expanded her business by participating in farmers' markets and networking with other vendors to find new opportunities.
She discovered the game-changing cheddar pastry recipe during a course at King Arthur and started making savory hand pies, which helped her expand her menu and grow her business even more.
Before long, Moira started putting processes in place around marketing, production, and operations that helped her scale - while staying committed to working from her home kitchen, with no employees. Over the years, she has optimized her production process by using smart planning, labeling, and automation - and has also upgraded her equipment to keep pace with the growing demands for her product.
Her business, Pies By Moira, has a strong online presence on Facebook and Instagram, where she announces her weekly menu and takes pre-orders in advance of the markets she attends.
Moira prioritizes efficiency and sustainability in her solo operation, allowing her to maintain her business from home without the need for employees or a brick-and-mortar location. Despite considering a brick-and-mortar shop before the pandemic, Moira realized that her current setup is ideal for her and allows her to focus on her passion for baking, serving her community, and spending time with her family and grandkids.
Moira's dedication to quality, pricing strategy, and strong relationships with customers have helped her build a thriving business and create a close-knit community of loyal supporters.
You can learn more about Moira here:
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Thank you for listening – if you like what you hear, be sure to leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform! These reviews and listener feedback really help me know what you’re enjoying, and bring you more content that is relevant and helpful to you.
Click here to continue the conversation in our Facebook group for Bakery Entrepreneurs >>
Mid-Year Recap (Part 2): Finance Deep Dive from Our Bakery to Yours
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
07/15/24 • 20 min
On today's episode, we dive into a detailed financial review of the first half of 2024. We'll discusses investments, revenue growth, budget considerations, and specific financial metrics that we're keeping on eye on as we grow our bakery. This financial check-up aims to provide listeners with insights on managing their bakery's finances and adapting strategies for continued growth in the second half of the year.
If you run a bakery business, this episode is packed with practical tips and "lessons learned" from our bakery to yours.
Key Points Discussed:
- Revenue Growth: Our total gross revenue increased by 12.5% with a notable rise in both the number of customers and total orders
- Online and In-Store Sales: Online orders grew by 8.25%, while in-store orders saw a significant rise of 16.5%. We discussed how we're using this information to further refine our sales strategy for online & in-store sales, so we can continue to grow and improve
- Average Cart Value: A drop in average cart value from $23.77 to $22.15, with a dip noted more significantly in-store than online - we discussed what these trends mean in the broader hospitality industry, and adjustments we're making to ensure continued revenue growth, despite customer spending behavior dipping.
- Preorder Revenue: Preorders saw an overall increase of 9.3%. We discussed why this was, and what we're doing to continue to grow this revenue stream and continue to maximize pre-order and holiday sales at our shop
- Budget Management: We reviewed a detailed breakdown of budget allocations for cost of goods, labor, and overhead, along with the our bakery's strategic financial management approaches.
To take a peek at the spreadsheet mentioned in the episode, please visit the podcast episode page on the Bakery Business Academy website, linked here:
https://www.bakerybusinessacademy.com/podcast/mid-year-recap-part-2-finance-deep-dive-from-our-bakery-to-yours
Mid-Year Recap: Hits, Misses, Trends, & Triumphs from Our Bakery to Yours (Part 1)
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
07/09/24 • 25 min
On today's episode, we're digging into "Part 1" of a new two-episode series where we look back at the first six months of 2024 - sharing key business updates, financial insights, and unique investments that have shaped the success of our year so far!
Join us as we discuss the projects we've worked on, investments we've made this year, and trends that have influenced not just our bakery but could inspire your own culinary ventures as well. This episode is packed with valuable takeaways for any bakery owner - especially those of you in the retail space or selling DTC!
On Today's Episode, We're Talking About...
- Investments and Updates: The major investments we made in improving & growing our bakery this year, including the hiring of a local muralist to update our interior, new equipment purchases, and more
- Financial Insights: A high-level overview of our financial performance for Q1 & Q2 - more to come in "Part 2" of this series!
- Seasonal Trends and Adjustments: Insights into how seasonal trends affect our business and the strategic adjustments we're making
- Expansion and Equipment: We're looking forward to adding new revenue streams to the business - we made some strategic equipment investments as we prepare for this growth
- Future Plans: A sneak peek into what we expect for the second half of the year and how we’re planning to tackle upcoming challenges
Links & Resources:
- Bakery Business Academy Facebook Group - Connect, Network, & Grow!
- Our biggest sale of the year is happening this month - it's Christmas In July! Click here to learn about the products, resources, online courses, and more that will be available for this 5-day sale event 🎉
Looking Forward: Don't miss out on Part 2 where we'll break down the numbers and delve deeper into the financial aspects of running a successful bakery!
Mixing It Up: Creative Collaborations to Boost Your Bottom Line
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
05/29/24 • 26 min
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Kitchen Notes, join us as we explore the power of business collaborations to boost bakery sales, expand customer reach, and enhance brand exposure. Discover how partnerships with complementary businesses - whether with taco joints or local florists - can lead to fun and fruitful outcomes. Host Meg Svec shares real-life examples from recent successful collaborations, offers practical tips on setting up your own partnerships, and discusses how to ensure these ventures benefit all parties involved.
Key Topics Covered:
- The benefits of business collaborations for bakeries
- Real-world examples of successful partnerships that we've implemented in our bakery to boost revenue and increase brand exposure
- Practical tips on how to choose the right partners and structure collaborations for maximum impact
- Marketing strategies for promoting collaborative events & how to measure success (you know I love to talk numbers!!)
Resources and Links Mentioned:
- Facebook Group for Bakery Owners: A free online community where bakery owners can share experiences, seek advice, and discuss collaboration ideas. Join the group here.
Join us next time on Kitchen Notes for more strategies on enhancing your bakery's profitability and customer engagement. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share your thoughts in our free Bakery Business Academy Facebook group!
Bake Smarter, Not Harder: Low-Effort Strategies for Boosting Your Bakery’s Revenue
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
05/23/24 • 18 min
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 :-)
Bake, Sell, Repeat - Let’s Crunch The Numbers in a Post-Holiday Debrief for Bakery Owners
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
05/17/24 • 24 min
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!
The Dough Must Go On: Life, Baking, and Business Resilience
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
05/16/24 • 24 min
Episode Summary: In this comeback episode of Kitchen Notes, we delve deep into the personal and professional challenges of running a bakery amidst life's unpredictable swings. Host Meg Svec shares her heartfelt experiences balancing personal challenges & family life with bakery management, and offers insights into navigating the financial and emotional ups and downs of the bakery business. Join us as we explore the importance of "knowing your numbers" and how this knowledge can be a lifeline during turbulent times. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable advice to keep your business thriving.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- How personal life events can impact and necessitate pauses or changes in your professional life
- Insights into the hospitality industry’s evolution post-COVID and the associated challenges
- The critical role of financial knowledge and healthy business management routines in navigating business and personal crises
- Practical financial strategies to maintain resilience through economic ups and downs.
Resources Mentioned:
- Bakery Business Academy: For courses and community support for bakery owners. Visit Bakery Business Academy
- Email List: Join our email list for exclusive resources and updates. Sign up here!
- Key Performance Indicators + Tracking Template: Check out this episode for more information about what numbers we track in our business to keep things humming along, and access our useful KPI tracker template!
Links:
- Bakery Business Academy
- Sign up for our Email List
- Attend our FREE Bakery Finance Workshop on June 4, 2024
Connect With Us:
- Website: Visit Bakery Business Academy
- Subscribe: Ensure you're subscribed on your favorite podcast platform to keep up with new episodes!
- Review: Loved this episode? Head over to Apple Podcasts and leave us a rating or review to help spread the word about Kitchen Notes!
Thank you for tuning in to Kitchen Notes. Join us next time for another insightful episode designed to help you elevate your bakery business.
Capping Off Our Most Profitable Year EVER - 2023 "Year In Review"
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
12/27/23 • 24 min
Join me as I look back & reflect on an eventful 2023!
It's been a year of profound changes and learning for me, both on a personal level and as a business owner. From embracing my role as a parent, to steering our bakery towards new growth with the help of my business partner ... we're unwrapping it all on today's episode!
Key Highlights:
- The changes we made this year to manage our team more effectively,
- New tools that have been game changers for giving our team more autonomy and saving time on things like creating schedules, managing shift swaps, and more,
- How we've overhauled our compensation strategies to keep our team motivated and happy.
- An update on diversifying our revenue streams through new ventures like event rentals, catering, and the growth of our (small) wine program,
- The personal challenges and joys of parenthood, and how it intertwines with running a thriving small business!
Mentioned Resources:
- 7Shifts for Team Management & Scheduling
Enjoying the podcast? Don't forget to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Thanks for your support 💖
The Marketing Myth: When More Sales Don't Equal More Money
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy
06/06/24 • 17 min
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Kitchen Notes, Meg dives into a crucial topic for bakery owners struggling with profitability: the myth that more sales always lead to more profit. Drawing from personal experiences and lessons learned with her bakery, Spilt Milk, Meg emphasizes the need to deeply understand your costs, price your products correctly with healthy profit margins, create a profit-first budget, and have a plan for monitoring numbers/taking corrective action. She outlines practical steps for understanding and managing your bakery's finances effectively before ramping up marketing efforts.
Key Topics Discussed:
- More sales does NOT inherently mean more profits, if your financial foundation is not solid
- Key signs you are ready to ramp up your marketing efforts, including:
- You have a deep understanding of your costs, and have priced your products correctly,
- You have a profit-first budget dialed in, and (ideally) some cash reserves built up,
- Your business is consistently & predictably hitting profitability targets month-over-month
- When marketing, the importance of being strategic and data-driven to maximize ROI
- Prioritizing investment into key growth areas vs excessive paid marketing
- Building strong financial habits
Resources and Links Mentioned:
- Bakery Finance Essentials E-Course: An online course designed for food entrepreneurs who want to build a profitable and sustainable food business. Learn more about the course, and sign up here >
- Free Facebook Group: An online community for bakery owners to discuss strategies and share insights. Join the group
Actionable Takeaways from This Episode:
- Perform a thorough cost analysis of your products before planning any major marketing initiatives
- Establish clear, profit-oriented pricing and a robust budgeting system
- Regularly review your financial performance and adjust your strategies as needed
- Only ramp up marketing efforts when you have a clear understanding of your financial health and potential ROI
Continued Learning:
Visit Bakery Business Academy for more resources on managing a financially healthy bakery.
Join us next time on Kitchen Notes for more insightful discussions aimed at helping you run a successful and profitable bakery.
Did you enjoy this episode? If so, we'd be very grateful if you'd leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
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FAQ
How many episodes does Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy have?
Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy currently has 49 episodes available.
What topics does Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy cover?
The podcast is about Foodie, Restaurant, New Business, Food Podcast, Entrepreneurship, Podcasts, Arts and Food.
What is the most popular episode on Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy?
The episode title 'Mid-Year Recap: Hits, Misses, Trends, & Triumphs from Our Bakery to Yours (Part 1)' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy?
The average episode length on Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy is 26 minutes.
How often are episodes of Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy released?
Episodes of Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy are typically released every 4 days, 1 hour.
When was the first episode of Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy?
The first episode of Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy was released on Jul 27, 2022.
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