3 Steps to Bake Sale Success

PTA's, scout troops and athletic boosters across the country are gearing up for their fund raising season. This often means the casual invite to participate in the event, or maybe you have been asked to help lead the troops to financial victory.

3 Steps to a Sweet Success!

Entice with choices and labels.

• Know what sells. The tried and true are often the biggest sellers. Try a slightly new version of a favorite treat and watch them fly off the table. Rice Krispie treats, brownies and chocolate chip cookies can be tweaked with the addition of a little frosting, or special ingredient.
• Name each item. Labels proclaiming the simple chocolate chip cookies, "The Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies," or give credit where credit is due and say, "Grandma's famous chocolate chunk cookies" If you do not have time for individual labels, use markers to design index cards with the names and then tape to the table, or set in a card stand or miniature easel from the craft store.
• Offer full-size choices. Sell whole pies, cakes and sweet breads in addition to the individually wrapped baked goods. People can choose one for dessert, or to give to a neighbor (passing it off as their own!)
• Think outside the sugar bowl. Not everyone is drawn to, or can have, sweet treats. Make it a point to sell items without so much sugar such as cheese straws, homemade pretzels or whole fruit.
• Appeal to the team spirit. Sports teams and schools can take advantage of their position by offering bake sale items in school colors. Cupcakes and sugar cookies decorated with the "right" color frosting may be a bigger hit than just a generic cupcake or cookie. Pretzel rods can be dipped in white chocolate and sprinkled with colored sugar for a simple "homemade baked good."

Price 'em right

• Offer a range. Customers know their money is being used for the charity or team and that all the offerings were donated, making their purchasing decision less on price points and more on what they want to give.
• Presentation matters. Packaged well, treats can go for more. This is not just price gauging. A nicely presented cake, complete with cardboard cake box from a restaurant supply or craft store can be sold for approximately the same price as a similar cake at a bakery.
  
• Add value. Stack cookies and tie with a ribbon, use colored cellophane, or attach To and From cards so customers can give the treats as gifts. Attaching the recipe to the baked good is another way to increase the value. This simple touch is easy to do, but it is much appreciated by those wanting to duplicate that delicious lemon cookie.

Spread the word.

• Advertise! Aside from the signs on the day of the bake sale, be sure to put your name out there. Announce the sale in the community section of the local paper, make fliers to post in local businesses and create a buzz by your attitude.
  
• Invite special guests. Ask important people to donate a special treat. This alone can draw people to the bake sale. Who wouldn't want to try a cookie by a beloved school librarian, or go just to check out what the janitor cooked up! If this is a community bake sale, ask local businesses or community workers to donate something for sale. Brownies from the fire department, or a cake by the mayor?
  
• Hold an Auction. Consider turning a special item into a auction piece. A local theater company has great success with a annual pie auction in addition to their bake sale. Seven pies are auctioned off and the event has only gained momentum over the years.

Resources:
Personal experience