I'm trying to gear up here for my "launch", but I don't want to be just giving out freebies to my neighbors. I want to go to little shops and food vendors with my products and card, but how do you go about that? Is there literature for me to read? Articles? Websites? I'm really wanting to push the cookies (decorated cookies) especially.

Melissa

giving you a bump

In order for product re-sale, your items have to be packaged and labeled according to your state's re-sale laws. Most likely, the Dept of agriculture. labels usually need ingredients and 'pull dates'. You will also have to bake in a licensed kitchen.

Some inspectors can be very helpful, some, not so much.

Once you are legal, you can take your samples, a price list and/or business card to stores most likely to order your product.

I'm in the middle of getting my product labels approved, call your local dept. of health for labeling requirements. In my case they 1st needed to inspect my kitchen so they can issue me a permit, then register each product and label I intend to sell and your label needs to have specific info like 1. statement of identity 2. designation of ingredients 3. name and place of business and manufactuer, 4. net quantity. Also, they want all this info in a certain type size depending on how many square inches your label your label is. There are so many headaches to doing something so simple as selling cookies, but it it is worth it to be able to wake up everyday and do something you love. As far as getting business from business, I would go to a few reception halls with your cookies and a brochure and ask them to pass them along to brides and others who may want favors for their special occasion.

in my state they don't require labels....

YAY!

the week i opened i took 1/2 sheet cakes to all the schools....just went up to the desk and asked where the teachers lunch room was...i decorated them in school colors and left a price sheet that i made at kinkos.

i gave away quite a few cakes.....but now 5 years later, i'm having so much business i have to turn it away sometimes.

when i had my art business years ago, i learned that teachers really rock when it comes to word of mouth....it worked for me in this too.

and hey everyone loves free food!

[quote="aggiedecorator"]

do you find people are honest with this method - do they actually leave payment when taking a cookie? I've thought about doing this but was afraid they'd just ignore the box and think free food!

They were honest at my school. I actually ended up with a little more money than I should have I even left them over night which some people were telling me not to do. I work at a great school, in a great district, in a great town. This is one of the friendliest places I've ever been in-the Aggie Spirit keeps honesty alive in most of us.

I asked myself, if one or two people don't pay for a cookie, how much did that cost me? For you I'd say, just go pick up the money and cookies after school, after the kids have gone and teachers have had time to walk by that table one last time. Teachers will snack all day
I'd love to hear how you do if you decide to do it.