okay, i have been on a waiting list for over a year for this craft sale at a private school. finally there is a spot open, and i want to sell cookies, and show that i can do decorated birthday cakes. i've done craft sales before with okay response....this time i want more than okay response....especially since its at a school so hopefully there will be lots of kids with there parents. so, how would you decorated your booth to get attention? i am thinking about dressing up in my clown costume and having bright colors and huge signs that says something like "dont forget me for your birthday cakes" or something.
then if i go with that theme i could display clown cakes or something.

since, its in november, i dont think i'll do a christmas looking booth.
what do you guys think? too bad i dont have time to order baloons with my name and number on them.... but what can i do to make an impression so people will call me for there custome cakes?

i also was playing with doing something winter related...and having snowman cake and cake with pingquens.....
but i want everyone that walks by my booth to say....i need to see this booth closer!

thank you for your suggestions!
melody

If I were to come upon your booth with you dressed as a clown..I would think that you would be for hire for parties.

Sorry, the best alternative would be for someone else to wear your costume..be available to hand out samples and flyers.

That way you can be free, and professional looking to answer any questions about your product.

just my opinion...

Hmmm...well, I hate to post this, but my honest opinion is that I would never buy a cake, from a lady dressed as a clown...that would be a big NO in my books. I personally think it is a bit "cheesy" and not very professional. I wouldn't really wouldn't gather you were TOO serious about cakes, if you were dressed up as a clown..

i agree you shouldn't be the one wearing a clown outfit can you get a friend or husband. do you have a brochure with pictures of your cakes do you have a lap-top computer you could do a slide show of you cakes with soft music playing or a message about you-you can dress with black slacks bow or black pants with shirt and apron with you name embrodiered on it give small samples have a dummy cake on display hope this helps a little

How about a theme for all seasons? Just do small stuff: Luau things around a summer themed "dummy" cake, and so on..... Ya, clowns are creepy, sorry. What about Apron, Chef's hat, and something that says, "Boy, I bet that woman makes a mean cake!" I like the slide show idea. Balloons are always good. What about stickers with name and # stuck to mini candy bars or whatever?

I agree, clowns are really creepy. Some children are TERRIFIED of clowns...I think you should totally stay away from the "clown theme"

Nope, no clown...

I say try to look professional...maybe even wear a white chef's coat, wear a pleasant smile, and give out free samples...maybe little petit fours in cupcake papers or even fancy cupcakes. You could make some demonstration cakes and be giving out the matching cupcakes. Then you could even have a drawing to where at the end of the day, some lucky people win your demo cakes if they stay until a certain time and you pull their number! Give out lots of business cards. Along with the drawing, you could even have a winner that gets a free $25 gift certificate or something.

If cupcakes are too much work (not sure what attendence will be) you could have a few sheet cakes hidden on a lower table and be cutting small slices to serve fresh in cupcake liners as people come by.

I think any booth that is giving out free cake and having a drawing will draw crowds because word of mouth will work faster than a clown outfit. "Hey, where'd you get that cupcake?" *** "That booth over there is handing them out!"

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

My idea is re: balloons. If you are going to have samples why not attach a small sample cookie in a bag along with a card to a balloon ?
or attach a business card to a balloon.just an idea??
good luck
Michelle

I like the idea of wearing a polo type shirt with your name or maybe go for just a business casual type of look. I think you should have some sort of book for the customers to veiw. I think having the dummy cakes for examples are a great idea. I would do some cupcakes or mini cupcakes for your samples. Best of luck to you!!!!
traci

The idea of casual business attire, with a platter of samples is a great one. This is also what you do at bridal shows too.

The idea of raffling a cake at the end is a great way to create excitement over your business.

Having some dummy cakes is also an excellent idea...also have some pictures.

I love going to the Office store and getting business card stock and making my own cards in a pinch!

When I did Christmas shows and featured my gingerbread houses, a lot of moms would come to me and say...OH MY KIDS DON"T LIKE GINGERBREAD. But, I believed my ginger bread cookies were tasty, so I started to have samples..and I would sell out consistently.

People LOVE free food..lol

you can even do mini cupcakes..or do some cakes in jelly rolls and cut them into mini's to hand out.

okay, my clown getup isnt that scary...i dont do the clown makeup, or the big fro.....i braid my hair in pig tails and wear a funny hat and the clown suite. but i can see where it itsnt all that professional...it is fun though. since this event only cost me $35.00 i may ponder the clown bit more.
any ideas on a winter wonderland scene in an 8x10 spot? that would be cool.
thanks
melody

Well, I guess I am way off the mark from everyone else, but I always wear a white baker's apron and usually wear a baker's hat which is pretty much the same thing as a chef's hat whenever I am setting up or serving or doing anything at a bake sale. I always have and I also wear disposable gloves. Always have hand sanitizer on hand and towels. I think that you want to get across the message that you are professional in how you do things. and that cleanliness is a top priority. I purchase boxes for cookies and cakes etc. to have on hand.
Heehee, now Pastry Diva has me worried that a professional baker is going to beat me up if I cannot show credentials, haha!
But sorry, I am not about to change to a coloured apron, because they cannot be bleached and you cannot use a professional whitener in the wash with them. Guess I had better start going incognito -
Hugs Squirrelly Cakes

Dress casual but neat.

Apron with your name and a small catchy saying or a white jacket like the nurses wear...leave the chef's jacket alone, I don't think that nurses care about you wearing jackets like theirs.

Place cards by the trays with the item name...hate to ask what I am eating.

Gloves and hand sanitizing liquid

Head covering...would leave the chef's hat alone.

Small plastic plates in a pretty color with the matching napkins.

Good luck and remember to smile.

I like the winter theme and I don't think it is too early for Christmas, but regardless the penguin, snowmen, snowflake idea would be appropriate for either. I love snowflake cookies and cakes and that would all go so well. You could perhaps limit the colours to make your display stand out. And perhaps as Stephanie214 suggested colour coordinate plates etc to the colours you are using in your theme. Hhmn, could even cover the table with fake snow, the sheets of snow?
Hugs Squirrelly

YOu can also do coupons. Perhaps offer a 5% or 10 % discount on a 2nd cake for anyone that orders and refers a friend.

Forgot to say that I like the give away idea put in a place where people can see what is being given away.

I agree about no clown outfit. I would wear perhaps a t-shirt with your information like "cakes made by .... " or something that tells that you are the one who makes the cakes. I like the idea of wearing at least the apron. I dunno about the hat. Having samples has got to always be good!!

The only other idea I had was to do some sort of demo of how you do some decorations. Have a friend or your husband there to take care of some of the sales while you decorate a dummie cake. THat would attract people to come watch what you're doing out of curiosity and hopefully produce extra sales especially if you are able to show how to do neat things like make a rose from buttercream or a figure from fondant.

just my 2 cents!
Dia

I agree with the free samples thing. A sheet cake that you can cut in small pieces, small cookies, don't forget the cake balls - everyone loves those! Nobody can pass that up, even if they don't buy something right away. If they are "wow'd" by the sample, they WILL remember you - atleast if you remember to give them a business card. I also would have a portfolio of your work (a couple of photo albums - one on each end of your booth) for people to browse through. That way, they not only know how your cakes, cookies, cake balls, etc. tastes, but they can see your decorations. You could also blow up some of your best pictures to hang in your booth to attract the attention of everyone, especially if all of your photo albums are being looked at by others and some people don't have the time to wait. You could offer a coupon for anyone who wants to go ahead and reserve a time on your books - but make sure that it expires in a reasonably short period of time so they don't stick it in their purse and forget about it until a year later and then want to use the discount. If they have a deadline, they will order something while it is fresh in their minds. And lastly, if you want an apron to wear, you should check out www.ananasdesigns.com This girl does some incredible work with her aprons and they are all custom made. She is a customer of mine - and I sure don't mind tooting her horn for her! Her aprons speak for themselves!

By the way, has anyone here ever done a cake table at a flea market? Would that be worth my time and effort? Bascially the same idea as what is being discussed here...

Kitagrl,

That sounds like a good idea if the weather permits.

Where I live, it is closing down...cold weather...not many people going.

The only one that we have is in and out...more outside so it is jammed pack in the summer time.

Definitely scrap the clown costume. Personally, I stay away from clowns.

I'd go for the Christmas/Winter theme. I think as soon as Halloween is over, everyone pretty much starts thinking about Christmas gifts and shopping. (don't they? ) What if you make a few displays with your cookies to show people how to present YOUR cookies as gifts. You could display cookies in a basket as an example for local merchants to hand out to customers; display cookies made for teachers, coaches, etc. so parents can see how to "wrap" them; displays for employers to hand out to employees. Let them see your cookies and give them the ideas of how to "wrap" them for a beautiful gift. Our preschool does a money tree for the teachers. It would look really nice to have a few cookies (wrapped in cellophane) hanging on the tree too. (just a thought)

You basically want these craft-shoppers to see that they can do all their shopping for Grandparents, College students, mailmen, beauticians, teachers, etc. at your table.

kos

I agree with Kos - definitely a winter theme. People will be in the holiday mindset and you want to work with that. If you want to lure people to your booth - since its at a school- make sure you get the kids attention. Maybe put out displays of cakes with kid themes...make sure the cookies are displayed where they can be seen immediately. If the kids are drawn to the booth the parents will have no choice but to follow I would wear something like a polo shirt or button-up - its more approachable. Your cakes are beautiful so make sure you have pictures. Have fun with it!

Just a thought...if you have a few people helping you out in the booth and if allowed to have an small counter oven. Have fresh baked cookies coming out of the oven. I think the smell of fresh baked anything would attract people over to you. Or if that idea wouldn't work, have some candles burning that smell like fresh baked cookies or cake.

And then wear what ever is comfortable for you...but I would say no to the clown outfit!

I second (or third) the candle idea! Some of those smell just like you've been baking all day. Love the sugar cookie or the buttercream candles! I wonder though, if the fire department might have a problem with it. Wonder of you could find the same thing in a spray. Or maybe just let the candle burn a minute and blow it out. And then burn it again later and blow it out . . .

I don't know if you have an A.C.Moore store near you but they have the "Virginia Candle Company" (not sure of the name) wax melts. They are about the size of a candy bar. You melt them in a special dish for that...matter of fact, I think that WalMart carries the electric melting pot for those things. The "Hot Buttered Rum" smells awesome. The "Fresh Baked Cinnamon Rolls" would be perfect. The "MacIntosh" smells good, too. Just wanted to throw that last one in there. Sorry!

Does anybody know what I'm talking about here? You can help me describe this thingy!!

okay guys.....thanks so much.....i really was considering wearing the clown outfit to attract kids attention then to talk to parents and show them what i do......I AM OFF TO A NEW DIRECTION NOW!!! AND THANK YOU!!! i think i will do a christmas look and display cookie bouquets for different occasions and have a flyer about my cookie gift baskets and offer sugar cookies that are decorated for sale. then i'll have my portfolio.
also, i saw at walmarts that they can blow up picutures and make them HUGE now...like a poster board size....maybe i'l do that to one or two pictures to place on the wall behind me to be seen from a distance. good idea guys!!!! then i'd like to get orders for the future, maybe should i say book your cake now, impying that i am very busy with cake orders (which i am not yet, but will be if this show goes well haha)

i forgot who said something about the snow, but do you know where i would get this?? is it like that cotton stuff that rolls out? then i could put a few display cakes up on cake stands so they dont get cotton stuck to them.....
okay, so i have snow on my table, and a couple of winter scene cake displays, and maybe a couple of big pictures in the back ground, and a nice sign that says my name and number. any thing else?????
thanks so much....(i do like the bakers hat, but wont be wearing one because i dont know where to buy one and dont have time to order one). i think an apron would be nice though.


or what about making my tables look like giant christmas presents? to go with the giving my items out for presents.
then i could dress up like santa.
just joking!
i really like that

are you guys doing any craft shows this season?
melody

If you use the roll out snow, you might consider putting some strings of white christmas lights underneath it to look kind of starry and christmasy.

I would offer to go ahead and book cakes, but when they ask about a certain day, alway say that you need to check your schedule and make a display of doing just that. Never appear to have a totally empty schedule! They don't need to know that you don't have every minute of every day already booked. You can always "fit" them in on a day that fortunately is a bit slower than the rest of that week. I built my nail business right out of school that way, and my cake and cookie business when I finished my classes. Worked for me anyway. It is not really lying, just not divulging the full truth! And it doesn't matter how good you are, no one really prefers to go to the less busy person, or baker, or chef.