Selling Gingernread Houses

Decorating By Tomoore Updated 13 Oct 2007 , 5:30pm by Tomoore

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Tomoore Posted 11 Oct 2007 , 7:47pm
post #1 of 7

Hey Guys,

I may posiibly make and sell GB houses this winter. Can I get some feedback from folks that do this?

How do you market them?
How detailed are they? What makes yours special?
How much (avg) do YOU spend the the materials to create one?
How much (acg) do you SELL them for?
Are they intended to be eaten? If no, does this mean I could easily sell them at vendor sales?

Thanks,
Toni

6 replies
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Tomoore Posted 11 Oct 2007 , 10:25pm
post #2 of 7

Bump

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sweetflowers Posted 11 Oct 2007 , 10:37pm
post #3 of 7

Sorry, I've never done this. But I've always wanted to, so I'm looking forward to the answers too.

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terrig007 Posted 11 Oct 2007 , 11:03pm
post #4 of 7

Hi, in the Paula Deen special Christmas magazine there is some info with a template. It's the one with the picture of Paula on the cover with the cake with the little skinny, round cookies on the side and the shaved white choc. on top. It also has a recipe in it on how to make it. Hope that helps a little.

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modthyrth Posted 12 Oct 2007 , 12:42am
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http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-44313-.html

I don't sell my gingerbread houses, but we've made thousands over the last 30 or so years. It takes a lot of time--especially if you sell them decorated. After all that experience I can whip out a decorated gingerbread house in perhaps an hour. That's not counting the baking, cooling, drying, assembling, and drying again time. It's labor intensive, it's time intensive. Even though we have it down to a science and a well-oiled assembly line, I'm not sure I'd be able to sell them for what they're worth.

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cakequeen50 Posted 13 Oct 2007 , 5:53am
post #6 of 7

I've been making gingerbread for a million years. I've been in competitions and I just love doing gingerbread!
When I worked in a grocery store bakery, Publix, years ago, we would do all the decorating and I really got into the designs. Then they started coming in already made and the price of $29.99.
Now that I make them on my own, it is hard to get what I put into them as far as time. I tried streamlining the process but that takes the fun out of it. With all the time involved, I tried selling them for $45 and it didn't go really well. I sold about 20., gave away 10.
I put some in the local candy store. I also sent a mass email out to all of my cake customers. I gave one to a local gift store as a display.
This year I am making giant gingerbread boys and girls to display at the candy store, maybe with a price of $25, people will be more likely to order.
There are bakeries that have the gingerbread houses for $50 and are much less decorated than mine...I don't know if they sell well. ALso "Enchanted Gingerbread" seems to be a big hit!

here is my link: http://www.unforgettableweddingcakes.com/Ginger%20bread/GINGERBREAD.htm

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Tomoore Posted 13 Oct 2007 , 5:30pm
post #7 of 7

Great work! Thanks. I think I may pass on trying to sell these this year. I do think that I'll make a few for family though (to get some practice)!

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