I am seriously contemplating opening a cupcake storefront. It would go in a semi-mall that has a Talbot's, Ann Taylor Loft, Jos. Banks, Jimmy John's. And other various boutiques. We do not have a "True" cupcake shop in our city, so the possibilities are endless - parties, weddings and the like are wide open.

I have a lot of research to do - ovens, display cases, racks, insurance, the whole nine yards!!!! The space is "Vanilla".

My question is this with all that being said. Is it unrealistic for me to sell an average of one hundred cuppies a day? This area is near a hosp and other offices, and this zip code is the most affluent in the city.

Thanks,

cakeymom

Do a feasibility study. Go to the parking lot and watch to see how many people shop there. Go into the stores and ask about the number of customers per day.

Theresa

Just go talk to the mall management. They will be able to tell you what the average $ per square foot is for the mall. They will expect you to make that as well. They will be able to give you lots of info.

THANKS!!!!


cakeymom

good luck!

That sounds similar to a place near me and I think a cuppie shop would do great there too. The only problem in my mini mall is I don't think that there is any space left for a cuppie shop. However, I would say that with stores like that I think a cuppie shop would do great!

Since there is a hospital nearby, you could probably branch out from the cupcakes into other things as well. Best of luck! I'm very excited for you

A mini mall is a good place for a cupcake store. I'm a mother of two children and when we visit the mall, no matter what the economy is, we end up buying something to eat. Why not a cupcake? Kids love them and adults too. Good luck, it is an exellent idea.

Write up a business plan and weigh what your cost will be and how many cupcakes you will need to sell to make profit.

100 cuppies is going to gross about $250 per day. Not nearly enough. I would think you would need at least 500-1000 cuppies a day to stay in business.

Also don't forget you'll want to sell beverages...milk, coffee, at least. Like you said...price out commercial ovens, 3 compartment sinks, commercial fridges (health dept won't let you use a reg. fridge or oven), build out cost, commercial mixers, work stations, displays, rent, utilities, labor costs, accounting costs, business & health licensing cost....there is alot that goes into it. I would say you are looking at at least 50k in start up costs conservatively, but I definately think it is doable.

I have a lot of work to do in order to see if this is feasible. Everybody has given me food for thought for sure.

Going out and looking at places and trying to decide where I would like to put this shop is just the tip of the iceberg.

I will also be doing specialty cakes along with the cupcakes. So that will help boost my bottom line. I just don't want to get too diversified.

thanks again all,

cakeymom

Hello,

the idea is a great one. I think you would need to do alot of work but if you stick with it should be ok.

The things i would be doing to find out more information

A. Ask people who shop their would they love to buy cup cakes. So go into where you want your shop and ask customers. you can ask other retailers around would they think a cupcake shop would work.

B. look into doing diffrent things as well like cakes, coffees, drinks, catering etc.

C. look at doing alot of work from your own home. EG making the cup cakes from your own home and taking them into your shop to decorate.

If you are starting a cup cake business from scratch do you know that baking and decorating the cakes is only 1/3 of the business? The other 2/3 are Marketing and Planning. The other 2/3 is the hardest part of all. Think of it as a novel. You can read it easier than you can write it. When you create a business you have to not just imagine how it works but you have to capture it in writing to formalise your business set up to make it real then it happens. (Procedures, policies, terms and conditions, staff training manual, how to notes for production techniques, bookkeeping, health and hygiene, occupational health and safety, suppliers, staff conditions, uniforms, logos, product development, shop front look, competitors, tax, government compliance's, strata fees, levies, solicitors, accountants, web site, recipes, competitor dirty tricks campaigns... the list goes on and on)
To make it easier consider opening up a franchise business in a mall like Muffin Break. Same same but different. The owner who sells you the franchise does the thinking ie the marketing and planning for you and you just do the creative stuff and follow their orders. When you know what you are doing, make the plans for your new business which will take no less than a year of solid hard work in writing, then sell the franchise and start your own business and if that works out well franchise it and sell your concept to others which is far more profitable than just making the cup cakes I can assure you. Good luck and don't waste your money on a dream...spend it on a reality.

I think this is a great idea. When mom's take their kids shopping, they always stop for a treat. With the hospital being near, I think that would bring you a lot of business. I bet around the holidays you could do really well with holiday themed cuppies. Good luck to you.... I wish you the best of luck!

@tinygoose 

no you do not, for my business to sell 90 cupcakes a day it costs us $600 for two weeks. we make over four grand just from cupcakes a week

no you do not... i sell 90 cupcakes per day give or take and it costs us $600 for two weeks worth of cupcakes... i make over $4000 per week just from cupcakes...

AI wonder if the OP opened her mall business in the end?

AI would say yes. I do a farmers market fro. 2pm-7pm and sell over 96 cupcakes and 30 brownies. This is in a small town and just a few hours. I would tho k a store front would sell that in half a day if in a good area ;-)