If you’re an entrepreneur with delicious recipes for homemade cookies, you’re probably looking for the best way to sell them. There are many great locations to sell your cookies, both online and offline. Here are ten of the best ways to get started.
Sell Homemade Cookies Online and Offline
You can sell your cookies online or offline – each way has pros and cons.
There are several reasons why you might want to sell your cookies online.
One of the advantages of selling cookies online is that you can reach a much larger audience than you would if you were selling them offline. It’s more convenient to sell cookies online because all you need is a website or an online marketplace to introduce your cookies to consumers who love cookies. Buyers are able to purchase your cookies with just a few clicks when you sell online. And, when selling cookies online, you won’t have to set up shop at a retail store or local farmers market.
Another reason for selling cookies online is that you can often charge more for them than you would if you were selling them offline. This is because cookies of the highest quality are typically sold online and people are often willing to pay more for cookies that include high-quality ingredients and are presented well.
However, selling cookies offline also offers some advantages. For example, selling cookies in a retail store or at a farmers market leads to exposure with many potential customers. This can increase sales and build product popularity. When your customers share the news about your cookies via word-of-mouth, your cookie sales can easily increase significantly as they become sought-after by local customers. When sold offline, cookies are often offered as samples. This practice is another reason to consider selling your cookies offline because nothing sells cookies better than a single delicious sample cookie.
Selling your cookies offline allows you to gauge the best price point for your cookies. It is easier to judge the sales potential of your cookies when you can see the reaction of potential customers to your pricing.
Let’s take a look at the best way to sell cookies online, and the best way to sell them offline.
Best Way to Sell Cookies Online
The best way to sell cookies online is to reach as many potential customers as possible. You can do this by setting up a website for your cookie business, or by selling through an online marketplace like Etsy or Facebook.
1. Company Website
Setting up a website for your cookie business is a great way to reach more customers. You can use your website to sell cookies directly to customers, or you can use it to promote your cookies and drive traffic to your other sales channels.
2. Online Marketplace
Selling through an online marketplace is a great way to reach a large pool of potential customers with a minimum amount of effort. You’ll create an account with the marketplace and choose the best way to sell and ship your products. You might drop ship them or send the cookies in bulk to the marketplace. The online marketplace will typically distribute the cookies from a few strategic national locations.
3. Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace that specializes in handmade goods, making it a prime location to sell cookies on Etsy. This platform is particularly great for selling cookies because it’s user-friendly and hosts millions of potential customers looking for unique, handmade items.
4. Facebook
Facebook is a social media platform that offers a unique opportunity to sell cookies on Facebook. By creating a page for your cookie business, you can promote your cookies to your friends and followers. Additionally, you can join groups related to food and baking, allowing you to sell your cookies to members of those groups, further expanding your reach.
5. Instagram
Instagram is a photo-sharing app that you can use to promote your cookies. You can take pictures of your cookies and post them on your feed. You can also use Instagram Stories to share videos of you making cookies in your own kitchen, or to give potential customers a behind-the-scenes look at your cookie business.
Best Way to Sell Homemade Cookies Offline
The best way to sell homemade cookies offline is to reach as many potential customers as possible. One way you can do this is by setting up a table or booth at a local farmers market. Homemade food items are extremely popular with shoppers who like to browse. Be sure to have sell sheets on hand to describe your cookies and the fresh ingredients that go in them. Include pricing and contact information on the sell sheets and hand one out with each sale you make. If you would like to sell cookies as a wholesaler, sell your cookies to retail stores or restaurants. If your cookies sell well, you will soon become well-established with several customers who buy directly from you.
6. Local Farmers Market
Setting up a stall at a local farmers market is a great way to reach potential customers. Farmers markets are typically full of people looking for fresh, locally-made products. This makes farmers markets the perfect place to sell fresh, homemade cookies. Homemade food items are extremely popular with shoppers who like to browse, so offer cookie samples to everyone who passes by. Be sure to have sell sheets on hand to describe your cookies. Include pricing and contact information on your sell sheet and offer bulk pricing when orders are over 2 to 3 dozen cookies at a time.
7. Corporate Coffee Carts
There are often coffee carts or small coffee shops set up in large business buildings. Stop by a corporate building, offer samples to the manager or owner of the coffee shop, and ask if your cookies might be a good fit for their business. Be sure to have sell sheets on hand, describing the bulk pricing for your cookies, a few reasons why your cookies are unique, and contact information for ordering.
8. Locally-Owned Restaurants
Many chain restaurants are required to buy through certain wholesale food companies and may not be able to purchase cookies from an individual seller. However, if you visit locally-owned restaurants in your area, you’ll probably be invited to leave a dozen sample cookies at each to entice prospective buyers. Leaving free cookies at a restaurant is a great way to reach potential customers. Be sure to have sell sheets on hand, describing the bulk pricing for your cookies, a few reasons why your cookies are unique, and contact information for ordering.
9. Friends & Family
Taking fresh, homemade cookies to your friends and family is an excellent way to spread the word that your cookies are delicious and available for sale. Offer a dozen cookies to each friend who works at an office and offer cookies to your extended family to share with their friends. Word-of-mouth sales can be just as successful as any other method and it’s an easy way to spread the word. Be sure to include sell sheets to anyone who takes sample cookies.
10. Food Truck
If you have a food truck or know of others who do, you can offer sample cookies to build up your customer base. This is a great way to reach potential customers who might not otherwise see your cookies. You can also partner with dessert trucks looking to add treats or desserts to their menus. Be sure to have sell sheets on hand, describing the bulk pricing for your cookies, a few reasons why your cookies are unique, and contact information for ordering.
Conclusion
There are many great ways to sell cookies online and offline. The best way to sell cookies is to reach as many potential customers as possible. You can do this by setting up a website, selling through an online marketplace, selling to local restaurants, or via friends and family members. Whichever method you choose, make sure you provide sell sheets describing your cookies and the unique features they have. Offer bulk pricing for customers who may want to buy dozens at a time. And, always include contact information for cookie lovers who will want to contact you directly to order more cookies!