My Business is Your Business

[Trinique_Fire]

A business thread. Some of you here are smart and stuff, so I need some advice, maybe some assistance, and possibly even some help.

I have a piddling little home based business that I'm trying to get off the ground. There are two parts to it. A bakery of sorts, and something called "------'s Edibles" which consists of small meals that are prepared but not cooked/grilled/baked for patrons to purchase.

I have menus, business cards, and samples, and I've done the neighborly thing and passed these tokens of information out to people in the 'hood. I have a website in the works. I have an email account specifically for orders. I had an ongoing stream of orders at one point, and now, nothing.

I have a refrigerator/freezer expressly for this part of my life. And I nave nothing to fill it with.

I need your tips, your hints, your ideas, your H-E-L-P!!! What would you do? Who would you market to? Things like that. For more detailed conversations with me, PM, please.

Thanks.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Sounds like you ran face first into the belt-tightening of the Recession. Tell you what, look up an organization called SCORE--Service Corps of Retired Executives. It's a national group of retired businessmen (and I suppose women) who voluntarily advise new businesses. If there's a chapter in your local area . . . well, at least the price is right.

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Sounds like you ran face first into the belt-tightening of the Recession. Tell you what, look up an organization called SCORE--Service Corps of Retired Executives. It's a national group of retired businessmen (and I suppose women) who voluntarily advise new businesses. If there's a chapter in your local area . . . well, at least the price is right.

You are the second person to tell me about this. Funny I've never heard of such an organization. First chance I get tomorrow I'm looking into it!! Thanks!

 

[john-the-author]

Sounds like you ran face first into the belt-tightening of the Recession. Tell you what, look up an organization called SCORE--Service Corps of Retired Executives. It's a national group of retired businessmen (and I suppose women) who voluntarily advise new businesses. If there's a chapter in your local area . . . well, at least the price is right.

That's an excellent suggestion, VM, one I heartily approve of.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is another good place to look for information and resources. The SBA is a good example of what you get for your tax dollars.

I also agree with the causes of the problem: people ain't got as much money to do this with as they used to.

One specific marketing venue to consider is weddings. There are "wedding shows" at a number of places where prospective couples can pay a small fee and attend an event where a few dozen to maybe a hundred vendors show their stuff. There are caterers, bakers, florists, musicians, dressmakers... all sorts of things that would appeal to people preparing weddings. My wife and I selected our baker for a cake for 300 that way, with this amazingly rich, but surprisingly light buttermilk cake with a raspberry filling.

 

[SimonBrooke]

A business thread. Some of you here are smart and stuff, so I need some advice, maybe some assistance, and possibly even some help.

I have a piddling little home based business that I'm trying to get off the ground. There are two parts to it. A bakery of sorts, and something called "------'s Edibles" which consists of small meals that are prepared but not cooked/grilled/baked for patrons to purchase.

I have menus, business cards, and samples, and I've done the neighborly thing and passed these tokens of information out to people in the 'hood. I have a website in the works. I have an email account specifically for orders. I had an ongoing stream of orders at one point, and now, nothing.

I have a refrigerator/freezer expressly for this part of my life. And I nave nothing to fill it with.

I need your tips, your hints, your ideas, your H-E-L-P!!! What would you do? Who would you market to? Things like that. For more detailed conversations with me, PM, please.

People who do that sort of thing in this part of the world take stalls in local farmers' markets. I've just finished the very excellent goodies I bought in the farmers' market here last Saturday. Are there farmers'/small producers' markets in your part of the world? If so, get yourself a stall. You may not turn a profit at your first few markets but you get your produce out in front of customers so that they can try it and decide whether they like it. Then, if they take a card or a flyer, they can get back to you for more.

If not, are there other small artisan food producers in your locality? Would it be worth banding together with them for some form of joint marketing exercise?

 

[DeeZire]

An off-the-wall suggestion - it seems the elder-care industry is still churning along, regardless of the collapse of the free market. Perhaps you could talk some assisted-living places into theme parties featuring your goodies. You could make up a special menu for them with the prices doubled, and then give them fifty percent off.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

TRINIQUE FIRE

SCORE is fucking worthless. True! Theyre retired bureaucrats, but few of them know shit about actually running a business. They know book-keeping and forms and enforcing rules.

Your business seems perfect for feeding institutional inmates. I suggest you talk to the local police department, child welfare people, mental health crisis center, and women's shelters about providing them with prepared meals they can refrigerate and serve to clients, before or after regular meal times. Agencies are especially sensitive to feeding kids whom they capture at night. Runaway shelters get lotsa kids at night.

 

[kendo1]

I was thinking more along the lines of local businesses/offices. Fresh, well prepared food can be a godsend in a busy office. The difficult bit is making your first approach to a possible market. The worst thing that could happen is them saying 'no'.
Have you thought about drinks to go along with the food? Fresh juice or smoothies would sell well.

 

[jomar]

Maybe approach local grocery stores, bakeries, juice shops, cooking stores etc to see if you can sell there and they get a cut of is you can just display your propaganda.