Sell your delicious homemade cookies
Christmas and New Year festivities are approaching. For many, it's the perfect occasion to gorge themselves with tasty cookies. Speculoos, gingerbread, shortbread cookies, chocolate chip cookies,... The possibilities are as varied as they are enticing. So, it's the perfect time to start making and selling cookies.
Which varieties to choose?
Do you want crispy or soft cookies? Sweet or spicy? Classic or daring? It depends on your taste and that of your customers. Conduct market research to see what flavors and textures are most popular in your area and build on that.
Of course, you can be original and stand out from the crowd, as Belgium has many renowned cookie makers. However, keep in mind that known flavors are more likely to be successful than less conventional ones. Dare to make a difference with small, controlled touches and your product will be a success.
Who to sell them to?
Do you want to sell your delicacies directly to your customers (Business to Consumer, B2C) or do you prefer to sell them to retailers (Business to Business, B2B)? It is important to determine this in order to choose the right sales strategy. B2B and B2C have different requirements in terms of packaging, price, manufacturing rules and administrative aspects.
If you want to sell directly to consumers, you will need to have a point of sale (store, kiosk,...) or offer a delivery service. Given the current economic situation, we advise you to opt for the second solution at first. For more information on how to set up a delivery system, visit our website for our article about delivery services.
If your objective is to sell to distributors, you will have to contact the retailers to whom you wish to offer your product and try to convince them. You will also have to adapt your packaging to make it airtight and attractive in the middle of the other bags and boxes on the shelves.
The end of a year is also a good time to sell to companies, because they often give chocolates or cookies to their customers and employees for the holidays. Take advantage of this and offer them quality products that are out of the ordinary. It is an excellent sales boost that will only be profitable and has the added advantage of making your brand known without having to pay. So, your marketing budget won't suffer.
How to bake them?
You want to start baking cookies for sale but you don't have the appropriate infrastructure? No need to invest immediately in space or equipment. Thanks to co-kitchens, you can rent professional kitchens while you test your concept. This really reduces the expenses and risks associated with starting a business and allows you to have professional equipment at a lower cost.
Several options in Brussels are Co-oking, Casper, Kumo Kitchens, Cook Work and BeCook. It's up to you to decide your preferences: shared or individual kitchens, the location,... Also, take into account the possible need to be able to receive your goods and/or to accommodate deliverymen. Think about the level of support you will need as well. Each option has its advantages, it's a matter of finding the one that best suits your needs.
Would you like to get started?
BeCook offers professional and individual kitchens for rent by the hour and without minimum commitment. We also offer consultancy to accompany you in the development of your project thanks to the experience of Sara Dirkx and Philippe Thewissen.
To find out more about our offer, take a look at our website or contact us.