Since I was little I have been passionate about cooking and baking. I actually love both and I like to be very adventurous with my recipes and go a little bit outside the box. There were some bake sales I was involved in when I was younger for various fundraisers. Baking and philanthropy are a great combination for me because it brings together two things I really enjoy!
In the fall of 2013, I decided I was going to hold a bake sale at one of our local markets to raise money and awareness for the Ronald McDonald House we had stayed at. The proceeds would go toward their annual walk. Since then I have put together successful bake sales along with my good friend who loves to help coordinate, facilitate, promote, and sell baked goods. She is my right-hand lady and I also have help from my parents.
I’d like to share some tips that I’ve learned over the past few years to help have a successful bake sale.
1. Dates & Times
Try to pick a time, date, and location where there will be a bit of foot traffic. There are many people who will walk on by, but the more exposure the better. Also, make sure you look carefully at dates. Take into consideration whether school is closed or if there is a religious holiday, as you may not want to choose one of those dates.
2. Ask For Volunteers
Always ask for help! Ask for baked goods, people to man the table, and people to promote your bake sale.
3. Promote Your Bake Sale
In the age of social and digital media there are so many ways to promote your bake sale. Post to local Facebook groups and reach out to local news sources. Also, make sure to email friends and have friends share about your bake sale. One very important piece to promotion is to be clear about your cause and where the proceeds of the sale will go.
4. Make Your Cause Clear
It is very important to have clear information about what you are raising money for. Have handouts available and be ready to speak about the organization or event you are helping.
5. Packaging
An important aspect for any bake sale is packaging. It is incredibly helpful if the volunteers who help with baked goods package them so they are ready to sell. For cupcakes, try your best to have containers, as sometimes they may need to be taken home. Also, keep either plastic gloves or extra baggies with ties at the sale so that you are prepared to package on a moments notice. Packaging doesn’t have to be expensive either, those baggies and ties from the grocery store offer a lot of packaging for a small price. It’s also important to have a nice display and table cloth if you can.
6. Keep the Change
You should designate someone to be in charge of collecting money and giving change. That way there is less confusion. It’s always great to have a good amount of small bills to give your customers change as well.
7. The Goods
Try to have a good variety of baked goods as your customers will most likely appreciate a variety to choose from. I always try to have nut-free baked goods as well, although my house isn’t nut-free, and I’m sure to share that information as well.
