Preparing for Christmas

 

Christmas is only a few weeks away and now is the time to prepare for buoyant sales this festive season. The secret ingredient is to start your preparations now.

 

 

Your consumers will soon be looking forward to the festive season as they get to spend some time with their families and enjoy our lovely warm summers. This is good news for bakers around the country as your clients are looking forward to treating themselves after a tough year.

During the festive season consumers will indulge in comfort food from your bakery. These tasty treats remind us of a less complicated, stress free time when life was simple.

Most people also get their heard-earned bonuses at the end of the year so make sure that they spend some of it in your business.

The key to a profitable Christmas season is good planning and preparation. Look at your top sellers from the previous year and place your orders in advance. You do not want to run out of ingredients at the busiest time of the year and lose sales.

Spice things up this festive season and ensure that you buy enough cinnamon, cloves, mace, and nutmeg, as well as Christmas’ favourite flavourings such as vanilla, almond, cherry, walnut, orange and lemon extracts.

Your shopping list should include substantial amounts of dried and candied fruits, and nuts – including the favourites such as currants, raisins, apricots, dates, figs, candied pineapple and cherries, and walnuts, almonds and pecans. Also look for some interesting new twists such as candied stems of ginger and angelica.

Reputable suppliers can assist with everything you need and get them to tell you about the latest food trends. Suppliers include and Relianz Foods, Famasons, Starcape, Pioneer Foods ( Safari ) and Montague Dried Fruit Nuts to name but a few.

 

Relianz Foods offers a world of creative options with an extensive selection of dried fruits, glazed fruits, nuts and seed choices.

Montagu Dried Fruit & Nuts – They have a very wide range of diced fruit, that is ideal for baking, amongst an excellent selection of nuts and other dried fruits

 

 

Famasons – has been offering professional Ingredient Solutions, ideally suited for use in the Baking and Food manufacturing industries. Their range includes Glazed Fruit, Dried Fruit, Seeds, Grains and Nuts

Safari / Pioneer Foods – Safari Dried Fruit and Nuts is a market leader in the dried fruit and nuts category. This range was established over a century ago. 

 

Frozen Pastry and Puff Pastry

Contact suppliers such as Richs, Goosebumps, Deeghuys and Pillsbury and order enough high quality puff pastry before the rush.

Wrapping things up

Decorate your store to create a festive wonderland and buy a Christmas hat for your cashier and counter staff. A creative window display will stop people in their tracks and will draw customers in.
Christmas is the perfect time to show off your confectionery skills.

 

A beautifully wrapped fruit cake or a basket filled with a variety of biscuits can be the ideal gift to take to a party. Keep in mind your post-recession customers are looking for value for money and convenience. If your cake is wrapped and has a card it will save them a trip to the stationery shop.

 

Brownies or ginger biscuits tied up in cellophane paper with a pretty poly ribbon bow or put in an organza bag will drive impulse purchases.

You could also make individual portions of your top sellers. Beautifully wrapped little fruitcakes placed in a nice display will boost sales. Also look at baking small ginger bread men. They will make lovely Christmas tree decorations. Hang them on the tree in your store so your customers can see them.

Customers love freebies so why not dress a staff member in a Santa suit and ask him to walk around your store with a nice silver tray with freshly baked samples on it. This will boost sales and customers will try items they would not usually purchase. Remember the serviettes!

Look at your customer base. Some of them have to catch two taxis before they reach their final destination. Ensure that your packaging is easy to carry and protects its contents.

Why not offer a service where customers can personalize their cakes? For example, Merry Christmas from the Smiths. This will give it a nice personal touch and could set you apart from your competitors.

Break out of the mould

 

Remember to keep your selection of goodies elegant. Sometimes less is more. Break out of the mould and do something different than the traditional heavy fruit and thick white icing.

 

While, in spite of our soaring temperatures at this time of the year mince pies remain top favourites and an absolute must in terms of your seasonal offerings, but that shouldn’t stop you from thinking outside the box. What about mini-mince pies or individually wrapped slices of Stollen, or Christmas Cake?

Platters with a selection of individual servings will also sell well. Fill your platters with interesting items such as mini quiches, sausage rolls, mini croissants, small pies, brioche rolls and of course mince pies. Promote these in your store so customers can order them before their parties.

Your health conscious customers should not feel left out as they too want to take part in the festivities. Cater for people with diabetes and start experimenting now with recipes.
This time of the year can be very stressful for your customers as they have to run around to do shopping and entertain family and friends. This is why it is important to train and retrain your staff.

Teach them a nice welcome greeting for phone orders and the cashier could end the conversation by wishing them a happy festive season. Employ more staff if necessary if you are very busy. Your customers are stressed out already and standing in a long queue could make you lose the sale.

Although Christmas is the most popular date on the Christian calendar your customers from other religions are also enjoying the festive season and entertaining more. Include them by baking Kosher and Halaal items as well but make sure you mark the packaging clearly.

Remember to get all your staff members involved. Gain staff buy-in and ask for their suggestions as well. This will ensure great customer service – and repeat customers!

You are in the baking business so bake as often as you can! The lovely smell will attract customers from outside the store and lead them to the bakery section from other departments. Get the sweet smell of success through your store and let your tills jingle!