Local Marketing ideas: 5 Strategies to grow Your Cake Business in 2024
Welcome to a promising new year for your cake business! As you gear up for 2024, let's explore practical strategies to enhance your local presence and boost your cake sales.
This isn’t about social media! It’s about thinking locally. Leveraging what’s in your city, town, and neighbourhood. This is where your customers live! Focus on making sure they know you’re nearby.
For a far more in-depth look at this, download our FREE ebook on this topic in our ebook shop.
1. Collaborate with Local Businesses:
Forge connections with neighbouring businesses to expand your reach. Engage in exclusive promotions and seasonal offers to attract a broader audience.
Are there any local business parks nearby? Consider dropping off a box of cupcakes at various offices with attached business cards. They might want you to make some basic items for parties, events, or seasonal gatherings. These don’t have to be fancy and draw from marketing budgets! This can be easy money during slower periods in your business.
Participate in local events to not only network but also establish your cake business as an essential part of the community. These can vary but get access to a community calendar from the local schools, council offices, and community centres to see what’s going on.
2. Participate in Food Markets:
Tap into the potential of local markets as vibrant hubs for potential customers. Utilise markets to introduce your menu to potential clients. Offer samples at your stall and make your treats readily available for purchase. Putting a face to your brand and sharing your story in person can create a memorable connection.
Note: This one is harder work as it requires a small bit of investment in a stand, market stall fees, and of course, TIME! But, the exposure can be fabulous. Sign people up on the spot for upcoming birthday cakes and get them to pay a deposit or the full amount ahead of time securing funds that would have easily paid for your market stall and made your day worthwhile. Sign up with Zettle or Square to accept contactless payments with a card reader.
3. Get involved with Charities:
Connect with charities in ways that align with your business values. Donate treats for care home celebrations, contribute to school fundraisers, or participate in religious events to forge personal connections within your community. Use these events as an opportunity to showcase new cake designs, flavours, and ranges that you'd like to offer in your business, promoting them on social media.
4. Collaborate with Cafés and Coffee Shops:
Broaden your reach by partnering with local coffee shops. This introduces you the world of a “wholesale” business. A genuine step up from baking for the average customer. This brings more steady and reliable income for you and forces you to become super efficient to accommodate more bakes into your week.
Integrate your cakes into their menu for a steady flow of orders. Tailor your designs to complement the ambiance of the café and cater to the preferences of their customers.
Again, not super easy to do here, as now businesses are reliant on your for a part of their menu so you need to prepare for it. The benefit though can easily outweigh the challenges as you’ve now got commercial customers who are also advertising your work. Start small, learn the process, fine tune it, and then work on adding other outlets. Deliver excellence!
5. Explore Unique Locations:
Think creatively about your business locations. Collaborate with clothing stores during sales, host pop-ups at real estate open houses, and explore unique venues like art galleries, hairdressers, and fitness centres. These unconventional spots present untapped opportunities for your cake business.
Yes! We said fitness centres. Some health bars or home-made granola may not be your regular staple bake, but if it gets you to a new audience who still celebrates various occasions, you’re now tapping into a new customer base that would not know of you otherwise.
Conclusion:
As you navigate the year ahead, focus on practical strategies that yield tangible results for your cake business. Strengthen local partnerships, engage with potential customers in markets, and strategically align with charities.
For more actionable insights, check out our FREE e-book, "5 Ways to Grow Your Cake Business in 2024," available on our website. Elevate your local presence and make 2024 the most successful year yet for your cake business!