7 sept. 2022
The holiday season is crucial for artisan bakers to take advantage of sales spikes and the seasonal attitudes of tradition, enjoyment, and shared meals.
Here are 7 tips for getting the most out of the festive period as an artisan bakery.
1. Create an unforgettable in-store experience
Whether it’s decorations, entertainment, or the presentation of products, think about creating a wow factor. Particularly in the age of social media, an unforgettable, must-see, or must-capture moment is a great way to boost interest. This doesn’t always mean big, over-the-top, and expensive. It’s important to feel right for your businesses but creating an ‘Instagrammable’ moment that customers will want to share on social media is a great way to create buzz and drive interest in your bakery.
Don't know where to start? We created a wide range of in-store materials for you. Download them here for free:
2. Develop a unique and showstopping product
Our Taste Tomorrow research shows that consumers may be more willing to experiment than you may think. 60% of consumers polled in last year’s survey expressed a willingness to try a new taste or combination of unusual tastes; a small but notable rise from previous years.
Equally, promoting a completely distinctive and interesting product is a great way to set yourself apart from the competition.
Try to play with different flavors, and surprising textures, or maybe come up with a totally new and refreshing visual appearance.
Need some creative recipe inspiration?
Our Puratos team have developed a collection of showstopping reinventions of traditional festive recipes.
3. Use social media to your advantage
When done well social media is an invaluable tool for businesses to increase awareness and get customers in the door.
Posting regular images of your beautiful products with relevant hashtags is a great start.
Need help or inspiration for creating social media posts?
Download our social media templates to easily create engaging festive posts:
Video content is quickly becoming the most engaging format on social media. If you or someone in your team is confident to take videos of your products being made and the final product you might find your results begin to improve.
Try to find local influencers and reach out to them on social media. Invite them to learn how to make some of your signature festive treats and catalogue the day on social media to amplify your reach with potential customers.
4. Use the power of nostalgia
Our Taste Tomorrow trend radar showed that the pandemic led to a resurgence in dishes that evoked nostalgia. The data showed that 75% of global consumers prefer traditional tastes. The festive period in mnay cultures is associated with reconnecting with and reinforcing childhood traditions.
Discover lots of creative and unexpected recipes for your bakery, patissirie and chocolate creations:
5. Offer experiences as gifts
Giving experiences and personalized gifts have become more and more popular in recent years. In fact, a 2021 report found that in the UK 42% of people would much rather receive a gift that creates memories, over something which is likely to be forgotten after a time.
Offering a baking course, workshops or personalized products is a great way to add additional revenue streams and capitalize on this trend.
6. Team up with other local artisanal businesses
When it comes to creating an exciting and novel experience, a limited-edition collaboration is a great option.
If the partnership is with another high-quality establishment with a loyal customer base it can mean driving interest with new customers as well as building trust with current customers too.
7. Price will be a key consideration for many consumers
In times of downturn, there are opportunities to engage customers and build more meaningful relationships. Consider creating products at a lower price or offer valuable promotions that will allow customers to enjoy the festivities at an affordable cost.
Learn more tips on how to reduce costs to this more achievable in our blog on mitigating costs through innovative solutions.
Reward returning customers with added extras or personalized gifts to show how valued they are and to make their festive season that much more special.
And think about ways that you can support the families most affected by the current situation. Could you donate excess stock to local charities or food banks to offer struggling members of the community a free way to join in the festivities? These are great ways to reduce food waste and also contribute to your community in a deeply valuable way.
Looking for more tips, recipes or product recommendations? Do not hesitate to reach out to our local sales representatives!
