Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy

Episode Summary:
In this episode, we're diving into a detailed post-Mother's Day debrief that reveals how to leverage holiday sales to sustain and grow your bakery business. Join us as we explore practical strategies for maximizing revenue during key sales periods, with real-life examples from our recent successful Mother's Day holiday baker promo! 

Whether you're running a bustling retail bakery, are in the thick of online sales, or operate as a "popup" business ... this episode will provide you with actionable tips you can apply to your own business operations, and change the way you t...

Episode Summary: In this comeback episode of Kitchen Notes, we delve deep into the personal and professional challenges of running a bakery amidst life's unpredictable swings. Host Meg Svec shares her heartfelt experiences balancing personal challenges & family life with bakery management, and offers insights into navigating the financial and emotional ups and downs of the bakery business. Join us as we explore the importance of "knowing your numbers" and how this knowledge can be a lifeline during turbulent times. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable advice to keep...

Join me as I look back & reflect on an eventful 2023! 

It's been a year of profound changes and learning for me, both on a personal level and as a business owner. From embracing my role as a parent, to steering our bakery towards new growth with the help of my business partner ... we're unwrapping it all on today's episode! 

Key Highlights:

The changes we made this year to manage our team more effectively, New tools that have been game changers for giving our team more autonomy and saving time on things like creating schedules, man...

In today's episode, we're diving deep into the nitty-gritty of managing inventory, and practical strategies for deciding how much product you need to produce at your bakery.

Picture this: it's December, we're knee-deep in the "holiday hustle", & sales are booming.  

Slow down there, soldier! January's peeking around the corner, ready to throw us a curveball. Inevitably, this is a time of the year when sales start to dip...folks are starting new diets, wallets are zipped up tight after holiday spending sprees, and (for us, at least) snowy weather has folks cooped up indoors.

In this episode, we dive deep into a common challenge faced by bakery owners: distinguishing between a revenue problem and a pricing problem. Often, bakery businesses struggle to cover their expenses, pay themselves, or grow due to low sales and/or cash flow issues. 

Today, we explore the importance of knowing and understanding your revenue / sales numbers, and discuss some general rules of thumb when it comes to managing your bakery budget - including how much you should plan to spend on things like ingredients, labor, and overhead. 

We also touch on the significance of a...

In this episode of Kitchen Notes, we're taking a listener question & diving deep into an essential business finance topic: raising your prices! 

On today's episode, we'll talk about... 

The various factors that can impact your bottom-line profitability, The importance of understanding your business costs, which includes overhead costs (rent, utilities, etc.), labor costs (employee salaries), and product costs (ingredients and supplies), Regularly reviewing your profit and loss statements, and why this is absolutely crucial for gaining insights into your business's financial health. Determining your "bare minimum" number - the minimum revenue needed to cover essen...

Moira Walker is a former deli owner who turned her passion for pie baking into a successful cottage bakery business. Moira began her business baking pies on the weekends, and selling from a charming roadside stand, using an honor box for payment.

Her business grew through word of mouth, and the support of her local community.

Before long, Moira expanded her business by participating in farmers' markets and networking with other vendors to find new opportunities. 

She discovered the game-changing cheddar pastry recipe during a course at King Arthur and started making savory h...

We're back!

It's been a minute since we've posted a new Kitchen Notes episode, and I'm excited to be back at it. Last time I spoke with you, we were talking 2023 goals. Now that we're about half-way through the year, let's check in - shall we?

I'm sharing an update on what's been happening in MY business (Spilt Milk), and some lessons learned. I'm hoping you can find some inspiration and camaraderie in today's update!

Here's what we'll talk about on today's episode:

Bakery Updates: What's Happening In The Business?How we're...

Happy New Year!

In this 3-part series, we’ll be sitting down to “hit the reset button” as we start a new year. We’ll take a look back at 2022 to talk about what went well, exciting milestones we achieved as a business, lessons learned, and where we’re headed in 2023.

Today, tune in for Part Three, where we're talking about some of the important pillars that our guiding our goals for the upcoming year, including commitments we are making to our team, our community, and the planet. Here’s a breakdown of what we cover in tod...

Happy New Year!

In this 3-part series, we'll be sitting down to "hit the reset button" as we start a new year. We'll take a look back at 2022 to talk about what went well, exciting milestones we achieved as a business, lessons learned, and where we're headed in 2023.

Today, tune in for Part Two, where we dig into a few things that could have been better about last year, including some valuable lessons learned we will carry with us into 2023. Here's a breakdown of what we cover in today's episode:

Staff Turnover...

Happy New Year!

Over the next 3 episodes, we'll be sitting down to "hit the reset button" as we start a new year. We'll take a look back at 2022 to talk about what went well, exciting milestones we achieved as a business, lessons learned, and where we're headed in 2023.

Today, tune in for Part One of this three-part series, where we'll dive into:

Our "Million Dollar Year" 🥳 ... Spilt Milk hit an exciting milestone in 2022. It was the first time in the history of our business that we exceeded one million dollars (USD) in rev...

If you run a bakery, you know that the fourth quarter can be incredibly hectic. Everybody wants their pastries and treats and goodies for the holiday season. While that usually means a big boost in revenue, it also means a whole lot of work. 

In this episode, we’re talking all about prepping for the holiday season — like how to boost revenue without adding a ton of extra tasks to your already full to-do list. We also get into:

Maximizing production without taking on too much.How offering presales can increase revenue without the extra stress of da...

While blindly running on instinct probably isn’t going to be the best path to a successful business, there IS something to be said about listening to what your gut is telling you. 

In this episode, we’re talking about why when it comes to your bakery business you should listen to that little voice in the back of your head telling you to pay attention — while still looking at the numbers to validate and guide you. We get into:

Why we believe in trusting your gut and listening to your instincts. How data should be used to...

Of all the things we do in our business each month, there’s one thing in particular we find is always worth the time we spend on it — the month end financial review.  

In this episode, we’re sharing our month-end financial review process and sharing how it allows us to put together a strong game plan based on facts based on data. We get into:

What exactly goes into our end-of-the-month financial review.How we prepare for the meeting.What highlights we go over when we sit down together.And so much more!

It’s time to celebrate! Spilt Milk has been in business for six years and we’ve got plenty of reasons to jump for joy. We opened our retail shop in 2016, and it’s always fun to take a look back at the journey.

In this episode, we’re reflecting back on some lessons learned, friends made along the way, keeping a business running throughout a global pandemic, and our very favorite memories. 

Thank you to all our wonderful customers and supporters for holding our hand on this journey. We love you - and couldn’t do this w...

Whether you’re making mind-blowingly gorgeous pastries or out-of-the-world ice cream, many of the principles of running a small business are the same. 

On this episode, we sit down with seasoned pastry chef turned entrepreneur and owner of Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Dana Cree. Dana shares her journey and the lessons she learned along the way, including:

Figuring out parenthood as a small business owner and building a business that supports flexibility. How wholesale can create a new revenue stream.The unexpected bumps along the road to opening a 2nd shop.Fostering self-discovery to empower your team...

Knowing your numbers is a critical piece of bakery business success, but how do you take action to stay on top of things when you notice some gaps in where your money is going? 

In this episode, we’re sharing how we’ve approached tracking slow leaks in our budget. We get into:

How reviewing your weekly KPI report will help you notice small leaks before they turn into massive holes. Why your refund rate is a number you should be tracking.Where we look at our reporting to identify leaks and how we take action. And mor

When it comes to money management, sometimes you just want to bury your head in the sand and avoid it — but friends, it’s time to take a deep breath and rip off the bandaid!

In this episode, we sit down for a chat with financial educator & all-around cool gal Sarah Becker for some real talk on effective money management. 

After ten years as a wedding photographer, real estate investor, and small business owner, Sarah Becker kept hearing the same story from her biz besties over and over again. While outwardly successful in their businesses, they...

In a time where the cost of ingredients is steadily climbing, can you run a bakery AND still make a profit? In this episode, we’re tackling this question from a community member.

We talk about:

•How to adjust when you don’t have a lot of wiggle room in the budget
•Why closely monitoring your budget is critical to profitability
•How to look for opportunities to “do more with less”
•Plus more tips on keep your finances on track! 

Looking for more resources on running a profitable bakery business? Recipe Costing Es...

When you run a bakery business, you can always expect the unexpected.

In this episode, we sit down with Connie Brown, owner of The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor and Creamery, who successfully made the transition from corporate marketer to ice cream shop owner. 

We talk to Connie about: 

The desire to create a gathering place for the community.How she grew her business and what that evolution looked like.Making the leap to bring certain aspects of production in-house.Some of her biggest lessons along the way.And so much more!

...

Competition is a reality when you run a bakery business. 

But should you really be worrying & wondering what your competition is up to?

In this episode, we get real about how we deal with “competitors”, as well as sharing:

Why competition in your area is actually a good thing!Why focusing on collaboration and support versus competition is a win / winSome key questions to ask yourself when you find yourself worrying about what your competitors are doing

As many of us head into the holiday season, we’re ramping up for a high volume of pre-orders. So how do you make sure you’re ready for the onslaught?

In this episode, we’re talking about how to get your processes for pre-orders nailed down so that you can avoid extra headaches during what is usually a busy time of year. 

We share our experiences (and pitfalls), as well as:

Why nailing your pre-order process can dramatically increase your revenue.How streamlining will help you maximize your ability to take orders.What our pre...

Running a bakery business can be a profitable venture, but before you start whipping up your favorite treats, you need to have a plan.

In this episode, we tackle the need for a business plan and why if you want to have a sustainable, successful business, putting in the leg work for a business plan is a must. 

We also talk about:

Why having a business plan is a key ingredient of success.Why revisiting your business plan on a regular basis is important.Why researching and coming up with projections is a helpful e...

Being a parent and running a bakery business can sometimes feel like your very own three-ring circus. 

In this episode, we’re serving up some real talk on how motherhood has impacted us and how we’ve worked to find the right balance that allows us to excel as both parents and business owners. 

We also share:

Our own journeys becoming parents while running our business.Some of the hurdles we’ve had to clear at various stages of motherhood and entrepreneurship.How being organized can free up the mental resources you and your team nee...

When you run a bakery, there are various places where money that you may have planned as part of your profits ends up going out the door. 

In this episode, we’re discussing how discounts, waste, refunds and more can all have an impact on our bottom line. We talk about:

Which parts of your profit and loss statements should be monitored most closely every month when tracking wasteWhy your food budget is a good indicator of the health of your bakery financesWhy costing your recipes is imperative to help keep track of where mon...

The holidays can be a fun and joyful time to be a bakery owner — as long as you keep your wits about yourself and do some planning in advance. We’ve had plenty of highs and lows over the years - so let’s talk about lessons learned!

In this episode, we’re sharing some of our biggest tips & tricks from running our bakery through the holiday season. We’re getting real about some of the challenges we’ve faced (and how we overcame them), as well as:

Why holidays can be a great revenu...

As sisters who run a bakery business together, we often get questions about what it’s like to work together. Do we always get along? How do we make it work without killing each other?

In this episode, we’re sharing our own experience working with family and some of the ups and downs we’ve had along the way. We also talk about:

How to keep it professional in the workplace.Breaking out of your familial roles.Why trust is paramount to making it work. 

Thank you for listening – if you like what you...

When Dick and Jane met over a cookie years ago, they had no idea that years later an idea to put education on an animal cracker would change their entire career trajectory!

In this episode, we’re joined by the founder of the Dick and Jane Baking Company — Dick Held. He shares how a passion for combining nutrition and education went from idea to implementation, and they managed to get their products into school boards across the country! 

We also talk about:

How simplicity with products has made their growth that much easier & fasterWhy commi...