Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy Meg Svec

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, managing shift swaps, and more,How we've overhauled our compensation strategies to keep our team motivated and happy. An update on diversifying our revenue streams through new ventures like event rentals, catering, and the growth of our (small) wine program, The personal challenges and joys of parenthood, and how it intertwines with running a thriving small business!Mentioned Resources:
7Shifts for Team Management & Scheduling

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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.
Tune in to today's episode as we spill the tea on understanding your market, decoding the secret language of traffic patterns, and being the neighborhood ninja - ready to tackle any unexpected road closures or crazy weather. We're sharing our playbook on adjusting staffing, ramping up marketing, and fine-tuning your product production. 
We'll talk about managing the fine line between overproducing (hello, waste!) and underproducing (um, missed sales - no thanks!). 

It's a delicate dance, and we're giving you the moves.!
Setting your pars and creating your production plan isn't a "set-it-and-forget-it" deal. We're talking real-time monitoring, keeping tabs on sales data, and adjusting those pars like a bakery boss! We'll even discuss some creative ideas for promotions, when you find yourself with surplus goodies. 

Grab your apron, a cup of something warm, and let's chat bakery business! 

Links to External Resources:
Google Peak Times ToolFree Facebook Group for Bakery Owners

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 profit and loss statement, and the role it plays in helping you identify potential revenue & pricing challenges. By analyzing the percentage of your revenue spent on ingredients and supplies, you can determine whether a pricing adjustment is necessary to maintain profitability.


Resources Mentioned:
Join us for our next bakery finance workshop on October 26th!

To register for free, visit https://www.bakerybusinessacademy.com/workshop

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 essential expenses, and avoid losses. Evaluating demand, sales volume, and customer feedback ... and how these can help identify if it's time to adjust pricing, or focus on increasing revenue 
External Resources mentioned in the episode:
Recipe Costing Essentials Course: This quick-hitting e-course provides guidance on how to cost your menu items properly - including a handy recipe costing template you can use to price your baked goods. More details can be found at https://www.recipecostingessentials.comFinance Fundamentals E-Course: Our flagship e-course for bakery entrepreneurs who are ready to transform their business into a profitability machine! Join the waitlist: https://bba.bakerybusinessacademy.com/waiting-list-ffSCORE: Score provides free and low-cost classes for small business owners on various topics, including finance and accounting. You can access their resources at https://www.score.org/Remember, understanding your bakery's finances and making informed decisions about pricing and revenue can lead to a more successful and sustainable business.

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 hand pies, which helped her expand her menu and grow her business even more.

Before long, Moira started putting processes in place around marketing, production, and operations that helped her scale - while staying committed to working from her home kitchen, with no employees. Over the years, she has optimized her production process by using smart planning, labeling, and automation - and has also upgraded her equipment to keep pace with the growing demands for her product.

Her business, Pies By Moira, has a strong online presence on Facebook and Instagram, where she announces her weekly menu and takes pre-orders in advance of the markets she attends.

Moira prioritizes efficiency and sustainability in her solo operation, allowing her to maintain her business from home without the need for employees or a brick-and-mortar location. Despite considering a brick-and-mortar shop before the pandemic, Moira realized that her current setup is ideal for her and allows her to focus on her passion for baking, serving her community, and spending time with her family and grandkids.

Moira's dedication to quality, pricing strategy, and strong relationships with customers have helped her build a thriving business and create a close-knit community of loyal supporters.


You can learn more about Moira here:


Pies By Moira WebsitePies By Moira Facebook Page Pies By Moira Instagram
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Thank you for listening – if you like what you hear, be sure to leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform! These reviews and listener feedback really help me know what you’re enjoying, and bring you more content that is relevant and helpful to you.

Click here to continue the conversation in our Facebook group for Bakery Entrepreneurs >>

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 diversifying our revenue streams this yearHiring & Employee Management ... our #1 focus!Bakery Business Academy Updates ... Classes, Memberships, Workshops - yay!
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Thank you for listening – if you like what you hear, be sure to leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform! These reviews and listener feedback really help me know what you’re enjoying, and bring you more content that is relevant and helpful to you.


For more episodes and to learn more about Bakery Business Academy, please visit https://bakerybusinessacademy.com