LAS VEGAS — Discovering ways to buffer the bottom line, especially during periods of slow sales, decreased foot traffic or evolving customer preferences, is always on the retail baker’s radar. At the International Baking Industry Exposition 2025, held Sept. 13-17 in Las Vegas, Cydni Mitchell Hodges, CFO of the Sugar Geek Show, shared several different profit-boosting ideas in her IBIEducate presentation, “Dough Beyond Baking: Non-Baking Revenue Streams for Retail Bakers.”
She plugged the ideas into four categories: Education, Add Ons, Community and Pivots.
“I hope to inspire retail bakers to review their business offerings and add a few products or services that give them a little more bang for their buck,” Hodges said.
Education
Host in-person baking classes and workshops | Keep it simple, and use materials already on hand.
Create DIY baking kits | Take-home cookie decorating kits with pre-measured ingredients and instructions are quick to put together. Customize the cookie designs for holidays and special occasions.
Offer online workshops or classes | Livestream a baking technique or an aspect of cake decorating on YouTube or Instagram Live. Download the recordings and sell them online for additional revenue.
Develop online courses | Use an online platform that gives customers easy access to pre-recorded video tutorials and guides for baking various recipes.
Add Ons
Rent the retail space and/or props | Position the bakery space as a venue for events, workshops and meetings, including for other bakers. Offer party decor; props such as podiums, carts and floral walls; and furniture for rent. Use a property rental website to streamline the effort.
Sell general party supplies | Provide essentials such as plates, forks, toppers, cake-cutting knives and a small selection of greeting cards for customers who come to pick up an order and need something last-minute.
Stock custom cake toppers, swag and signs | Connect with a reliable vendor or invest in equipment and materials to produce unique toppers, party invitations, stickers and more in-house. Extend the revenue stream further by selling the supplies to others in the industry.
Community
Consider wholesale distribution | Develop relationships with local cafes, restaurants and shops — as production space and state regulations allow — to supply baked goods.
Partner with local businesses | Create joint promotions around special occasions and holidays to increase awareness of both businesses.
Buy ingredients and baking supplies in bulk | Sell the materials to home bakers and other local bakeries that may not have the ability to buy in bulk because of lack of storage or other challenges.
Pivots
Offer catering services | Connect with other industry professionals, such as event planners, to supply baked goods for events, parties and gatherings.
Curate gift baskets | Customized gift baskets are well-suited for the holidays, corporate gifts and special occasions. Purchase specialty items from a third-party vendor that pair well with the included baked goods.
Launch a seasonal or rotating menu | Generate a sense of urgency with a limited-time offer or once-per-year item or flavor.
