KANSAS CITY, MO — As one of the most anticipated cinematic releases of the summer and an iconic brand, the forthcoming Barbie movie is inspiring retail bakers across the US to create limited-time offers and experiences for consumers.
Adding baked goods that reflect moments in pop culture to the menu can be a successful business strategy because they have the tendency to draw attention — and consumers — as Dolce Bakery experienced with its Swiftie Collection when the musician brought her Eras Tour to Kansas City, MO.
Check out how some retail bakeries are celebrating the movie’s July 21 premiere.
This Los Angeles cake brand offers a Barbie Cake year-round, with the popular children’s toy at the center of a dome-shaped cake made to look like a skirt. The customizable cake comes in three doll varieties and four cake flavor options: vanilla, vanilla confetti, chocolate or red velvet.
Margot Robbie, the actress who plays Barbie in the upcoming film, received one of the cakes for her birthday during filming last year, catapulting the product into the Barbie cinematic universe.
In anticipation of the movie’s release, the bakery posted a blog article offering consumers inspiration for using SusieCakes products on a Malibu Barbie-themed dessert table.
The Los Angeles bakery put a twist on its flagship Triple Berry Cake by subbing out the white buttercream frosting and leaf decoration for hot pink frosting, drizzle and sprinkles along with the movie’s slogan printed across the top on an edible transfer sheet.
In addition to the Unapologetically Pink Triple Berry Cake, Sweet Lady Jane is also offering a Barbie-inspired pink lemonade cupcake. Both products are available for pre-order through July 21 and are pick up only July 21-23.
In Salem, OR, Sweetly Baked is creating not only glitzy, Barbie-inspired baked goods, but experiences for its customers. The bakery is hosting a Barbie Cake Class for parent-child duos to build a three-layer, 8-in. vanilla cake with colorful vanilla buttercream.
With the buzz surrounding the film’s release, the bakery is also leveraging the movie with a social media contest by giving away Barbie cupcakes. Consumers can enter by commenting, tagging their friends, following Sweetly Baked and resharing the contest post on their Instagram stories. The strategy has driven traffic to the bakery’s social media platforms and increased its visibility.
By staying tuned in to local events, pop culture moments and more, retail bakers can flex their creative muscle and create unique offerings and promotional opportunities for their bakeries.
