Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and customers will be looking to bakeries for sweet ways to celebrate. Seasonal merchandising is a great way to take advantage of increased traffic, drive incremental profits and create an impression as a special occasion hot spot. Putting in a little extra effort on visual display, seasonal decorations and purposeful packaging can pay off big—here’s how:
Choose special sweets: Unlike holidays when patrons seek crowd-pleasing favorites, Valentine’s Day is a time when customers are looking for a unique treat for their special someone. It’s a great time to dress up classic flavors as well as try out new trends. Red velvet cupcakes and cream cheese frosting is classic and stunning—or take advantage of the sweet and salty trend with smoky bacon and caramel rolls.
COST-SAVING TIP: Take the least appealing cupcake and crumble it to make an easy and beautiful topping.
Package for grab n’ go: Individually package some cupcakes and sweets ahead of time. This makes it easy for people looking to run in and out with a last minute gift.
COST-SAVING TIP: Don’t have individual boxes? Clear cups make a great cupcake holder. Just place the cup inside of a cellophane bag and tie a ribbon around it.
Make it personal: Tie a ribbon or baker’s twine around the package and add a simple Valentine’s tag that can double as a card.
Voilá! You have a grab ‘n go Valentine’s Day dessert that’s as pretty as it is tasty. Set them on display and prepare to have them whisked away faster than you can say “Happy Valentine’s Day”.
Ready to plan your grab ‘n go Valentine’s Day desserts? Start with a classic Red Velvet Cupcake using Gold Medal Devil’s Food Cake Mix.