6 ways to boost your bakery’s growth this holiday season

Ready to jingle your way into small business success? Make this list the first stop on your sleighride. 

1. Plan in advance

Before you dive into crafting those holiday desserts, you’ll want to lay out a roadmap for the busy months ahead. Start by reviewing last year’s inventory, and stocking up on the ingredients necessary for those historically popular items. 

Next, prepare for preorders by filling out your calendar now. For instance, if you’re planning to sell dessert platters for New Year’s celebrations, have samples available by mid-November to drum up interest and help customers visualize what they’re ordering. That little bit of prepwork on your end could be the difference between a steady flow of orders or a trickle. A little planning now can make all the difference later!

2. Staff up

The busy holiday season could mean you need to supercharge your staffing. An uptick in customers requires all hands on deck, and it’s important to start filling any empty seasonal roles sooner rather than later. Reach out to former employees to see if they need a part time gig, or ask them for staff recommendations. Filling your team with passionate, like-minded individuals is paramount to a successful holiday season.

Keeping track of your dedicated employees has never been easier. Clover’s employee management software makes it easy to manage employee schedules, payroll, and even customer tips, making it simple for your customers to tip your staff for their hard work and a job well done. Happy staff can mean happy customers!

READ: Top recruiting websites to help you find and hire restaurant staff

3. Seasonal specialties

Nothing draws a crowd like colorful decorations and seasonal holiday treats. That crowd doesn’t have to be physical. According to the Pew Research Center, roughly half of U.S. adults use photo sharing app Instagram, so those warm, celebratory decorations and colorful desserts have the potential to be seen far and wide across the Internet. 

READ: How to create effective social media marketing content

Entice shoppers with limited-time offerings like holiday baked goods featuring ingredients such as gingerbread, peppermint, cranberry, and chocolate—and spend that extra time to make them camera-ready for your customers’ Instagram posts—and to share on your own social media! Word of mouth is huge for small businesses, so invite your local community in for a visit—Clover Customer Engagement can help you offer promos.

4. Turn seasonal guests into regulars

You’ve decked the halls and whipped up holiday treats—but how can you ensure one-time shoppers return again and again?

Clover Rewards enrolls first-time customers into a program that helps them keep your business top of mind. Send out a discount code or special offer via text or email a few days after the new guest’s visit to entice a quick return. Be sure to personally thank them for their business, too. Staying connected with your customers is key.

Take it one step further and set up online ordering via Clover’s restaurant POS system to make new purchases a piece of cake. Seamlessly integrate commission-free online sales and delivery management into your business model, getting those specialty desserts to your customers even faster. That new guest can have a fresh box of doughnuts in their hands before they’ve even finished their first!

READ: 7 tips to turn holiday shoppers into loyal customers 

5. Create community moments

Customers are more likely to indulge in sweet treats when they’re socializing with family and friends. Give them the perfect reason to snack with events that cater to your local community. Gingerbread cookie decorating contests, chocolate tastings, advanced baking lessons, and more—all ways to become the hub for delectable sweets in your area. 

Remember to get the word out there! Send out an email or a text via Clover Rewards and post events on your website and on social media.

6. Holidays all year long

About half (50 percent) of all small businesses realize over 25 percent of their annual sales during the winter holiday season, according to a 2023 study. But, that leaves around 75% of the year open for additional earnings for many businesses. There are the other major holidays, of course, like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and the Fourth of July. You can also take the opportunity to put your spin on some lesser-known baking holidays—think National Donut Day or National Cake Day, for instance. 

You could celebrate other edible treats, too. January 19 is National Popcorn Day is a weeklong celebration featuring daily specialty flavors—that could hit the spot. Or maybe you make some noise about September 29’s National Coffee Day, lining your shop windows with delicious mocha-inspired desserts. Whatever your specialty, there’s probably a baking holiday that celebrates it.  

With a little prepwork and imagination, your bakery can be on track for a winning holiday season. From specialty cakes to bakery cookies and beyond, this year could be your most delicious one yet. 

Plus, be sure to get ahead of the rush with a little help from Clover. Learn how a Clover POS system designed especially for bakeries can help your business thrive.  A Clover Consultant is at the ready to help. 

Editorial Team

Holiday, Insights, Marketing, Quick Service Restaurants (QSR)

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