🏡 Movin' and a Shakin'.
🏡 Tips we suggest implementing when you plan to move your bakery (and your home).
Okay - yeah. We're mostly home-based bakeries. But what happens when the "home" part of a home-based bakery needs to move? Whether a military family, cashin' in on the housing market's cash cowness (interest rates, say whaaaaa?!), or simply relating just because - it can wreak havoc on the marketing you've worked so hard for.
🤔 So what do then? 😶 Start over? 😯 Delete everything? 🤐 Don't Tell Anyone? 😬 Tell Everyone? 😭 Cry?
Well - yes, always cry first. But then - strategize. Here are 5 tips Corrie suggests when moving - something she's experienced up close and personal over the last 2 weeks.
- Right now - Join the local groups where you're relocating to. There are many awesome reasons to get involved in local groups - from actually using them as a resource when you're trying to get the lay of the land to assisting you in finding new clients on weekly and monthly sales threads. Warm up your audience - you'll get a nifty "I'm new here" waving hand next to your name for 2 weeks after your joining date. Ask questions! Add value to the group, make a spreadsheet with links to sales dates and posts, and help the mods by adding more value to their group.
- After you find your new home, stalk the neighbors. Okay - not stalk, but get to know the lay of the land. Minivans? Kids. More than three cars? Possibly high school kids. Work van? Commercial cookie orders. New kids? Birthdays. And when your new "neighbs" do somethin' nice for you - thank them in cookie currency. People love having a cookie dealer nearby.
- As soon as you move in, join Nextdoor.com. This one will require you to be able to receive mail under your name to your new location, so this is a post-move-in-date marketing task. Nextdoor is a networking app based on your zip code. You can only join your Nextdoor neighborhood if you live nearby. You can also create a business profile that allows 2 free posts each month within a 2-mile radius of our business's location - which just so happens to be your new crib.
- Dress the part in a branded / funny cookie shirt. Corrie has a shirt that says "COOKIE DEALER" and always gets someone to ask "what the heck is that?!" Take that logic to the streets - well, the walking path. Whenever you walk the doggo, snag a funny, well-branded cookie tee (Bakery Tee Co has an awesome selection) and start marketing. Nosey Nancy (like me) will eventually just have to ask you - and guess what? You've got a new potential client who just loves to talk.
- If you can stomach it, join your HOA. Being involved in your community puts you as a natural POC for other community members. Plus - hey, maybe you can help make the neighborhood a more enjoyable place for everyone. And guess what the HOA board will think of come holiday gifting time? Chet-you-betcha.
- Curb and Cookie-a-peal. Get your curb appeal dialed in as a cookie baker. Cute, clean, and inviting. Nice signage - heck, even a flag or yard flag that subtly suggests you're the place to get great goodies.
Hope this helps. Would Corrie delete her page and start over with each move? 🤔 No, she says. She'd let current fans know their support really helps her and ask that they continue engaging with her cookie posts. Offering a "hard end date" for pre-move orders will keep people in the loop and may snag a few of those FOMO sales. And always, before you depart - thank those who have supported you in your old stomping grounds.
Got any more ideas to help with relocation hesitation? Feel free to start a thread in the Sugar Cookie Marketing (Group).