Bake Sale Pricing??

[rszdtrvl]

What would you price :

Cookies (regular size)
Popcorn Cake (like a rice krispy treat but with popcorn and gumdrops)
Cupcakes

I was thinking about putting them on a plate, however many for what price??

I am so confused about pricing. I want them to be priced to sell! But it is also a fundraising Bazaar, so I want to make sure we earn a bit of $$ too.

I am also selling pipe cleaner/ponybead candy cane ornaments. Those will be $.25 each, or possibly "buy a dozen cookies get one free" too.

Thanks! The bazaar is on the 18th, so I do have a bit of time to figure stuff out (and make more ornaments).

 

[descovy]

Church fundraiser bake sales, we've always had the best luck doing "free will offerings" Depending on the "cause" folks will put in a few bucks for a treat or two.

As soon as you "price it" it becomes more price concious, if that makes sense. Suddenly someone will quibble ($1/cookie???) or if you ask for 25 cents, you'll only get 25 cents.

What we do is usually no written prices, just free will offering, advertising big the benefector... so poster doesn't say, "cookies 50 cents" instead it is "come support youth mission trip!"

if someone asks, "how much" you can tell them a suggested amount, but most folks will choose to "overpay" rather than "underpay" in the name of charity.

good luck!

 

[lauren5406]

This really doesn't help for your question but is a little idea for you if you're brave.

Every Christmas the animal welfare group I work with has a bake sale - it's this Saturday actually!

For the past several years we have not set any prices. It is simply by donation only and we make a lot more money than we used to.

Most people will donate more than what we would have set the prices for and in 3 years we have only had one instance where someone tried to take advantage of our request - take a lot of stuff and only give a $1 - but the next person more than made up for it with a $20.

Something to consider that is working well for us.

 

[Hannathy]

Who is buying?

For the high School where it is the students buying we do everything is 50 cents. that is for a snack size baggy full of puppy chow, 1 cupcake, 2 normal cookies, 1 really big one, large brownie or bar. then we don't have to have signs or price anything. we wanted everything to go because we only did it once a month (the money went for the post grad party)

If you are going for adults taking things home I'd put things on plates but keep things reasonable. like $2 and under for the plates and only more if it is a whole bread or something.

 

[RangerPooh]

Who is buying?

For the high School where it is the students buying we do everything is 50 cents. that is for a snack size baggy full of puppy chow, 1 cupcake, 2 normal cookies, 1 really big one, large brownie or bar. then we don't have to have signs or price anything. we wanted everything to go because we only did it once a month (the money went for the post grad party)

If you are going for adults taking things home I'd put things on plates but keep things reasonable. like $2 and under for the plates and only more if it is a whole bread or something.

I agree with keeping things simple if your audience is high schoolers. .50$ is very reasonable and the items should sell if 1)they are displayed well and 2)decorated to look yummy. I would probably do the same prices at a community craft fair. While donations works for some places, it might not work at all. Therefore listing prices for snack sized items and small crafts should help them sell, especially if kids are tagging along with their moms and grandmas.

 

[McKelly]

We've always done better with "donations accepted" as well.

 

[rszdtrvl]

It is just a huge bazaar. Each child has a table full of their items to sell. We are in charge of our own pricing, change making, and set up/clean up.

We are such a cheap city (no joke!) that if I put everything out and put a donation can out, that honestly, we probably won't get much $$. And this is being done as a fundraiser, as each child needs to raise $3,000 for the trip. But DH thinks that may be a good idea, so it is at least something to think about.

I think the 2 cookies/$.50 sounds about right. Maybe $1 for a small plate with 4 cookies too?

Thanks for the hints/tips!

 

[windycitymom]

I have to second those who say just make it a "free will offering".

One boyscout did a bake sale at church to raise money for his eagle project, and he made over $1000 at just three masses. Nothing was marked. You will find that people will "give" more than they "take" - which runs opposite of what you'd think. (He also asked volunteers to bring baked goods).

It's easy because there is nothing to label. He just had a big plastic container sitting on the table with all the baked goods, and just stood to the side as people took baked goods and donated.

I would have never believed it, had I not seen it. Just try it!!!

 

[rszdtrvl]

We decided to do the donation thing instead of asking for a set price. I don't know if the others will burn us at the stake, but I am willing to gamble.

I did make a cute sign that reads :

Many different goodies!
All of them taste great!
There are no prices on them -
We just ask that you donate.

Whatever money you can spare
Is sure to help a lot!
Almost $3,000.00 is what we need to raise
Thanks for helping us fill the pot!

Should be interesting. The bazzar is on Saturday, so I will update with how much we made.

Thanks for the advice!