Running a successful home bakery is about more than baking delicious treats. To grow your business and maximize revenue, focusing on increasing your average order value is important. This strategy helps you earn more from each customer without needing to attract additional buyers.
With thoughtful offers, smart marketing, and personalized customer interactions, you can encourage larger purchases while enhancing the overall shopping experience. From bundling products to implementing loyalty programs, this guide will show you effective methods to grow your bakery.
Create Bundled Offers
Bundling products is one of the simplest ways to encourage customers to buy more. Bundles showcase the value of purchasing multiple items together, such as pairing cookies with brownies or creating a dessert sampler box.
For example, you could offer a “Family Favorites” box featuring cookies, cupcakes, and a small cake at a discounted price. Seasonal or themed bundles, like Valentine’s Day treat boxes or holiday cookie assortments, generate excitement and increase order sizes.
Grouping items helps customers see how your products complement one another. It will be easier for them to justify adding more to their carts. Highlight the convenience of these bundles by promoting them on your website, menu, or social media.
Creating exclusive bundles also allows you to manage inventory efficiently by pairing popular items with those that need an extra push. This approach not only boosts sales but also adds variety to your offerings.
Introduce Limited-Time Discounts
Time-sensitive discounts create urgency and motivate customers to spend more during their purchases. Offering promotions such as “buy two, get one free” or a percentage discount on orders above a certain amount encourages larger transactions.
You could run a promotion where customers who spend $50 or more receive a 15% discount or a free box of cookies. Limited-time offers to tap into the fear of missing out, making customers more likely to act quickly to take advantage of the deal. These promotions are particularly effective when tied to seasonal events or special occasions, such as a Mother’s Day sale or a back-to-school offer.
Advertise these discounts prominently on your website, through email newsletters, and across social media platforms. Clear communication of the terms and benefits guarantees customers understand the value of the promotion. This will increase their likelihood of purchasing more.
Give Volume Discounts
Volume discounts encourage customers to purchase in larger quantities by offering savings for bigger orders. For instance, you could price a box of a dozen cookies lower than the individual cost of 12 cookies, enticing customers to choose the larger option. This strategy works particularly well for items that customers often buy in multiples, such as muffins, cupcakes, or bread loaves.
Highlight these discounts on your menu or online store. This way, it will be clear that buying in bulk saves money. Customers appreciate the perceived value of getting more for less. This will make them more likely to increase their order size. Volume discounts are also useful for catering orders or events, where customers are already inclined to purchase larger quantities.
Incorporate Customization Options
Customization gives your customers a sense of ownership over their purchase and often encourages them to spend more. Personalized options, such as adding a name to a cake or creating a custom design for cupcakes, are particularly popular for special occasions.
Offering a range of customization features, like flavor combinations or decorative themes, appeals to a wider audience. Customers appreciate the opportunity to tailor their order to suit their preferences or an event’s theme. You could allow customers to select specific flavors for a dessert platter or offer decorative designs that match a holiday or party theme.
Display these customization options on your menu or website, with pricing for each feature. Personalization also adds a unique touch, making your bakery stand out.
Create Subscription Plans
Subscription plans offer consistent revenue while encouraging customers to commit to regular purchases. With subscriptions for items like monthly dessert boxes, weekly bread deliveries, or seasonal treat packages, you create an easy and convenient way for customers to enjoy your baked goods.
Highlight the benefits of subscribing, such as receiving exclusive products, discounted prices, or free delivery. For example, a subscription could include a curated box of your best-selling items along with a seasonal surprise treat. Promote your plans on your website and through email marketing to capture interest.
Subscriptions simplify the ordering process for customers and foster loyalty by making your bakery a regular part of their lives.
Utilize Technology for Better Recommendations
Technology can streamline your sales process and enhance the shopping experience by offering personalized recommendations.
Platforms like Bakesy allow you to set up automated suggestions based on customer behavior. If a customer adds a cake to their cart, the system might recommend pairing it with cupcakes or cookies in the same flavor. These recommendations feel helpful rather than pushy, encouraging customers to explore complementary products they may not have considered.
With smart tools that enhance the shopping experience, you can make upselling and cross-selling more effective. The seamless experience offered by these tools not only increases sales but also builds trust with your customers.
Highlight Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Positive customer reviews are a powerful tool for building trust and encouraging higher-value purchases. Featuring testimonials that mention the quality, taste, or presentation of your baked goods helps potential customers feel confident about ordering.
A review praising the variety and freshness of a dessert box could inspire others to try it themselves. Highlighting reviews that specifically mention higher-value items, such as large cakes or event catering, is particularly effective for promoting bigger purchases.
Share these testimonials on your website, social media, and email campaigns to reach a wider audience. When customers see others raving about their experience, they’re more likely to place larger orders to enjoy the same satisfaction.
Collaborate With Influencers and Local Partners
Collaborating with influencers or local businesses can help showcase your bakery to a wider audience while increasing sales. Team up with influencers in your area who share your values and have a loyal following.
For example, an influencer can feature your baked goods in a video or social media post. This showcases how your treats fit into special celebrations or daily indulgences. You can also collaborate with local businesses, such as florists or gift shops, to create unique packages that combine their products with your baked goods.
Offering exclusive bundles, like a cake paired with a floral arrangement, appeals to customers looking for thoughtful gift options. These partnerships allow you to tap into new customer bases, generate excitement about your products, and boost order sizes through bundled offerings.
Offer Tiered Loyalty Rewards
Introducing a tiered loyalty program encourages repeat business while motivating customers to increase their spending. Create a system where customers earn points for every dollar spent, with rewards increasing as they reach higher spending tiers. For instance, the first tier could offer a free item after earning a set number of points. Meanwhile, higher tiers could offer exclusive discounts or early access to seasonal products. Highlight the benefits of reaching the next level to incentivize customers to spend more during each visit. Promote the program through your website, receipts, and social media. This makes it easy for customers to join and track their progress.
Tiered rewards not only increase the average order value but also foster customer loyalty by making them feel appreciated and valued.
Promote Free Shipping Thresholds
Free shipping thresholds are a simple yet effective way to increase the average order value. With free delivery on orders above a certain amount, you encourage customers to add more items to their cart to qualify.
Setting a threshold of $50 for free shipping motivates customers whose orders total $40 to include an additional product. Communicate this offer on your website and during the checkout process to make sure customers know how close they are to meeting the threshold.
This strategy not only boosts sales but also enhances the perceived value of their purchase. They will feel they’re getting more for their money.
Increasing the average order value in your home bakery requires a combination of strategic pricing, thoughtful offers, and customer-focused enhancements. Using techniques like bundling, upselling, and promoting subscriptions, you can encourage customers to spend more while feeling satisfied with their purchase.
Tools like Bakesy simplify order management so that it is easier to offer a seamless shopping experience. If you’re ready to boost your bakery’s growth, contact us at info@bakesy.app to learn how we can support your success. Explore our pricing plans and view our sample Bakesy shop for more.