Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 right, this farmers market stall is going to cost me £15 I've just been working out the prices of ingredients based on Asda's on line shopping doo dar. it's late and maths aint my strong point but I think i've worked it out correctly.... Plain flour 1500g = 80pButter 250g = 94p Granulated sugar 750g= 79p Baking powder 170g= 34p Lemon juice 250ml= 68p Vanilla extract 38ml= 88p For cake 150g butter= 56p 234g flour= 12p 226g sugar= 24p 2tsp baking powder (10g)= 2p 2tbsp lemon juice (30ml) = 8p Vanilla extract (10ml)= 23p 3 FR eggs = 68p Costs £1.93 to make Sell for £4.50 so approx £2.50 profit Would have to sell 6 cakes before in profit haven't worked out the cost and profit on the lemon curd or the biccies yet but, bearing in mind the market is only open from 10am til 2pm, do you think it will be worth doing? 6 cakes is a lot to sell to break even isn't it? I haven't factored electricity cost or cost of cellophane wrapping or printing labels into that either. People must make a profit or they wouldn't do it surely!? Should I charge more for the cake do you think? then again, I'm doing it for the experience and the craic so I'd really value your opinions please. NB/ I won't be buying eggs if I can help it and if I do, there's a free range egg farm just down the road from me, I was just using the prices as a guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 thinking about it, that does make quite a big cake, I could cut it in half and charge £2.50 per half. Half a cake is about the normal size you'd probably buy in Asda or wherever and that gives me another 50p profit per cake. I'd still value your thoughts on this though... I make them in my breadmaker and they come out perfect every time, here's a pic (doesn't really do it justice) they're lovely and moist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I have no thoughts, other than thats a nice looking cake and making it in the breadmaker sounds good. Do you take the blades out so it doesn't have those horrid hole in the bottom. I'm thinking I must give it a go - is the recipe to hand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Are there any other stalls selling cakes? the reason I'm asking is that I'm doing a coffee morning today in Nantwich Church Hall, the PTA only do it once or twice a year and because the WI have a market stall weekly, we usually nip over to the market to see what prices they charge, just so we price ours properly, they can always be reduced or taken home and frozen, but you don't want to sell too cheaply either The cakes look lovely are you going to sell others things too? Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 If you just want to do it to have a go, I would say just do it and be prepared to make a loss. You wont know unless you try weather there is a potential to make a profit or not. Like you say you havent factored in the time spent, the costs of wrapping etc and the fuel to get there. Its well worth a go for the experiance. You never know, it could be fab! Go for it. Please let us know how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I think this is a lovely idea Poet Just a thought....why don't you slice up one of the cakes and sell individual slices? If you sliced it into 10 slices at £1 per slice, you would make £10 per cake Sometimes people don't want a whole cake, just a slice to taste. I will check at our farmer's market on Sunday and see what the prices of cakes are. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 thanks everyone and thanks Tessa. There aren't any stalls doing what i want to do at the moment so I can't really compare prices. They don't want too many people doing the same thing so I s'pose that's why. I'll have to see how many slices I can get out of a cake, when we cut ourselves a slice, it tends to be quite a chunky one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I have no thoughts, other than thats a nice looking cake and making it in the breadmaker sounds good. Do you take the blades out so it doesn't have those horrid hole in the bottom. I'm thinking I must give it a go - is the recipe to hand? the blade drops down so there's only a small indentation on the bottom I've given the ingredients above. Melt the butter and add the other wet ingredients to it. Combine the dry ingredients and then add them to the wet ones and mix. Then stick in the breadmaker on your cake setting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 .... The cakes look lovely are you going to sell others things too? Karen x thanks but it's really down to the breadmaker! I'm doing chicken shaped biscuits (different flavours) and jars of lemon curd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 personally I wouldnt buy a cake that size - there are only 2 of us and we dont eat tons of cake. I would however go for a couple of slices (especially as they would be a good size) and would happily pay £1 for one the cake looks fab - its just BIG hope this helps cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 If I sell it just in slices, it would mean I'd have to discard the crust (the end bit). Any ideas for using up the ends of the cake? Don't say eat them because there'd be too many! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 just to let you know our local farm shop/garden centre charges £3.50 for a coffee and walnut sponge. I dont think I would buy a sponge for £4.50. £3.99 maybe as even though its nearer £4 the trick is to show it with the 3 in the price to make us think its cheap!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 just to let you know our local farm shop/garden centre charges £3.50 for a coffee and walnut sponge. I wonder if they use free range eggs and/or if it's home made? our local garden centre sells cakes and various other treats but they're just factory made with caged eggs, just packaged up fancily to make them look home made. But, thanks for the info! I'll pop into our local garden centre and check their prices, it's a different garden centre to the one that has the farmers' market, thankfully! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 I'm also doing chicken shaped biccies and lemon curd so whichever sells the most, I'll make more of that particular item. I'm sure the lemon curd will go a bomb! Need to work out the prices for that now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 just to let you know our local farm shop/garden centre charges £3.50 for a coffee and walnut sponge. I wonder if they use free range eggs and/or if it's home made? our local garden centre sells cakes and various other treats but they're just factory made with caged eggs, just packaged up fancily to make them look home made. But, thanks for the info! I'll pop into our local garden centre and check their prices, it's a different garden centre to the one that has the farmers' market, thankfully! All handmade on the premises with free range eggs Poet. They have very small "ye olde tea shoppe" style cafe next to the garden centre, its only a small local garden centre (not a chain one) as we are in the middle of nowhere. Justs gives you an idea anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 i s'pose they buy their ingredients in bulk. I'm wondering if it's worth me doing it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 i s'pose they buy their ingredients in bulk. I'm wondering if it's worth me doing it now Oh definitely do it! You could still make a profit couldnt you? Things like nicely presented sweets and treats will probably go really quickly. And you could adapt to the seasons - Autumn, bonfire night (toffee apples etc) Christmas (mincemeat, sauces etc, boozy stuff) ....possibilities are endless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 just worked out the price/profit on the lemon curd (my brain hurts now!!! ) Lemon curd 4 lemons 4 eggs 4 egg yolks 200g butter 300g caster sugar 4 organic lemons £1.48 8 eggs £1.84 Butter 75p Sugar 28p 8oz Jar 37p each x 4 = £1.48 Makes 4 jars approx £1.46 per jar Sell for £2.50, profit £1.04 per jar the jam lady sells her jam for about £3 for an 8oz jar so I might charge £3 a jar??? I might just make a few cakes, have 2 or 3 halfed cakes for sale and the rest slice them up and wrap the slices individually and sell for £1 a slice and tell everyone it's particularly yummy spread with butter and my lemon curd biscuits should be pretty cheap and easy, as soon as my cutter arrives, I'll get practicing! I'm just wrapping them in florists cellophane and tying them up with a fancy ribbon. I'm just waiting for the garden centre to phone me back and tell me if I can have a stall or not. I've explained about our girls and how I'd like to promote the BHWT while selling free range egg products at the same time. Wish me luck! This may not come off but I'm going to give it go, if I can get a stall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Slicing up the cake is a really good idea as people often want something to munch on as they wander round the farmer's markets. Good luck! It's something I've always wanted to do so will be interested to see how you get on. The things you're selling are things people would buy so you have a really good chance of success! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 If I sell it just in slices, it would mean I'd have to discard the crust (the end bit). Any ideas for using up the ends of the cake? Don't say eat them because there'd be too many! there was always a fight in our house on who had the ends it was who ever got there first cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Do go ahead with it Poet even if you don't make much profit. It's an excellent way to promote the BHWT and I think you'll really enjoy it. If you find you sell a lot of stuff, you can always buy your ingredients in bulk next time to make a higher profit margin. Good luck getting a stall. Are you going to sell some of your greetings cards too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 Some of your things might make more of a profit than others, which then makes up for things that dont make any profit. You have to look at the overall profit. Isnt it good buisiness sense to do like a loss leader. So if your cake dosent make too much profit other things will, so overall your on a winner. Supermarkets do this to the public all the time. Entice us with a bargain and then once you are in you buy something else with a larger profit margin. Im rambling now You know what I mean??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesleyH Posted July 5, 2008 Share Posted July 5, 2008 it sounds great...you could have 2 size slices - charging 50p more for a big bit...the bits with the 'crust'???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Call me mean but I wold not pay £4.50 for a cake - definitely cut in half or make smaller ones. Use any 'offcuts' (ends or otherwise) to offer as samples to people to draw them in - with a bit of lemon curd of course! Good luck - use the first market to get experience and enjoy yourself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted July 6, 2008 Share Posted July 6, 2008 Can you use the ends of the cake in another recipe? Don't ask me how to make it but things like Nelson's cake I'm sure uses left over sponge mixed with dried fruit soaked in something (see I said I don't know how to make it ) and then cooked in a pastry base..... ...does anyone else know how to make it? I used to work in a bakery years ago and the man that made all the cakes used to make Nelson's cake. I've never seen a recipe for it. In fact I don't think I've ever seen it for sale anywhere since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
