Best Practices in Approaching Coffee Shop Owners With Baked Good Products

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Permalink Reply by Heather Yarbrough on January 25, 2008 at 4:30am

Hey Pete!

I'm a big email person...it's really hard to be on the phone while I'm at the shop. So, pricing via email is good, if you can attach a color flyer that shows me the products. Mailing a sample of your best product, along with a price sheet, is great too. I actually hate, more than anything, people just stopping by since I usually work the front counter, so don't have the luxury to stop for 10 minutes to chat with someone selling something.
So - I'd definitely say mailing a sample with the price sheet and then maybe a follow-up email or phone call a week or so later...

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Permalink Reply by James "Cosmo" Cramer on January 25, 2008 at 4:35pm

Pete,

Make sure your company is visable to the community. I get both the Fresh Cup and Roast Magazines and I have contacted a few different companies based on their adds. I agree with Heather that having a plan to ship samples is the best way to capture new customers, this will allow us to sample your products and your ability to get them to me while they are still fresh.

Good Luck
Cosmo

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Permalink Reply by Les Fry on January 28, 2008 at 3:48am

I often get samples sent to me, but it is always better if someone calls me first to say they are sending something, and then makes a follow up call to remind me. By far the most likely form of promotion is at trade fairs. If I go to a fair I'm going looking for a product in mind. I'm there for more inclined to place an order there and then having sampled and viewed the fresh product.

Have a great week

Les
www.in-arcadia.com

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Permalink Reply by Dennis on March 21, 2008 at 10:01am

A nice letter is good. followed by samples for the cafe's customers..the cafe can then gauge the response and order/not order accordingly. Focus on the margins of the product, health benifits, storage, shelf life, etc. Food shows are another good one, many of my decisions are made at the shows

Dennis
Cafe Rouge
Canada

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