Concepts for Success: Six ways to prepare for spring

As the snow melts and the weather gets warmer, it will soon be springtime. Spring is a time of renewal and the perfect time to clean things up and get your bakery back on the map. It is also the ideal time for you to look at your operations from a whole new perspective and freshen your space to attract customers. Here are six fresh ideas to prepare your bakery for spring success.

1. Spring clean and refresh
Spring is when you should make your bakery more inviting, and attention to detail is key. You will improve the customer experience by making sure your staff members maintain the cleanliness of your bakery. Floors, carpets, counters, wall units and restrooms must be thoroughly mopped, cleaned, scrubbed and sanitized.

It’s also important to freshen up your décor. How about adding some colourful flowers and foliage to your counters, tables and around your entire space? Put up bright and welcoming artwork. Look at your table and seating layout. Check your lighting. Your outdoor space and décor should feel like a continuation of your indoor space using the same colour scheme and theme.

2. Add spring menu specials
Updating your menu is a must for your spring preparation. Your customers will soon be looking for lighter and healthier options. Spring is the season of fresh produce, so it’s time to consider serving less comfort food and adding more fresh salads. Freshen up your menu with unique offerings, including lighter meals like summer salads, sandwiches and small plates. In the spring, you can prepare many colourful creations with leafy greens and delicious fruit. 

Spring also brings an excellent opportunity for your bakery to partner with local farms and suppliers to incorporate their products into your menu. Whenever possible, try to use farm-to-table ingredients to give your recipes an artisanal, homemade quality. For example, source the crispiest lettuce you can find and mix in arugula or cilantro for a bit of kick. 

3. Bring on the brunch
Have you ever thought of offering a brunch? Brunch works well as people are more inclined to enjoy lazy mornings in bed, followed by a good brunch at their local restaurant. Did I say local restaurant? Nope. How about their local bakery? Brunch is an excellent way to attract new customers who may not have heard of your bakery. Since brunch menus are not found in most bakeries, you will be sure to stand out from the crowd. Adding brunch could make you a bunch of money.

You probably offer the best coffee and pastries, so how about pancakes and waffles? You could make it easier on yourself by preparing large amounts of easy breakfast food like scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes ahead of time. Freshen up with the sweet taste of fresh berries and crisp greens. Then, plan a nice, colourful, healthy brunch or brunch buffet and advertise it through your website and social media platforms. People love going out for brunch on a beautiful spring weekend.

4. Get ready for holidays
You As you know, the spring season is full of fun and exciting holidays. It will give you a lot of ways to run promotions to attract customers and increase your revenue. Don’t forget to celebrate spring holidays, including mid-winter school break, which I think should be a big holiday for moms, Easter, Mother’s Day and Victoria Day.

You could also give back to the community with a charity event or a fundraiser. You will definitely attract locals with the promise of supporting a good cause. Set up a private lunch party for your loyal customers. Use your windows and easel signage to help you attract customers to your special spring event.

5. Freshen up your patio
If you have an outdoor patio, consider everything you can do to make the outdoor seating enjoyable. Now the winter is over, you can dust off your outdoor area, including the tables and chairs. Consider replacing worn-out cushions and putting a new stain on your wooden tables. Time to replace these old umbrellas or torches, fix any unstable tables and bring anything else back to life! Include not only some great entertainment but also heaters, floral displays, great outdoor lighting using light strings, LED wall washes, and some other cool installations to brighten up your patio and make it more visible to passersby. How about always having fresh ingredients on hand by adding a small garden on your patio?  

6. Post on social media
Aside from sharing high-quality photos of your delicious spring-prepared dishes, it is a great idea to share behind-the-scenes photos and videos of what goes on in the kitchen, inside your bakery and on your patio. Make sure your kitchen is spotless and showcase your new preparations. Then, show off your new spring dishes, events and more through interactive landing pages on your customer’s mobile devices.

Diane Chiasson, FCSI, president of Chiasson Consultants Inc., has been helping foodservice, hospitality and retail operators increase sales for over 35 years by providing innovative and revenue-increasing food service and retail merchandising programs, interior design, branding, menu engineering, marketing and promotional campaigns. Contact her at 416-926-1338, send her an email at chiasson@chiassonconsultlants.com, or visit www.chiassonconsultants.com