So here's the situation:

My wife and I are bakers (many on ATS know this) and in the last few years have developed a full line of Gluten Free products that are incredible. I don't say this lightly and so many of our customers have told us the same.

We actually got out of the GF line for awhile but increased demand has pulled us back to the science project. And it truly is a science project...

We have developed breads such as white, multi-seed, sweet potato, sweet potato-raisin cranberry and brown. We also have 8 different cookies, muffins, loaves such as lemon, rhubarb-strawberry etc. Pizza crusts, squares. cinnamon buns and yes, even pies. Apple, Lemon Meringue, Huckleberry and so much more.

For those in the know of the GF World and even for those that aren't, the golden ring to shoot for is to develop products as close to taste, smell, texture and weight as any regular products. This we have done with so many of these items and in fact have customers that have tasted samples and couldn't tell the difference on many.

So here's the question: How do we take the next step?

We have inquiries from small coffee shops and stores to carry our products and even one from a larger grocery chain. We declined due to doubts of being able to service a large customer consistently and would rather help out the little guys. Plus, they were asking for recipes and lost our trust at that point. So we have decided that we should market this ourselves but are stuck as to what the steps are to take.

I am asking for not only marketing ideas but legal as well. How do we keep these recipes from greedy hands? As I understand it a recipe can be patented but becomes public domain after 7 years. This is why Coca-Cola has always had a Patent Pending. They just keep renewing it that way so as to never have to disclose their trade secrets. At least this is what I'm led to believe.

The marketing is more important at this point tho. Looking for ideas and suggestions as to how we can start small but at the same time make a name. We already have a steady customer base that we can't seem to keep up with so we are thinking of an investor in order to gain a bigger production area with bigger equipment.

And this leads to the next point: Investors (Not too keen on this idea)

We absolutely can not keep this pace any longer with our facilities, equipment & staff. The demand is too high and could increase ten fold overnight if we could service the existing customer base and bring on new ones.

We would be looking for a silent investor and NOT a baker with money. Recipe theft and ego clashes are a famous formula for kitchen disasters.

Anyhoo...there you have it.

We have a product with demand that not many are filling with quality items. We are overwhelmed with customers. We are 6 hours away from a major center and we are short on the dough (pun intended)

I have posted here because I have come to trust the intelligence and creativity of so many on these boards. We have had many bread and baking discussions as well as outdoor ovens etc. Even when we opened our current location I asked the community because well, who else?

So here I am asking for that expertise once again.

Ideas?

Thanks

I understand facebook is looked down by many here, but for promoting a service it def. serves it's purpose.
Maybe you could create a page, check with your local customers to add and spread through their friends like this,
Twitter is also a handy tool, and maybe more down the line a blog dedicated to the products you bake.

It'll attract costumers and maybe helping hands

Originally posted by Evansr
I understand facebook is looked down by many here, but for promoting a service it def. serves it's purpose.
Maybe you could create a page, check with your local customers to add and spread through their friends like this,
Twitter is also a handy tool, and maybe more down the line a blog dedicated to the products you bake.

It'll attract costumers and maybe helping hands

Thanks for that.

But me and FB?...just can't do it.

I am working on a blog and a calendar as well. The calendar is to let people know when we are baking certain products. Too many calls and people coming into the store to ask. So that will help us gain a semblance of control at least.

Peace