Bakery sales normally wane following the holiday season. The good news is Valentine's Day isn't too far off after the New Year, and it is a time when you can really boost your profits.

Another plus is that people really do celebrate Valentine's Day passionately. People spent over $19.6 billion on Valentine's Day last year, according to the National Retail Federation. Sweet treats are one of the primary elements of Valentine's gift-giving, and what better place to find those sweet treats than in a bakery? This is an excellent opportunity to show your creativity and boost your sales.

Boost your profits by customizing your bakery offerings to appeal to Valentine's Day gift-givers. Consider creating a Valentine's Day bundle that is visually appealing, including things like chocolate-covered strawberries, colorful chocolate candy, or a variety pack of regular or mini cupcakes with Valentine's day colors and decorations. Offer bundles in half-dozen packages. Consider a Valentine's Smorgasbord package where you offer several different types of pastries, candies, or fruits and let your customers create their own custom gift for a set price for 3 or 6 items.

Valentine's Day isn't just for romantic lovers anymore. We celebrate family and friends, so expand your offering to include larger shareable items for parties. This can consist of cakes, petit fours, and even pies or fruit tarts made in special shapes. Maybe heart-shaped pies, a log cake in the form of a heart and arrow? What better than a chocolate and strawberry-topped cheesecake?

Let your imaginations loose, and have fun with the love theme. Don't forget about things that make it easy for someone to come in and grab a gift quickly. Grab-and-go packaging for single or two packs of cupcakes, cake slices, or savory treats can be really appealing-especially if you order Valentines Day themed packaging and do little extra things like attaching gift cards to your bundles. Anything that makes it easier for your customers as well as a little more fun. Make your tags look like the Conversation hearts and include a special message.

Don't forget to cater to your existing customers. Send out special invitations to customers that have made recent purchases or special orders and see if they would like to give a special treat for valentines Day. Keep all your regular items in stock and ready for your regular customers.
Plan well ahead so you can have enough items ready to go quickly. Make sure your packing items will be in stock well before you need them.

Lastly, don't try new items you haven't worked with before. Build on your strengths. Use your creativity on items you can produce quickly, easily, and in volume. Cupcakes are a great example. One chocolate cupcake can be decorated in multiple ways or filled with various fillings, but all are made with the same base.

Download our bakery investment guide for more tips on growing your business!