06/15/2024
As I sit here reflecting on the day, one thing is stuck in my head... I had someone ask me how much for a loaf of bread... not a basic loaf, but a specialty loaf... when I told him my price, he told me it was a bit steep and wanted to hold off and think about it for next time.
Something I never thought of before I started making and selling things on my own, was not cost but worth...
When looking at any homemade products, there are so many things to think about. The first thing is what you see. Appearance is everything as we all know and why mega companies spend thousands of dollars on planning and creating packaging and marketing materials. As a home baker, we are limited to our ability to make, create, print, and order packages that make you want to simply look at our products. This can take hours, days or even weeks to research, create and order what supplies are needed. Then, the large companies can order by the millions to get the discounts whereas small businesses have to order what they can afford as well as store.
Next is creativity. Is this something that anyone could think of, make, buy from anywhere? We, as small business owners, have to find a reason you want to purchase from us instead of a big box store or website.
This leads me to the next part... Trial and error. It doesn't matter if you cook/bake, draw, craft, or whatever else you are doing, it takes time to perfect your products... That means costs that are never paid back or purchased to recover funds. In my case, I am thankful for a family that is always willing to taste test!!
Then we move on to time. This is probably the most important but forgotten part for many. It takes time to not only make the product but purchasing the needed products to produce the end result, time to research packaging, time to find the perfect recipe, design, ect. There are days that I start my day at 2 am and do not end until 10-11pm. I even forget to make time for meals at times because things have to get done.
There are so many other things that go in to buying from a local small business. Each one of my loaves has to have time to rest, ferment and rise naturally. I have to "feed" my sourdough daily to ensure it is healthy enough to make the bread or whatever I am making to rise naturally.
At this point in my life, I have decided to put health first and the reason I started making sourdough. I spent days and probably weeks researching how it all worked before I even decided to start making anything. Then it took 11 days before my starter rose the first time. I could have purchased a starter but I wanted to know exactly what was in my jar. I am always so worried that other people are not as conscious of being clean and keeping things pure. My first few things I baked were not what they are today. I feel like each batch gets better, but I also learned if I am tired or not feeling the best and decided not to "feed" my starter, it does not give me the end result I need and want. I have baked bricks lol
Sourdough is such a healthy choice and why I am doing this. It is all natural and I do my best to purchase clean, local, organic products to use in each loaf, sweet, or other baked good. I have continued to lose weight and feel amazing even eating Sourdough on a VERY regular basis. People ask me just about daily how I have the energy... its what you put in to your body!! I have made bread, sweets including cookies and Brownies, tortillas, bagels, pasta and I am sure I am missing things lol
I know this has been alot to pull in, but I just ask that the next time you purchase from a local producer, you think about the time, thought, money and more than anything the why!
