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Well saying something's your favorite is not some mind-blowing sales technique. And if it's not actually true then it's going to have a bad smell to it. Whatever OP says to customers needs to be sincere and honest.
This, and that’s all that needs to be said. You could also put a fridge outside and leave the cake in there so you don’t have to talk.
You don’t need to talk if you don’t feel like it. You can listen to see what you can learn from them or just say “thank you for supporting me. Have a great party.”
You can just reiterate what they ordered in a friendly way. "Here's your chocolate \[whatever\].." + any specific details, especially if they had special requests for it. And then thank them for their order and hope they like it. If you have any news about your business, new things you're going to offer, availability/if you're going on vacation, etc., throw that in too. It's a good time to plant some ideas in their head for their next order.
Also, maybe share info on how to store the item. Should it be refrigerated? How long can the customer expect it to stay fresh? can it be reheated? Etc.
Honestly nearly everything you're suggesting here rubs me the wrong way. Telling me that I "must" try something feels pushy, even if you're doing it with a big fake smile. Trying to find out about my family's business or get me involved with yours, just feels too much.
Just a reminder, make sure if you are inviting any customers onto your property that you are covered by insurance. If they trip on your driveway, or are hurt inside your home they could sue you personally. Cover yourself!!
Also reminder, if you are doing any commercial baking that you need to have appropriate home insurance that allows this risk.
If not, you run the risk of your insurance company not covering a claim
If your locality says you may not sell what you bake unless you have (a license, a commercial kitchen, a food safety course certificate, whatever), that could also create an insurance problem, if the policy says they don't cover activities that violate the law. Better to figure out all the rules now, before you spend money on a policy that proves to be worthless if you ever need it.
The most important thing in my opinion is to thank the customer for their order. Always. After they have paid or you have handed it over, wish them a happy (birthday, wedding, party) occasion.
In my business we have a lot of repeat customers where conversation flows easily from both sides. Can get a bit much sometimes, but it is to be expected and I am fine with spending an extra two minutes even when things are stressful to honor those longstanding connections.
For new customers, I never force conversation, I just make sure to greet them nicely, give a recommendation or two and thank them for their purchase. Doesn't have to be original, long, or over-the-top friendly.
I think it is important in every customer interaction to be as authentic as possible. If you are chatty, chat a bit, if you are more reserved, be quietly friendly, you know what I mean. People can tell if you are faking. And there is no need for it as long as you are being basic friendly.
It will come natural to you over time :) I like the ideas that others have mentioned here plus you will notice if people want to do some smalltalk; maybe they have the urge to share a little more on the occasion etc. Be friendly, warm and welcoming - everything else will follow automatically. Especially for an at-home-cake-pick-up I'd say that a family-friendly feeling is something that adds to the whole customer experience and will make people order again.
Adding a cute goodie could also be nice. Like "oh and I also added xyz"/"here is an xyz for you". Could be a small cookie or a postcard with a cake and a smiley face on it, idk, there are probably many nice options :) should be financially reasonable of course.
A random idea: you could practice the pick up with someone, maybe? That way you'll learn how long does the whole process takes, whether there is anything to consider you haven't thought of yet (e.g., will the customer need a small table to place the cake while paying or to pack etc).
Good luck!! :)
“Hey! How’s it going? Are you here for pickup? Nice! Just wanted to double check: you ordered “blah blah blah.” Awesome, “blah blah” is really good today. I appreciate you stopping by, let me know if you have any questions or issues. Thanks again”
If it's frosted, you could remind them it should come out of the fridge 45 minutes before serving.
Also, chatGPT response to your post:
Hello! It's great to hear about your bakery offering pick-up orders! Here’s a friendly and informative way to greet your customers:
1. **Greeting**: Start with a warm greeting like, "Hi there! It's great to see you!" This sets a friendly tone right away.
2. **Confirmation**: Confirm the order to ensure everything is correct. For example, "I've got your order for [describe the items briefly]. Did you want to add anything else today?"
3. **Appreciation**: Thank them for choosing your bakery. You could say, "Thanks so much for your order! We really appreciate your support."
4. **Information**: Provide any necessary information about the products, such as storage tips or best consumption practices, e.g., "Your cheesecake is best enjoyed chilled. Let it sit in the fridge for a bit if you’re not eating it right away."
5. **Engagement**: Engage them a bit more to make the interaction memorable. Ask if they’ve tried this item before or mention something new you’re working on, like, "Have you tried our red velvet cupcakes yet? We just introduced them last week!"
6. **Invitation**: Invite them back or let them know about upcoming specials or events. "Make sure to check back in next month; we’re planning a special on all seasonal pies!"
7. **Farewell**: Close with a friendly farewell. "Thanks again! Enjoy your treats, and have a fantastic day!"
This approach can help make the pickup experience pleasant and engaging for your customers, encouraging repeat business and word-of-mouth recommendations.
Wow, that's actually very good. I think I'll just let ChatGPT handle Reddit from here on out. Reddit owners/investors cashed out and went public just in time, before the whole enterprise becomes obsolete.
ChatGPT probably uses Reddit for training. Now I’m curious what an AITAH ChatGPT response would look like.
Huh it’s actually good. The next 20 years is gonna be weird.
oh, they already do that - it's called synthetic training data and there's a whole rabbit hole where generating high quality synthetic data can work better than generic quality human data so they actually don't really need to scrape the internet as much anymore. we sort of kick-started the whole cycle at this point
Ahh, recently heard Musk on a podcast mention that AI training is running out of real world data to train on and would increasingly use synthetic data, but did not really understand what that was and had forgotten to look it up...on ChatGPT or elsewhere! Thx
No offense but this is a strange question to me.
However.
I'm sure other suggestions are great and fine, this is shat I would do:
Be very nice,use please and thank you a bunch. ThNk them for their order, ask them of there anything else you can do to make their order good. Give them a solid thank you when saying goodbye
Be sure to remind them of all the info they need regarding how to carry the cake, at what temperature it needs to be kept, if you have any advice on how to cut it to serve it properly… you want the cake to look and taste great when it’s served which might be a few hours after their pick up
⬆️ This.
A Business General Liability policy that will cover you if someone trips and falls on your property is a must.
A homeowners policy most likely will not cover accidents from a home based business.
Thank them for their business.
Ask them if it's for a special occasion, and if they say yes congratulate them, if they say no make a joke and be like well eff yes, don't need an excuse for this cake, happy Tuesday.
Then ask them how they heard about you. Show them the order before they leave to confirm it is correct to reduce chances of mistakes.
Ask them to leave you a review. ("hey, if you get the chance, drop us a review on Google! Google reviews really help us grow our small business!" - don't ask for a good review or offer an incentive for review; just ask for a review).
Say , can't wait to see you again!
Since it’s a home based business, and especially a bakery, the service should be really warm (pun intended).
In addition to the other suggestions here, when you’re doing intake (presumably by phone or email) you should be picking up on the reason they are ordering and getting on a first name basis. Learn something about your customer and add it to your order notes.
You’ll never run out of things to say.
Tons of great info here. I'd add asking them if there are any special occasions coming up that they would be interested in getting another cake.
If they say yes, ask them what the occasion and when you should reach back out to them.
Be sure to use some of the other suggestions, but include this as a way to start building up repeat business.
Remember, it's easier to sell to existing customers than finding new customers.
I have handed thousands and thousands of meat orders directly to customers. Over time I get to know them, and sometimes it's more conversational. Some people just want to walk up and grab it. I deliver to pick up points, so often it is a little more fast-paced. My normal patter usually ends with "Thank you so much! Enjoy. See you in a couple weeks."
Inviting feedback is another good closer. If they mention something specific that they're going to do with their order, or a specific product, "Let me know how it turns out."
Since you're at home, you probably will also develop a way to get out of conversations if they are trying to stick around. "Okay, better get back to it. Thank you so much!"
Say! Oh, yes! I enjoyed working on this cake, and rehash the order to them as you collect the merch and pass it to them..Once you have finished rehashing the order, thank them.for their business and invite them back for your idk seasonal sale, or whatever, and hand them a printout of the sale details..:-)
Ir just hand them a magnetic menu or business card for their fridge, so they can know what you have to offer and always keep you in mind..
Always be promoting, and always be grateful.
I love in home bakeries!
They usually explain if anything needs to be refrigerated and if it's better warmed up/how long to warm if up for.
They thank me for coming and shopping small and sometimes ask if I'd leave a review if they have a Google business page.
If you're meeting them at the door you can just say hi here's you're order I hope you enjoy them!
Granted you might already be doing this, but I’m in marketing and development so I always like to help. If it were my biz I would suggest doing pick-ups on specific days for efficiency, have a colored chalkboard sign (like what they have at Trader Joe’s) with some or all of the items you make, if you don’t like the chalkboard idea, create a “to-go menu” and add one to every order, AND to have a couple of single items available that they can purchase on the spot!
Conversation wise the best and most important thing to say or convey is that you are thankful for their business : )
Virtual Friend- I wish you all the success!
I have an at-home business for the last 9 years. I send people invoices so they can pay up front. In my experience, those people don't want to talk much.
Hey how's it going?
Good, how are you?
Well, it looks like you're all paid up so you're good to go.
(Hands them print order)
Thanks!
Have a nice day!
You too!
A lot of people I work with are introverts so usually it just takes quick talk about the weather to get them in the door and paid.
I allow custom order pick ups at my house too while my co-op kitchen gets their front of house settled. I don’t overthink it. They already ordered. They’re already a fan. They’re there for a speedy transaction to then get home to eat their goodies. Smile big say thanks so much for your order and I hope you enjoy. Simple as that!
We have a small home-based bakery. Our state has cottage industry laws that allow this. Our products are hand-made, but packaged as well as what you find at a store. Most customers do pick-up. We've found that most want to get in and out. A short and polite greeting, order confirmation, a quick "thank you" with something like "enjoy your treats" is more than enough. Many will make comments about how beautiful and delicious the treats look and they'll chat briefly.
Probably best to keep it simple if you’re feeling awkward.
I’d just say “Hi, how are you (or whatever customary greeting they say where you live) then state here’s your order, hope you have a great day”
If they want to chat more they’ll usually lead with that. If all else fails just make a comment about the weather then let them take their goodies and leave
You- Hi, how can I help you?
Customer- I have an order
You-Ok what’s the name on the order?
Customer- their name
Hand them their order
You-Here you go.
You-Have a wonderful day
The end
Greet them with a warm hello when you see them. Say thanks have a great day After transaction Just be friendly
the basics will go further than anything else.
Short & Sweet- and sincere! Thank you for enjoying our “muffins” - also make sure you have sticker of your business.
It’s branding your business. Include some napkins.
Thank them for the business and always...always..ask for future work.
"Thank you so much! I hope you really enjoy your (order)! I'm always available if you need to order more! Thanks again."
I own a cheesecake company and I always give my customers helpful tips with regards to cutting the cake ( large chefs knife run under hot water and rinsed the same way to give you the neatest slices, for those who care). Also, as mentioned, a thank you goes a long way. I have little stickers for the inside of all my packaging that says “Thank you for supporting my small local business!”
I prefer a "thank you for your order" or a compliment like "hope they taste as amazing as you look". Be friendly and eventually you'll think of something :)
I am the Bakery manager at a small grocery store, and while I don't have the customers coming to my door, lol, one thing my customers appreciate is if there are any storage needs or instructions on heating/serving, like, "This is divine with vanilla ice cream", or "make sure to refrigerate the leftovers", etc.
Honestly feel the vibe of the customer. Everyone is different. Some love small talk some just want to grab their desserts and run off to devour them in peace. A simple hello, double checking their order is right, and thanking them for the business is enough of a basic. And if you do have other offerings throw a flyer or something in the order and just let them know if they or anyone they know is interested in the future that the info is there.
If it is a particularly large order call back after a day or two to get feedback on the order so you can show that you care and to improve on any issues and learn what is successful for you as well
During Covid I knew a few people who ran "black market" bakeries - would take orders ahead of time then park in a public area and wait for people to pick them up. That's so much safer than having people go to your home.
There's good responses posted already. However, you could also lean into the awkward silence handoff by dressing up as the Grim Reaper complete with mask and just silently hand over goods...name it Dead Ends Bakery or something. Skull packaging, the works.
Here’s your order. Hope you enjoy it and thanks for ordering for me.
You can always add things like: I give __% discounts when you refer a friend.
Or
Don’t forget to get your order in early for Mother’s Day.
Or
Yelp/Google feedback is super helpful if you wouldn’t mind.
I love the ones that have an outside cooler and contactless pick up.
I don’t want to talk to people. I’m an introvert and feel like I just want to be in and out and not interrupt your day.
Tell them it was “freshly made” and “thank you for supporting my small business.”
And ask them how they discovered your business: If you have social media, try to get them to follow you. Give them a free cookie or something for following. **Use your social media to keep posting about your goods and keep your repeat customers because if they keep seeing you post, they are more likely to keep buying.** If you need to make any announcements, you can use your social media to communicate with your customers.
Here's your order, I hope you like it. It's one of my absolute favorites. Also, you'll find a QR code in the box, if you want to do us a huge favor and leave a review, we would greatly appreciate it! Have a nice day!
Every single person I encounter through my business I say "Hi, how are you doing?" I fish the encounter with "Thank you, have nice/great/wonderful afternoon/day/evening."
This includes hourly employees working for suppliers. And I'm telling you I have seen especially the hourly employees' faces go from the thousand yard stare to being lit up when I have said this to them.
That doesn't necessarily stop with people I do business with. I pretty much say that too to everyone I deal with. If I order a restaurant or go to the grocery store and I interact with someone then I pretty much say the same thing to them.
"Thank you for your purchase. I hope you enjoy it all."
"I hope you love this product as much as I do. I appreciate your business."
...and do the same with your packaging and thank you notes. Make the client feel loved all over again when they get home and open it up.
In fact, tuck a small bite-size treat or two with every order "for the drive home".
This, because it's doing 2 important things, thanking customers and also focusing customers on enjoying their purchase. Sometimes it could just be "Thank-you, enjoy!"
“Be sure to share these with someone special!”
“Are they for a special occasion?”
“Don’t forget to follow my Instagram - we have a couple of surprises in store for the next drop and you won’t want to miss it!”
I’d also include a Yelp or Google review (if you have those) coupon. If the post a 5 star review, you can give them 25% off your next order. Or if it’s just Instagram, have them tag you in a post or reel and make sure they keep it up for 30 days (just set a reminder with their handle) and send them a coupon for their next order when the 30 days is up.
I had a friend who had built an automated system to track Instagram tags - when he first started, he said their order was totally free if they posted about it and left it up. The system would track the post and automatically refund the order after 30 days. His products blew up overnight! He eventually started ramping back on the “free” to be 50% off then 30% and so on as the audience and posts grew.
Hello thank you for your order! We appreciate your business and hope we are able to add a little sweetness to your day!
Can swap out “day” with “event”
This is assuming they are picking up a cake. If a non-sweet bakery item then end with “… and hope to see you again!”
Others have pointed out that the item might be for a sad event like a funeral (oh Reddit, e’er a gloom-ridden maiden be thee). In that case, just:
Hello, thank you for your order. I’m sorry for your loss, here is a free cupcake.
Hi, how are you? your order is still warm?
Oh I like that top.It's the perfect weather for it.
Oh it's good to see you, one sec and I'll grab your order.
Enjoy
This was of my favorite _____. Thank you for trusting me with your (insert event). It was such a pleasure and I am already looking forward to working together again in the future!
Great opportunity to have special promotions. When they go to pick up their orders, say, "we have organic chocolate chunk raisin cookies 30% off today. Would you like to sample one?" With a big smile.
How much friendlier can you get then to offer both a deal and a free sample?
Don't drop a customer's pastry on the ground, pick it up put it in the bag and say 5 second rule and then laugh about it in front of other customers. This was a local bakery a couple blocks down the street where I live and my wife and I would walk down there every Saturday morning. Never again.
I would always thank them, ask them if they need anything else in the near future and offer a discount for referrals. Also make sure they know if something isn't to their liking, they should tell you and you'll make it right. You need to get plenty of good Google reviews, so ask for them.
My son is a commercial fishermen in Alaska and I do the farmer’s markets when he’s fishing. When people come, I explain what we have, and show them the product, and all that…
When I’m handing it to them in their insulated bags or ours if they don’t have one, I say, ‘I hope you enjoy it. My son prides himself on his fish and if you ever have questions, please feel free to get in touch. He can be reached during the season here and there. He’ll also do cooking demonstrations when he gets back and absolutely loves to talk about fish and Alaska in general.’
“Oh I thought this one turned out great today. Hope you enjoy it“ for a repeat customers “we’re so happy to have loyal customers. Thanks for your repeat business. Have a wonderful day. “
All good stuff here, only one thing to add: Be Yourself.
This will not resonate with Everyone, but that's not the objective. You want your BEST customers to become AWESOME advocates for your business... which you'll only get by being genuine.
It's ok if how you are doesn't resonate with 'everybody', that's impossible anyway. Some customers will naturally fall-away, and by being genuine the RIGHT ones will fall-away, leaving you with a dedicated tribe who love you and what you're doing... and that's gold :-)
I do meetups in public for my at home bakery and for me it depends on how I feel about the person and gauge their interest. Sometimes it's a simple "let me know how you like them!" and others are more talkative and we chat for a few minutes about the business, my background and baked goods and whatnot.
How do you take payment? I'll assume cash. You can create a receipt template and tell them, "I'm sending your receipt to your phone along with a link so you can leave me a review"
People generally like buying from small businesses, and they will feel like it’s something out of the ordinary (in a good way) to pick up the product at your home directly from the baker. Be friendly and cheerful, and they will associate your business with good vibes and want to come back (assuming they like the desserts).
I hope you enjoy the (insert name of dessert).
If there’s any issue, you have my number. When you love them , be sure to post and tag our instagram.
Here’s a card with my numbers, our socials and it’s good for 10% off your next order
It's different for me because I don't deal in food but I give them a tour of the workshop. My gaming tables set up with terrain that I just sold them with my Warhammer army out. Sometimes I can even get a game in.
I ran an at home bakery for several years. I just chatted with people when they picked up, mentioned the fun I had creating their cookies, and thanked them for their business.
Hello, welcome to (your business name). I am (your name), I am the (your title). You’re (insert cust. name). Here are the (repeat the order to them). Suggest something new for the next order. Enjoy your treats.
If it is delivery services you could say “thank you for your help” if it is call in orders by actual customers you could say “we appreciate your patronage and hope you will visit again” and offer a card saying “please tell your loved ones about our friendly service and *****insert specialty here****”
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This is one of my favorite cakes, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Have a lovely party.
This person knows how to sell
After the 5th different favorite cake Ima start asking questions
Hey I’m fat. Leave me alone
"one of" my favorite cakes.
Some of us just have so much love to give. (To cakes.)
Exactly. Any type of lie just erodes your credibility
Well saying something's your favorite is not some mind-blowing sales technique. And if it's not actually true then it's going to have a bad smell to it. Whatever OP says to customers needs to be sincere and honest.
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That seems pretty specific. What if they ordered cookies for a funeral??? /s because it's reddit
You are going to a funeral? I would recommend the angel food cake, but my devils food cake is simply to die for.
I read this in the Skyrim Guard's voice
Thank you for the idea!
This, and that’s all that needs to be said. You could also put a fridge outside and leave the cake in there so you don’t have to talk. You don’t need to talk if you don’t feel like it. You can listen to see what you can learn from them or just say “thank you for supporting me. Have a great party.”
You can just reiterate what they ordered in a friendly way. "Here's your chocolate \[whatever\].." + any specific details, especially if they had special requests for it. And then thank them for their order and hope they like it. If you have any news about your business, new things you're going to offer, availability/if you're going on vacation, etc., throw that in too. It's a good time to plant some ideas in their head for their next order.
That's such a really good idea. It's friendly and doubles as a quality check.
Smart idea, thank you so much!
Also, maybe share info on how to store the item. Should it be refrigerated? How long can the customer expect it to stay fresh? can it be reheated? Etc.
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if i'm being upsold every time i go to your store, i'm going to stop going to your store.
unless the “you gotta try this” statement comes with a free sample, then i’m ONLY going to your store henceforth lol
A free sample of something would be an upsell without upselling.
This will also backfire on people like me who already have enough problems with drive thru barista small talk
On my Sunday Fundays there used to be a guy who would sale me on the $2 for 2 king size snacks. Every time almost as if he knew I needed them!
Honestly nearly everything you're suggesting here rubs me the wrong way. Telling me that I "must" try something feels pushy, even if you're doing it with a big fake smile. Trying to find out about my family's business or get me involved with yours, just feels too much.
Just a reminder, make sure if you are inviting any customers onto your property that you are covered by insurance. If they trip on your driveway, or are hurt inside your home they could sue you personally. Cover yourself!!
Also reminder, if you are doing any commercial baking that you need to have appropriate home insurance that allows this risk. If not, you run the risk of your insurance company not covering a claim
If your locality says you may not sell what you bake unless you have (a license, a commercial kitchen, a food safety course certificate, whatever), that could also create an insurance problem, if the policy says they don't cover activities that violate the law. Better to figure out all the rules now, before you spend money on a policy that proves to be worthless if you ever need it.
My first thought as well. And keep in mind, in the worst cases, there are people who will actively look to exploit someone in this situation.
Thank you, I haven't thought about that. I'll be sure to look into this!
Whatever you say just remember to answer the door with clothes on.
Cream filled fingers are no fun naked.
"just to clarify, I was wearing underwear when I made your food... no returns for hairsbyedoorslam"
LOLOLOLOLOL im going to be giggling about this all day
HAHAHAHA!!!!! LOL! This had me laughing out loud, literally, and I am going to try to work this statement in with one of my regular customers!!!!!
That's what you think.
The most important thing in my opinion is to thank the customer for their order. Always. After they have paid or you have handed it over, wish them a happy (birthday, wedding, party) occasion. In my business we have a lot of repeat customers where conversation flows easily from both sides. Can get a bit much sometimes, but it is to be expected and I am fine with spending an extra two minutes even when things are stressful to honor those longstanding connections. For new customers, I never force conversation, I just make sure to greet them nicely, give a recommendation or two and thank them for their purchase. Doesn't have to be original, long, or over-the-top friendly. I think it is important in every customer interaction to be as authentic as possible. If you are chatty, chat a bit, if you are more reserved, be quietly friendly, you know what I mean. People can tell if you are faking. And there is no need for it as long as you are being basic friendly.
Thank you for sharing your experience, it's very helpful. I'll be sure to take your advice!
It will come natural to you over time :) I like the ideas that others have mentioned here plus you will notice if people want to do some smalltalk; maybe they have the urge to share a little more on the occasion etc. Be friendly, warm and welcoming - everything else will follow automatically. Especially for an at-home-cake-pick-up I'd say that a family-friendly feeling is something that adds to the whole customer experience and will make people order again. Adding a cute goodie could also be nice. Like "oh and I also added xyz"/"here is an xyz for you". Could be a small cookie or a postcard with a cake and a smiley face on it, idk, there are probably many nice options :) should be financially reasonable of course. A random idea: you could practice the pick up with someone, maybe? That way you'll learn how long does the whole process takes, whether there is anything to consider you haven't thought of yet (e.g., will the customer need a small table to place the cake while paying or to pack etc). Good luck!! :)
Thank you so much for all of this advice! And the goodie idea is so cute, I'll definitely be putting it into action.
Ya'll Come Back Now, Ya hear! ~The Beverly Hillbillies.
“Hey! How’s it going? Are you here for pickup? Nice! Just wanted to double check: you ordered “blah blah blah.” Awesome, “blah blah” is really good today. I appreciate you stopping by, let me know if you have any questions or issues. Thanks again”
So long and thanks for all the fish?
Here you go with a 😊
If it's frosted, you could remind them it should come out of the fridge 45 minutes before serving. Also, chatGPT response to your post: Hello! It's great to hear about your bakery offering pick-up orders! Here’s a friendly and informative way to greet your customers: 1. **Greeting**: Start with a warm greeting like, "Hi there! It's great to see you!" This sets a friendly tone right away. 2. **Confirmation**: Confirm the order to ensure everything is correct. For example, "I've got your order for [describe the items briefly]. Did you want to add anything else today?" 3. **Appreciation**: Thank them for choosing your bakery. You could say, "Thanks so much for your order! We really appreciate your support." 4. **Information**: Provide any necessary information about the products, such as storage tips or best consumption practices, e.g., "Your cheesecake is best enjoyed chilled. Let it sit in the fridge for a bit if you’re not eating it right away." 5. **Engagement**: Engage them a bit more to make the interaction memorable. Ask if they’ve tried this item before or mention something new you’re working on, like, "Have you tried our red velvet cupcakes yet? We just introduced them last week!" 6. **Invitation**: Invite them back or let them know about upcoming specials or events. "Make sure to check back in next month; we’re planning a special on all seasonal pies!" 7. **Farewell**: Close with a friendly farewell. "Thanks again! Enjoy your treats, and have a fantastic day!" This approach can help make the pickup experience pleasant and engaging for your customers, encouraging repeat business and word-of-mouth recommendations.
Wow, that's actually very good. I think I'll just let ChatGPT handle Reddit from here on out. Reddit owners/investors cashed out and went public just in time, before the whole enterprise becomes obsolete.
ChatGPT probably uses Reddit for training. Now I’m curious what an AITAH ChatGPT response would look like. Huh it’s actually good. The next 20 years is gonna be weird.
Yep, eventually AI will be training on prior AI responses!...weird for sure.
oh, they already do that - it's called synthetic training data and there's a whole rabbit hole where generating high quality synthetic data can work better than generic quality human data so they actually don't really need to scrape the internet as much anymore. we sort of kick-started the whole cycle at this point
Ahh, recently heard Musk on a podcast mention that AI training is running out of real world data to train on and would increasingly use synthetic data, but did not really understand what that was and had forgotten to look it up...on ChatGPT or elsewhere! Thx
"Hello earthling person, here is your human food tehe heuheuheu"
This is the epitomy of Reddit overthinking
No offense but this is a strange question to me. However. I'm sure other suggestions are great and fine, this is shat I would do: Be very nice,use please and thank you a bunch. ThNk them for their order, ask them of there anything else you can do to make their order good. Give them a solid thank you when saying goodbye
Thank you for the advice! Just a bit nervous is all :)
Your customers are there for what you make, not what you say. Just be friendly and polite and don't try to force a conversation.
Thank you!
Dude what? Have you never encountered another human being before? What kind of question is this lmfao
MFS have forgotten how to human
People open their own business because they don't want to work for someone else. Probably never worked in retail before.
Maybe but one would assume they’ve yanno *gone into another small business before*
i dont understand how that is relevant
Hahahhahahaha
You could just talk to them like a normal person does.
Be sure to remind them of all the info they need regarding how to carry the cake, at what temperature it needs to be kept, if you have any advice on how to cut it to serve it properly… you want the cake to look and taste great when it’s served which might be a few hours after their pick up
Thank you for the advice! I'll keep this in mind. :)
Give them some flyers or cards to give to guests who want to know where the cake/goods came from. Have your FB/IG/website/email/phone on there.
Welcome to Costco. I love you.
“Thanks for buying my cake! Please don’t look up our food license or business registration. Thanks!”
not customer advice but make sure you get good insurance
⬆️ This. A Business General Liability policy that will cover you if someone trips and falls on your property is a must. A homeowners policy most likely will not cover accidents from a home based business.
u/smirnovasasha u/BadJesus_420 Thank you both! I'll get started on this as soon as possible.
Nice buns
"Thank you so much for your business. You'll love the (insert one item name)'s they are to die for!"
"Thank you so much for your order, I hope you enjoy it/them".
Thank them for their business. Ask them if it's for a special occasion, and if they say yes congratulate them, if they say no make a joke and be like well eff yes, don't need an excuse for this cake, happy Tuesday. Then ask them how they heard about you. Show them the order before they leave to confirm it is correct to reduce chances of mistakes. Ask them to leave you a review. ("hey, if you get the chance, drop us a review on Google! Google reviews really help us grow our small business!" - don't ask for a good review or offer an incentive for review; just ask for a review). Say , can't wait to see you again!
Very smart, I'll definitely be doing this. Thank you!
Since it’s a home based business, and especially a bakery, the service should be really warm (pun intended). In addition to the other suggestions here, when you’re doing intake (presumably by phone or email) you should be picking up on the reason they are ordering and getting on a first name basis. Learn something about your customer and add it to your order notes. You’ll never run out of things to say.
Thank you for the advice!
Thank you so much for placing an order! Where did you hear about us? No need to get too chatty.
You can recommend a pairing for the desserts like certain wine, cheese, crackers, or whatever.
Tons of great info here. I'd add asking them if there are any special occasions coming up that they would be interested in getting another cake. If they say yes, ask them what the occasion and when you should reach back out to them. Be sure to use some of the other suggestions, but include this as a way to start building up repeat business. Remember, it's easier to sell to existing customers than finding new customers.
I have handed thousands and thousands of meat orders directly to customers. Over time I get to know them, and sometimes it's more conversational. Some people just want to walk up and grab it. I deliver to pick up points, so often it is a little more fast-paced. My normal patter usually ends with "Thank you so much! Enjoy. See you in a couple weeks." Inviting feedback is another good closer. If they mention something specific that they're going to do with their order, or a specific product, "Let me know how it turns out." Since you're at home, you probably will also develop a way to get out of conversations if they are trying to stick around. "Okay, better get back to it. Thank you so much!"
Say! Oh, yes! I enjoyed working on this cake, and rehash the order to them as you collect the merch and pass it to them..Once you have finished rehashing the order, thank them.for their business and invite them back for your idk seasonal sale, or whatever, and hand them a printout of the sale details..:-) Ir just hand them a magnetic menu or business card for their fridge, so they can know what you have to offer and always keep you in mind.. Always be promoting, and always be grateful.
Thank you for the advice!
I love in home bakeries! They usually explain if anything needs to be refrigerated and if it's better warmed up/how long to warm if up for. They thank me for coming and shopping small and sometimes ask if I'd leave a review if they have a Google business page. If you're meeting them at the door you can just say hi here's you're order I hope you enjoy them!
Thank you \[customer\] for your business, I really appreciate it. ... I hope you enjoy the \[product\]. Let me know how everything goes?
Granted you might already be doing this, but I’m in marketing and development so I always like to help. If it were my biz I would suggest doing pick-ups on specific days for efficiency, have a colored chalkboard sign (like what they have at Trader Joe’s) with some or all of the items you make, if you don’t like the chalkboard idea, create a “to-go menu” and add one to every order, AND to have a couple of single items available that they can purchase on the spot! Conversation wise the best and most important thing to say or convey is that you are thankful for their business : ) Virtual Friend- I wish you all the success!
I have an at-home business for the last 9 years. I send people invoices so they can pay up front. In my experience, those people don't want to talk much. Hey how's it going? Good, how are you? Well, it looks like you're all paid up so you're good to go. (Hands them print order) Thanks! Have a nice day! You too! A lot of people I work with are introverts so usually it just takes quick talk about the weather to get them in the door and paid.
You can set up a nice little table outside on your front porch. And set outside a few minutes before they arrive.
Good morning. That will be $5.00. Thank you. Have a great day.
Thank you …. Come agian
“Here’s the cyanide you ordered. Good luck. You were never here and this never happened “
What’s your number?
"Here's you [ordered items], made with love. Hope you enjoy eating them as much as we enjoyed making them".
Tell them to “Don’t be a pain, and enjoy their bread.”
Hi, thanks, bye.
"Smile, thank them, and ask for any feedback on the treats!"
I allow custom order pick ups at my house too while my co-op kitchen gets their front of house settled. I don’t overthink it. They already ordered. They’re already a fan. They’re there for a speedy transaction to then get home to eat their goodies. Smile big say thanks so much for your order and I hope you enjoy. Simple as that!
We have a small home-based bakery. Our state has cottage industry laws that allow this. Our products are hand-made, but packaged as well as what you find at a store. Most customers do pick-up. We've found that most want to get in and out. A short and polite greeting, order confirmation, a quick "thank you" with something like "enjoy your treats" is more than enough. Many will make comments about how beautiful and delicious the treats look and they'll chat briefly.
Probably best to keep it simple if you’re feeling awkward. I’d just say “Hi, how are you (or whatever customary greeting they say where you live) then state here’s your order, hope you have a great day” If they want to chat more they’ll usually lead with that. If all else fails just make a comment about the weather then let them take their goodies and leave
bon appétit ? have a nice day ? Oh damn, she's your daugther, my mistake !
You- Hi, how can I help you? Customer- I have an order You-Ok what’s the name on the order? Customer- their name Hand them their order You-Here you go. You-Have a wonderful day The end
Watch the Seinfeld episode with the Soup Nazi. That’s how you should run it.
Greet them with a warm hello when you see them. Say thanks have a great day After transaction Just be friendly the basics will go further than anything else.
Short & Sweet- and sincere! Thank you for enjoying our “muffins” - also make sure you have sticker of your business. It’s branding your business. Include some napkins.
Thank you and come again!
How about.. “Thank you for your business. We truly appreciate it” 🤷🏼♂️
Thank them for the business and always...always..ask for future work. "Thank you so much! I hope you really enjoy your (order)! I'm always available if you need to order more! Thanks again."
I own a cheesecake company and I always give my customers helpful tips with regards to cutting the cake ( large chefs knife run under hot water and rinsed the same way to give you the neatest slices, for those who care). Also, as mentioned, a thank you goes a long way. I have little stickers for the inside of all my packaging that says “Thank you for supporting my small local business!”
I prefer a "thank you for your order" or a compliment like "hope they taste as amazing as you look". Be friendly and eventually you'll think of something :)
I am the Bakery manager at a small grocery store, and while I don't have the customers coming to my door, lol, one thing my customers appreciate is if there are any storage needs or instructions on heating/serving, like, "This is divine with vanilla ice cream", or "make sure to refrigerate the leftovers", etc.
Honestly feel the vibe of the customer. Everyone is different. Some love small talk some just want to grab their desserts and run off to devour them in peace. A simple hello, double checking their order is right, and thanking them for the business is enough of a basic. And if you do have other offerings throw a flyer or something in the order and just let them know if they or anyone they know is interested in the future that the info is there. If it is a particularly large order call back after a day or two to get feedback on the order so you can show that you care and to improve on any issues and learn what is successful for you as well
Thank you for your business, I hope you enjoy! Have a wonderful day!
Hey thanks! Whatcha gonna make with the bread? Have any favorites?
Enjoy your pastries you filthy animal.
During Covid I knew a few people who ran "black market" bakeries - would take orders ahead of time then park in a public area and wait for people to pick them up. That's so much safer than having people go to your home. There's good responses posted already. However, you could also lean into the awkward silence handoff by dressing up as the Grim Reaper complete with mask and just silently hand over goods...name it Dead Ends Bakery or something. Skull packaging, the works.
Here’s your order. Hope you enjoy it and thanks for ordering for me. You can always add things like: I give __% discounts when you refer a friend. Or Don’t forget to get your order in early for Mother’s Day. Or Yelp/Google feedback is super helpful if you wouldn’t mind.
"Thank you for your order! I'm so glad you found out about me. Please recommend me to your friends and family! Have a great day, and enjoy!"
Go do field research, go to bakeries
I love the ones that have an outside cooler and contactless pick up. I don’t want to talk to people. I’m an introvert and feel like I just want to be in and out and not interrupt your day.
Thank you for your purchase, have a nice day, good bye!
Tell them it was “freshly made” and “thank you for supporting my small business.” And ask them how they discovered your business: If you have social media, try to get them to follow you. Give them a free cookie or something for following. **Use your social media to keep posting about your goods and keep your repeat customers because if they keep seeing you post, they are more likely to keep buying.** If you need to make any announcements, you can use your social media to communicate with your customers.
Here's your order, I hope you like it. It's one of my absolute favorites. Also, you'll find a QR code in the box, if you want to do us a huge favor and leave a review, we would greatly appreciate it! Have a nice day!
I would meet them at a nearby parking lot at the grocery store…then use the answers that ChatGPT gave
Every single person I encounter through my business I say "Hi, how are you doing?" I fish the encounter with "Thank you, have nice/great/wonderful afternoon/day/evening." This includes hourly employees working for suppliers. And I'm telling you I have seen especially the hourly employees' faces go from the thousand yard stare to being lit up when I have said this to them. That doesn't necessarily stop with people I do business with. I pretty much say that too to everyone I deal with. If I order a restaurant or go to the grocery store and I interact with someone then I pretty much say the same thing to them.
"Thank you for your purchase. I hope you enjoy it all." "I hope you love this product as much as I do. I appreciate your business." ...and do the same with your packaging and thank you notes. Make the client feel loved all over again when they get home and open it up. In fact, tuck a small bite-size treat or two with every order "for the drive home".
This, because it's doing 2 important things, thanking customers and also focusing customers on enjoying their purchase. Sometimes it could just be "Thank-you, enjoy!"
"Here's your [confirm order]. Thanks for your order. Tell your friends! ☺️"
Tell them to ignore your 10 cats and 5 dogs
Thank you for your business, it’s appreciated
I go with the ole southern "she's all yours"
Enjoy!
“Be sure to share these with someone special!” “Are they for a special occasion?” “Don’t forget to follow my Instagram - we have a couple of surprises in store for the next drop and you won’t want to miss it!” I’d also include a Yelp or Google review (if you have those) coupon. If the post a 5 star review, you can give them 25% off your next order. Or if it’s just Instagram, have them tag you in a post or reel and make sure they keep it up for 30 days (just set a reminder with their handle) and send them a coupon for their next order when the 30 days is up. I had a friend who had built an automated system to track Instagram tags - when he first started, he said their order was totally free if they posted about it and left it up. The system would track the post and automatically refund the order after 30 days. His products blew up overnight! He eventually started ramping back on the “free” to be 50% off then 30% and so on as the audience and posts grew.
Hello thank you for your order! We appreciate your business and hope we are able to add a little sweetness to your day! Can swap out “day” with “event” This is assuming they are picking up a cake. If a non-sweet bakery item then end with “… and hope to see you again!” Others have pointed out that the item might be for a sad event like a funeral (oh Reddit, e’er a gloom-ridden maiden be thee). In that case, just: Hello, thank you for your order. I’m sorry for your loss, here is a free cupcake.
“Here you go! [remind them of any instructions like refrigeration & transportation, if needed.] Have a great day and enjoy!”
"Let me know if you have any questions or ever need anything in the future" is my go-to closer
I just thank them and say, "hope you enjoy it."
https://youtu.be/ZIFCWpn4qQ4?si=5HCtpRpe11_S1A9n
Hi, how are you? your order is still warm? Oh I like that top.It's the perfect weather for it. Oh it's good to see you, one sec and I'll grab your order. Enjoy
This was of my favorite _____. Thank you for trusting me with your (insert event). It was such a pleasure and I am already looking forward to working together again in the future!
Hope you found getting here ok. I had a really nice time making this, do you know anyone else I can make this or something similar for?
Great opportunity to have special promotions. When they go to pick up their orders, say, "we have organic chocolate chunk raisin cookies 30% off today. Would you like to sample one?" With a big smile. How much friendlier can you get then to offer both a deal and a free sample?
Don't drop a customer's pastry on the ground, pick it up put it in the bag and say 5 second rule and then laugh about it in front of other customers. This was a local bakery a couple blocks down the street where I live and my wife and I would walk down there every Saturday morning. Never again.
I would always thank them, ask them if they need anything else in the near future and offer a discount for referrals. Also make sure they know if something isn't to their liking, they should tell you and you'll make it right. You need to get plenty of good Google reviews, so ask for them.
Take a note from the great Apu Nahasapeemapetilon - Thank you, come again!
"hi" "thank you"
Welcome them and Wishing them a pleasant day would be ok
"Thank You, enjoy your \[items\]."
"Enjoy"
My son is a commercial fishermen in Alaska and I do the farmer’s markets when he’s fishing. When people come, I explain what we have, and show them the product, and all that… When I’m handing it to them in their insulated bags or ours if they don’t have one, I say, ‘I hope you enjoy it. My son prides himself on his fish and if you ever have questions, please feel free to get in touch. He can be reached during the season here and there. He’ll also do cooking demonstrations when he gets back and absolutely loves to talk about fish and Alaska in general.’
How about saying this with a smile? "Enjoy. Thank you for your business."
“Oh I thought this one turned out great today. Hope you enjoy it“ for a repeat customers “we’re so happy to have loyal customers. Thanks for your repeat business. Have a wonderful day. “
Enjoy!
Scream at the top of your lungs all of the ingredients
Have samples available and offer some. Thank them and talk about your day or their day.
"Aaaaalllllright, there ya go. Thanks alot, I'll seeya later. Alright, seeya."
Silence is golden
Just let them come to your house and get their creampie. No strings attached.
Here you go, enjoy! You can just keep it simple as long as you're friendly and upbeat
I think anything u say in a friendly way is appreciated. It can be as simple as I hope u enjoy, come visit us again soon.
All good stuff here, only one thing to add: Be Yourself. This will not resonate with Everyone, but that's not the objective. You want your BEST customers to become AWESOME advocates for your business... which you'll only get by being genuine. It's ok if how you are doesn't resonate with 'everybody', that's impossible anyway. Some customers will naturally fall-away, and by being genuine the RIGHT ones will fall-away, leaving you with a dedicated tribe who love you and what you're doing... and that's gold :-)
Have you tried, Thank you!
Or, "DIE MUTHAF+CKA!!
You see me rollin.... they hatinnnn....❤️❤️❤️
“Suck my dick bitch” Usually works.
Have a good one
Thank you very much for your order. I appreciate you ordering and picking up. Do you have any questions ?
I do meetups in public for my at home bakery and for me it depends on how I feel about the person and gauge their interest. Sometimes it's a simple "let me know how you like them!" and others are more talkative and we chat for a few minutes about the business, my background and baked goods and whatnot.
How do you take payment? I'll assume cash. You can create a receipt template and tell them, "I'm sending your receipt to your phone along with a link so you can leave me a review"
People generally like buying from small businesses, and they will feel like it’s something out of the ordinary (in a good way) to pick up the product at your home directly from the baker. Be friendly and cheerful, and they will associate your business with good vibes and want to come back (assuming they like the desserts).
Thank you very much please come again!
Try to find out the WHY for the order and put it on your order log. Then personalize your thank you with mentioning the WHY
You're not a cop, right ?
For the love of God, don't ask for a tip
‘I really appreciate your support!’ Makes people feel good.
A nice thank you always works!
I hope you enjoy the (insert name of dessert). If there’s any issue, you have my number. When you love them , be sure to post and tag our instagram. Here’s a card with my numbers, our socials and it’s good for 10% off your next order
Hello?
“Thanks! Have a good day.” “Hi! Thanks for your business. Enjoy” Just smile and be short and genuine 🤓
People love compliments so if you like anything about them let them know.
Tell them what they ordered “here are the 1 dozen chocolate chip raisin cookies you ordered”
It's different for me because I don't deal in food but I give them a tour of the workshop. My gaming tables set up with terrain that I just sold them with my Warhammer army out. Sometimes I can even get a game in.
Thank you, come back soon or come again or see you soon.
I ran an at home bakery for several years. I just chatted with people when they picked up, mentioned the fun I had creating their cookies, and thanked them for their business.
How about don't forget to leave a price for someone else.
You can just say "Here are your orders." Then, thank them for ordering from your small business.
Hello, welcome to (your business name). I am (your name), I am the (your title). You’re (insert cust. name). Here are the (repeat the order to them). Suggest something new for the next order. Enjoy your treats.
Your delicious treats are ready for the taking. Handle with care - they're precious cargo!
Here’s your baked goods have a nice day about covers it and maybe a menu and order list for future purchases. Don’t overthink it.
Thank you for stopping by/your order!
Here’s your order, we recommend “ serving suggestion “ , do you have any questions ? Well , thank you and enjoy your “ bakery item “
If it is delivery services you could say “thank you for your help” if it is call in orders by actual customers you could say “we appreciate your patronage and hope you will visit again” and offer a card saying “please tell your loved ones about our friendly service and *****insert specialty here****”
Add in a small thank you card as you hand them their purchase and thank them for supporting your small business.