Weeks 5–6: Packaging and Product Photography

Packaging

Search “[your product] bakery packaging wholesale” to find suppliers. Order a small quantity to start — don’t invest heavily in packaging until you know what your customers actually like and what works practically for your product. Packaging considerations:

• Does it protect the product during transport?
• Does it look good enough that a customer would post a photo of it?
• Can you label it cleanly and compliantly?
• Is it practical for market tables (stackable, easy to handle)?

Product Photography — No Professional Needed to Start

You need good photos before you launch. Not perfect photos — good ones. The difference between photos that sell and photos that don’t is usually lighting and background, not equipment.

• Light: Natural light near a window on an overcast day. Overcast diffuses the light and eliminates harsh shadows. Avoid direct sunlight, which creates hot spots and dark shadows. Avoid artificial overhead kitchen light, which makes baked goods look yellowish.
• Background: White marble contact paper from any hardware store, $10–15 for a 2-foot roll. Lay it flat on a counter near your best window. That is your photography setup.
• Angles: Three for each product — straight-on at eye level, 45 degrees from above, and directly overhead (flat lay). Different customers prefer different presentations.
• Goal: At least 6 hero photos before you launch. More is better. These go on your social media, your order form, and eventually your website.

Weeks 7–8: Building Your Audience Before Launch

This is the step most bakers skip entirely and then wonder why no one orders on launch day. Social media takes months to build an audience. If you wait until you’re approved to start posting, you launch to zero followers.

Start posting during the waiting period. You don’t need to be approved to build an audience.

What to Post During the Waiting Period

• Behind-the-scenes: Recipe testing, decorating, your kitchen setup. Real and unpolished is fine.
• Coming soon content: “I’m building something. What’s your favorite cookie flavor?” Questions generate comments, comments expand your reach.
• Your story: Who you are, what you’re building, why you started. People buy from people they know.
• Process videos: Mixing, decorating, packaging. Short-form video (Reels, TikTok) gets dramatically more reach than static photos on most platforms right now.

Platform Priority

• Instagram: Most valuable for food businesses. Build your presence here first.
• Facebook: Essential for reaching local customers and joining local groups. Set up a Facebook page and join your city’s local buy/sell and neighborhood groups.
• TikTok: Highest reach potential but requires consistent short-form video. Optional but valuable if you’re comfortable on camera.
• Pinterest: Evergreen traffic — pins can drive visitors for years. Less urgent for local bakers, more valuable if you plan to sell nationally or ship.