Glad it was helpful! Good luck in your ventures!

Thanks so much! 😊

I love it, what a great starting step. There is so much knowledge to be gained at a market. I wish you so much luck!

Thank you and good luck!

Thanks. There is such a great atmosphere at my Farmers' Market (I now work as the manager and don't sell cookies anymore) it is a joy to be there.

My pleasure!

You're so welcome!

Thanks!

Glad it was helpful!

Thank you!

I used to package 4-1" cookies in a package for $2. They were those same sample cookies. I think I would package up 2 of them for samples. I wouldn't work as well as just handing them unpackaged to the customers because they can put them away for later, but hopefully the goodwill and later tasting will help.

There are a number of great tasting cookie recipes online, try them until you find one you love. I use royal icing that I make with meringue powder (2 kilos powdered sugar, 10 tablespoons meringue powder). I like the taste and don't know about a meringue aftertaste, but you could try a different brand of meringue powder to see if you like it better. As for labeling, you are best to inquire with your local board of health as the rules vary. Thanks for the kind words.

Hello Frances: I really held onto that per cookie price. Whether I made 1 or 30, each cookie takes the same amount of time and I wasn't interested in lowering the price. I guess I am stubborn. Now, some people might be attacted to a "$4 each or 3 for $10" deal, but I never offered that. For a good customer at the market, I would often round down the price or add in another cookie or something like that, but they earned that by being loyal or buying a lot. I would still recommend a photo album, not only wasn't I keen on letting someone hold onto my phone while I was helping other customers, it gave potential customers something to do while they were waiting for me to finish with my current customer before I could even greet them. Yes, customers would come to my house. I never had an issue with that. I now set out a table and place the order outside right before they arrive for contactless pick up. I don't do an open market anymore, but I do know that samples are currently not allowed in Ontario. I hope this helps, good luck!

No, I continued working with my local farmers' market as the manager during the pandemic and beyond, but stopped selling my cookies at the market. I got too busy with custom orders, which I love! I did so an updated video with some more tips, in case you haven't seen it. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/r7Jolqd3trLDfqc.html

@@SweetHandmadeCookies Thank YOU so much I will check this video out.

It was made for me by a local student. I asked him numerous times if he wants to go into business, but once he graduated high school he no longer had access to the tools required.

Sorry I didn't see your message in time, but I hope you had a successful first week. It is always a guessing game as to how much to bring, I hope you guessed well. :)

I made mine many years ago, but I just looked and Costco (Canada) still offers this service through their online photo department. It was pretty simple, I uploaded the photos I wanted in the book and it stepped me through the process. Good luck!

I adjusted! :)

About $5 for a 4" cookie.

That's a long way from me in Ontario, Canada, but the best thing about a farmers' market is that they are meant to serve the local community.

I am wondering the same thing. I have tried looking it up but can’t find a clear answer.

Google "cottage food law (your state)", most state's cottage food laws ONLY let you bake at home and sell at Farmer's Markets. Others are more lenient like mine. Good luck, and happy baking!

@@margaretrangel7223 Google "cottage food law (your state)", most state's cottage food laws ONLY let you bake at home and sell at Farmer's Markets. Others are more lenient like mine. Good luck, and happy baking!

The rules are different all over, but in Ontario, Canada, a true farmers' market is allowed to have bakers working out of their home kitchens.

@@margaretrangel7223 Each market has their own rules. I found one where they don't require a commercial kitchen, but I have one I can rent out, in case I need to bake bigger orders.

Try to find out what others in your area are charging, visit markets, check out local bakers' online stores, etc. Then take an honest look at your skill level and decide where you should price yourself. And make sure you consider ingredient and packaging costs so that you are making money! Good luck!

I charged the same as I did for my custom orders. The prices went up over the years of course.

Yes, I still sell cookies. My website is www.sweethandmadecookies.ca.

First of all, I don't know how you would access Facebook if you aren't a regular member, but there are lots of groups for every genre, keep looking!

@@SweetHandmadeCookies I have a Facebook business account

@@barbra429 - my thinking was you had to sign up for Facebook as a regular user and then add a business account from there. However, I am not a Facebook expert, so I must not understand that correctly. Anyways, hopefully you can search for groups that interest you. If not, you could always sign up for a regular Facebook account. Good luck!

@@SweetHandmadeCookies Thanks

You don’t. You gauge it from week to week but often times more than not you are going to be wrong. If your market is having a special event Family Day, Seniors Day and your product is targeting those customers bring more that week. A friend total me not to bring my whole product line each week. If the customer comes ever week they will put off buying. If the know you may not have it the following week they are more inclined to buy on the spot.

It's a guess, unfortunately. Start small and increase your amounts if you sell out consistently. The first weeks of the market were always the best of the season, sales slowed during July and August and picked up again in September.

The market does advertising to bring in customers. That means you get the benefit without the work.

Find another Farmers Market close by.

@@shoppingbag6973 SMOOTHNESS! I've had plans for over ten years to crank out some fat designer cookies but one way or another never got the project up off of the ground. I've worked at almost twenty gas stations over the years, and I'M SICK OF IT!

I agree with @shoppingbag6973, try finding another market. Bakers have the hardest time getting into markets, so be persistent. Good luck!

Google business license requirements in your area.

I think every province and state have different rules. A food handler's safety certificate is required in Ontario, I recently renewed mine online.

That's too bad, an opportunity you can't easily replicate. I would probably give away 2 sample cookies for free to customers, people love a freebee and they will hopefully taste and come back.

Agreed!