Home Business... would like your input..

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2005
Home Business... would like your input..
14
Wed, 08-03-2005 - 4:44am

I just had a thought about a home business, that I think would work, especially since I only have time on Saturdays. Remember that I told you I wanted to make cookie dough put it in a jar and give it to people for gifts. What if I make the cookie dough and the cookies and sell it to those that I know (to start out selling it to unknown people would be a lot of hassle, because of health stipulations, but no one can get me, if I do a friend a favor, or even their friends favors.... etc). I could get cute jars in different sizes at a whole saler and sell them filled with yummy cookie dough and also bake muffins and stuff (American stuff sells well here).... let me know what you think, especially Jordis input would be awesome.

Sushi

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2003
Wed, 08-03-2005 - 3:17pm

Hi Sushi,

I think your cookies-in-a-jar idea is a brilliant one! About the health department issues I can give you not much solid advice, but if your church has a kitchen that is regularly used for cooking, that definitely would have to be up to standards complying with the health dep's regulations, and maybe you could use that? And as long as you sell your goods at church sales, open neigbourhood or flea markets and such places, absolutely noone asks about the in-/famous "Rote Karte" (literally: red card, the document everyone in Germany has to have who works with food or ingredients of any kind and which proves you are free of certain diseases that usually transmit via food handling or contact with customers) or the kitchen you use.

And I would stick to glass jars, simply looks better :-)

Cakes on order, though, might be a different thing, unless you really stick to family and friends as customers - on the other hand: isn't everyone a friend or at least a distantly related cousin? *grins*

Those excemptions from certain prerequisites someone noticed in France are common here, too, but always do require a separate kitchen, in France as well as in Germany. So no joy here, sorry. (I only know that because a friend of mine is building a house in a rural area, and they will get a second kitchen for that reason, too).

.. and if you tell me what paper-canvas is, maybe I can help you finding a place to buy it :-)

Greetings, Jordis

ivy_jordis

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-11-2005
Thu, 08-04-2005 - 4:32am

thanks for your advice Jordis,

actually, the church kitchen is not up to standards (we are just a small church and most of the people who use it for fellowship after church sunday are the regulars). I wouldn't have used it anyway. You know, I didn't really want to go all out anyway, just friends and extended friends and so on. Only advertize word by mouth, so it is a pretty unofficial thing here. I mean of course if a friend of a friend of a friend wants some cookies too, then hey, who am I to say no :). I just make sure that that person knows that it is not an officially operated busines.

Glass jars, eh? That makes the product more expensive. How about plastic containers with a nice ribbon (you know the gift wrap ones that curl up) and a cross-stitched tag :)? I was looking at cheap glass containers and all I find is 6 jelly-jars for 4.50 and I do not want to use pickle jars and the likes, unless I use pickle jars and cover the lid with a plaid piece of cloth, now that would be an idea, the jar wouldn't cost anything that way.

I don't really think they sell paper canvas here in Germany....

Okay, back to the salt-mine... have a lot of stuff to do.

Let me know what you think.
Sushi

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Thu, 08-04-2005 - 7:06am

Here is a link to an online store in the UK:

http://www.sewandso.co.uk/ran835-0.html

I googled "paper canvas", but it looks like "perforated paper" is the correct term.




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 08-04-2005 - 9:00am

I think pickle jars is a great idea. Just add the rings and seals and a plaid piece of fabric, and you're in business. Make sure you get them really, really clean, of course.

This way you can ask all your friends for their used jam/jelly/pb/pickle jars, and probably get lots and lots. I think they'll look great. And you can feel good about recycling too!

In fact, in today's climate around here at least, you could probably advertise on the jar that it is made of 100% post-consumer recycled waste, and it would be a selling point! LOL

Good luck,

Heather

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