Streamline your method of taking orders in your bakery
Having a streamlined process to collect information from clients is an really simple way for you to save time and maximise efficiency in your business. Although each order is unique there are many ways in which they are similar and much of the same information will be required from clients.
Gathering important order information
An example of this would be at the start of a project, when you are setting up the order and gathering details about the particular cake project. It may be that you ask clients to email you this information, or you gather it manually in person or by telephone conversation. I’m not suggesting that you don’t need to meet customers face to face, because often this is the best way to get to know their needs and requirements, but if you are collecting the basics of your order by email then creating a customer questionnaire for clients could be a time-saving move for you.
Use tools to make your life easier
If you already have a business website set up, adding a client page as an interface to collect details about an order and about your customer’s requirements, can save you time and really impress your customers by giving them a high-end professional service. Perhaps after they send you an initial inquiry you can send them a link to your client page to collect further details to allow you to quote their project. You can build a page to specifically suit the types of orders to take along with a tailored questionnaire.
If you don’t yet have a website there are customer management software out there that can manage customer questionnaires, along with invoicing, proposals and your finances, such as Dubsado. I have used Dubsado a little in my web design business and it is an excellent service that really streamlines your business, however it is an additional monthly cost. If you already have a website you can maximise what you get out of it by creating your questionnaire on it, such as the example I am walking you though below.
What questions should you be asking your bakery customers?
Depending on your business and what you sell, there will be a different level of information you will want to collect at the initial enquiry stage.
You might just want basic information, such as the type of bake they want, their date, numbers and the occasion, because you know speaking to your client on the phone will be the only way to gather the exact information you need to create a quote.
If you have a very specific menu, and offer minimal or no customisations, you will potentially be able to gather all of the information you need to complete the order in your enquiry form, such as item, delivery date, contact details, payment method. (And if this is you, I might suggest setting up an online shop for your bakery to streamline this process even further!).
There could also be a middle option, where you take customers through a detailed series of questions about the size, style, decoration, flavour or their order. That way you can come back to them by email with a detailed quote for what they want, then take it from there.
Adding your own contact or enquiry form to your bakery website
If you are a Squarespace user there is a full tutorial video below that will take you through creating a client questionnaire on your own site.
Good luck with adding this page to your website and if you have any questions about other methods of collecting customer information, about creating the questionnaire or about Squarespace in general, please just drop me an email.
