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Katieowl

Extending what I do...

Kitchen is now registered for outside catering, selling stuff (cake etc) in markets, providing stuff to cafes and providing evening meals for B&B guests. Whoo hoo.

So I can now offer walkers on the coastal path a hot dinner, and packed lunches. Think/hope that is the way forward.

B&B is deadly quiet at the moment, hoping that will improve business.

Kate
sean

Good luck with it. Smile I like the way you've extended the word extend. Wink
Katieowl

Good luck with it. Smile I like the way you've extended the word extend. Wink


Embarassed Changed...it's probably the fumes from all the cleaning!

Kate
Mary-Jane

You forgot to add 'design consultant' to the list... Laughing
Katieowl

Didn't need my kitchen inspected for that Wink

LOL if you see Niall before me you can wind him up a bit and tell him they said it's all got to be ripped out and replaced!!!

Kate
Mary-Jane

LOL if you see Niall before me you can wind him up a bit and tell him they said it's all got to be ripped out and replaced!!!


Are you mad? I don't want him taking a sledgehammer to my kitchen walls in a temper! Laughing earthyvirgo

Re: Extending what I do...

Kitchen is now registered for outside catering, selling stuff (cake etc) in markets, providing stuff to cafes and providing evening meals for B&B guests. Whoo hoo.

So I can now offer walkers on the coastal path a hot dinner, and packed lunches. Think/hope that is the way forward.

B&B is deadly quiet at the moment, hoping that will improve business.

Kate

V Good idea Katie. That part of the coast is not that well endowed with food on the go. Good food would certainly appeal to me on a long walk.

How far are you actually off the coast? ... just wondering how you will get people to detour.

Or are you going to have one of those little bicycle ice-cream cart type numbers? Smile

EV Rob R

I hope it pays off for you, I am currently trying to work out the benefits of a diverse range of things versus specialising & expanding in one particular area. But either way it takes investment & knowing where to put limited time & funds, as a priority, is beating me at the moment. Confused Penny Outskirts

It is really difficult to strike a balance isn't it. We're going to add new things gradually when we move, with the sort of aim that we get good at that bit before we move on to another bit. Well, that's the plan anyway. Katieowl

A couple of our visitors this year have asked if I'd considered doing evening meals, and TBH I think the offerings in town are a bit limited.

I was chatting to a customer in the market the other day, who picked up my B&B leaflet, as she does it too, further up the coast (Newport Pembs) she's made contact with someone a bit nearer to me, but still a healthy walkers distance away, and she was wondering if the three of us could sort of hook up, as next stops. We talked about evening meals too, as it's three miles from us to Cardigan, which is a hike there and back if you've been walking all day anyway.

We've had someone here who was a friend of the family who we collected from Carmarthen and deposited walking distance from the house and wandered back each day, she ate with us, but just had what we had, so we could either use that model, or I have a few simple local produce menus I could offer, ordered in advance. The fellow B&B'er/customer said the people in Molygrove (Half way between us) were charging £17.50 each for an evening meal

EV we are less than a mile off the coastal path...we get a lot of walkers passing, and we have had quite a few here who were doing the first bit of the Ceredigion stretch.

Anyway it means I can extend the market stuff a bit, now I can use our own kitchen and I'm also planning a pop-up tea-room happening, first event probably for Halloween Very Happy

I know the market is good...I just need to find the stuff to sell now the visitors have gone, I've been canvassing for ideas for the last couple of weeks, I'm probably going to go for one or two 'food to go' options along with the cakes.

My 'street food' Besan Chilla - spicy chickpea flour pancake, which I make on camping gas stove in the market, is gluten free and vegan it's been a top seller all summer. Practically everyone who's tried it has bought it, and a few vegan/GF customers have practically cried with joy at finding something interesting to eat.

I aim to take along between 10-12 different things each week. With some Vegan/GF stuff every time. We want to try some cordials. I can only do stuff that doesn't 'directly' compete with anyone else in the market, so I can't do jams and pickles for example. People have also been asking me if I'm going to do any of the other markets...but TBH the one day is plenty enough work for me, as they also want me a couple of days in the cafe!!!

Kate Rob R

The trouble we have is that anything new requires new buildings and/or new equipment or land. And then production is only a part of it. T.G

Have you considered doing a beach basket? (a bit like a picnic basket for those of us to bone idle to make one and take it with us or more for the impromptu diner)

With paper plates/bags wooden spoons/forks - for the obvious reasons. Katieowl

Yes I have considered that...I'm waiting for a nice picnic set to come my way Smile TKMaxx or somewhere similar.

I thought the chi-chi ness of a basket over disposables may appeal


Kate Pilsbury

Yes I have considered that...I'm waiting for a nice picnic set to come my way Smile TKMaxx or somewhere similar.

I thought the chi-chi ness of a basket over disposables may appeal


Kate

Ask penny to keep an eye out for one lol 12Bore

Yes I have considered that...I'm waiting for a nice picnic set to come my way Smile TKMaxx or somewhere similar.

I thought the chi-chi ness of a basket over disposables may appeal


Kate

Ask penny to keep an eye out for one lol
Shocked PMSL Katieowl

LOL I just got that....poor Penny Sad

Kate Penny Outskirts

Yes I have considered that...I'm waiting for a nice picnic set to come my way Smile TKMaxx or somewhere similar.

I thought the chi-chi ness of a basket over disposables may appeal


Kate

Ask penny to keep an eye out for one lol
Shocked PMSL

Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Penny Outskirts

LOL I just got that....poor Penny Sad

Kate

Is OK, we're still smiling Very Happy

Try ebay before Tacky Maxx, there are some great bargains for wicker. Rob R

It does make you wonder though, are we, as small businesses, dependent upon big chains & merely existing one step removed from them? Question Neutral T.G

Yes I have considered that...I'm waiting for a nice picnic set to come my way Smile TKMaxx or somewhere similar.

I thought the chi-chi ness of a basket over disposables may appeal


Kate

The disposables were to cater for those who want to not have the encumbrance of having to return the basket after their picnic, say if they arrive one direction but leave another not everyone wants a circular walk. Disposables mean they can do as they please. alison

...unless you do a link up thing with the next B&B, and not only do you recommend each other, but you deliver, for a cost, the baggage of the walkers to the next stop over, and pick up your previous baskets that have gone that way. T.G

...unless you do a link up thing with the next B&B, and not only do you recommend each other, but you deliver, for a cost, the baggage of the walkers to the next stop over, and pick up your previous baskets that have gone that way.

Yes, that's a good idea we have that locally for the pennine bridal way, the guests (riders) bags are taken ahead to the next Guesthouse or B&B.

Or why not include the picnic basket in the Beach picnic price? I did have a link for a trade website for wicker picnic baskets, 12" for around a fiver I seem to recall. I'm sure you'll be able to locate one similar. Katieowl

Yeah some one was doing that luggage thingy here too...I think it was a taxi company, but no reason the B&B peeps couldn't organise it.

I could easily do all disposable picnic...Bookers have the wooden cutlery, I've bought spoons/paper plates for the stall anyhow.

I'm afraid I'm a bit of a fan of TKM I've scored some fabulous bargains in amongst the tat. Currently sitting in bed with a Sandersons Duvet set on that cost me about £20 - original price was over £100 (who pays £100 for a duvet anyway!)

Kate Rob R

People who want oil free bedding? Katieowl

I'm not rich enough to be green enough to need oil free bedding...besides which I like flowers in bright colours Embarassed

Kate Rob R

Give it a few years and £100 will seem cheap, for a lot of things. Rob R

I'm not having a go about the oiliness of your bedding, btw, just in a contemplative mood about the prospects for small business, on the back of the depressing state of rare breed pigs. Lorrainelovesplants

Our B&B business was non existant this year and we are doing a long term let in our B&B suite (self contained but attached to the house).

We have a lovely lodger in - he works long hours and then goes off course fishing. We hardly see him. So, I get regular cash, basically do nothing for it and am utilising the room.
As itas worked out so well, Id do it again. SandraR

Mum and Dad used to do alot of long distance walking and your B&B sounds exactly the kind they looked for.

Not having to go far off the track to find a bed or having to go out again for an evening meal. Also the luxury of being able to purchase a packed lunch for the following day was perfect for them.

They also used and appreciated the availabilty of transport at times, as mentioned - either to take the luggage to another leg of the journey or to the station at the beginning and end of the walk.

Sounds spot on ...Good luck Smile faerienono

I wish you every success, the picnic idea sounds great, aim for a few different prices, a luxury picnic may sell well.
What about sunday lunches? They could cater for your walkers too. Katieowl

I'm normally/often working during the day on Sunday's now Sad so not sure about sunday lunch....

I was out bargain hunting /shopping for some vintage teacups today and one of the people I bought from came up with an absolute corker of an idea, and suggested I offer the pop-up tea room as a birthday party event/venue - I think that's simply brilliant. I'm definitely going to incorporate that into my advertising.

Kate Katieowl

Well I held my first Vintage Tea party yesterday, and the 12 people who came voted it a great success. I 'popped-up' to order for a birthday party for one of the women who is around the projects at work, she picked a simple menu, and I gave her a great deal as it was our trial run, on the understanding that if they loved it they spread the word but keep the price under her hat!

They had two sorts of sarnies, fresh HM scones and two jams, freshly HM welshcakes, toasted crumpets, and one of my standard cakes made into a birthday cake. I also chucked in a dozen cupcakes as I had frosting in the fridge I wanted to get shot of. They had tea/coffee and there was some OJ and elderflower cordial for the few kids present.

We had the real fire going, I managed to squeeze in three tables to seat the 12 of them, and borrowed a high-chair for the small. They took some of the leftovers home and the jam came off my vintage linen Wink with ariel spray and we had leftover egg mayo and cress sarnies for tea. Result.

I must go and say a personal thank you to the woman who suggested I do it as 'parties' as that seems to be the way to go.
Now I must spend the weekend making a flyer so I've got one to hand out in the market on Tuesday. Strike while the iron is hot!

Kate Jamanda

That sounds like a lovely party. And easy to adapt for different ages, tastes. Chez

Lovely idea, Katie. So pleased it went well. Nick

I have friends who run a pub, and others who have a clapped out 2cv van. Both run vintage tea parties, with mixed old china and mismatched saucers very profitably. There's fashionable business out there. Well done.
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