1. Bake Sales are fun, and people like to do them.
People want to bake goodies and buy them.
Heck, people even like to sell them.
2. Bake Sales need to be set up early.
As in, before the other vendors show up.
Trying to set up baked goods and instruct your workers while the vendor's set up their stalls will end with a crowd of coffee deprived, sugar starved vendors trying to shove money down your shirt as they grab the muffins out of your hands and pour coffee directly into their mouths. (Exaggeration? Perhaps.)
I now know that the Bake Sale should be set up at least ten minutes before the vendors are allowed in the building.
3. Cater to the Vendors.
Students delivered goods to the vendors, which thrilled the vendors and added significantly to our sales.
4. Homemade candy sells.
The marshmallows I made were gone in the first hour, and if we'd had fudge? We might have needed crowd control.
5. Bring out the savory.
We needed savory options.
If we'd had sandwiches, pizza, or salads, they would have disappeared in a trice.
As it was, some vendors subsisted only on cookies.
6. Have a safe place to put extra cash.
One of our parents came up with the idea of regularly emptying the cash box of twenties. I think this was a brilliant move.
7. There will always be that customer.
The one who complains that the hot water is too cool and then too hot. Don't forget to remind your volunteers that they are volunteers and that they don't have let a customer put them down.
8. Remember to put a treat aside for yourself.
At the end of the day,
when you sit down and know you've done your best,
you will deserve a tasty treat of your own.