What is a Gourmet Mixes Business?
Gourmet mixes include any dry mix sold to customers. Customers add any necessary wet ingredients and either serve, bake or cook the ingredients.

Gourmet mixes can include just about anything. Here's just a few ideas:

Gourmet Mixes Business Skills & Attributes

1. A love of cooking
2. Some creativity for creating great new recipes and unique packaging ideas
3. Time management - For the freshest product possible, you will likely be making your products as ordered. You'll need to be prepared for multiple and large orders, when they come.
4. Organizational skills - In addition to staying on top of your orders, Sherry Lochner of Heavenly Sweets recommends, "Keep a list of ingredients that you need from the store, so when you run out you just mark what you need."

Gourmet Mixes Supplies & Equipment

"Make sure you check with your local health authorities. In some states, you need a separate kitchen." says Sherry. Different countries and regions will have different requirements on preparing food for sale. This will help determine what kind of equipment you'll need.

Your equipment and supplies will vary depending on what products you are offering. At minimum, you'll need:

- Food preparation area
- Appropriate ingredients in bulk
- Appropriate storage area
- Packaging - bags, jars, ribbon, labels, etc.

If you don't have the space or aren't sure you can comply with the health regulations in your area, you can try buying wholesale products from a company that makes mixes from scratch. Just be sure to check their minimum order requirements, if they dropship products as you order them and if they allow you to place your own company label on the products.

Gourmet Mixes Pricing
You need to make sure that you are offering your products at a reasonable value and that you are still making a worthwhile profit for yourself. You can download a free Price Setting Course from Internet Based Moms™.

Online Marketing Ideas for Gourmet Mixes
You will certainly meet some stiff competition in the online world. You need to set yourself apart from the competition with unique products. You'll also need to network and partner with other websites to get ahead of the game. Here's a few ideas:

- Create a free recipe ebook that promotes your products. Make the ebook available for download of your website and allow others to offer the ebook on their websites as well.

- Partner with gift basket websites, kitchen supply websites and other gift sites. Promote each other's products and allow your website visitors to buy your partner's products right off your website.

- Publish a regular ezine with informative articles. Provide easy recipes and other time saving household tips, for example.

Gourmet Mixes Packaging Ideas
Use your imagination, but here's a few ideas to get you started:

- Try creative packaging for different holidays - Christmas, Valentine's, Easter, etc.

- Make themed gift baskets - for the college student, for the young adult moving out for the first time, get well soon, sympathy, etc.

- Make creative product names. Don't just call it "blueberry pancake mix"...call it "blueberry blast pancakes". Okay, maybe that's cheesy, but make it unique.

Recommended Resources

Wholesale: Check out Heavenly Sweets for wholesale products, if you aren't going to make your own.

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