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Building a Strong Local Bakery Presence – A Talk with Kayce Boksa | Episode 70



Making sure your community knows about your microbakery is just as important as making great bread. In this episode, I sit down with Kayce Boksa of Trails End Breads & Blooms to talk about how to stand out in your local area, build real connections, and grow your business beyond family and friends. From using simple but effective marketing techniques to creating pop-ups that truly work, Kayce shares how she built a thriving microbakery in her community.


If you’ve ever wondered how to find more customers, make your bakery memorable, or confidently put yourself out there, this episode is full of real-world strategies, mindset shifts, and practical tips you can apply to your own business. We’ll talk about getting your name out there, leveraging word-of-mouth marketing, and how to create a local presence that makes an impact.


1. How Kayce Started Trails End Breads & Blooms


Like many home bakers, Kayce’s journey started with baking for family.

✔ She joined a bake-from-home challenge and quickly fell in love with baking all types of bread.

✔ Encouraged by friends, she realized there was a demand for her products in her community.

✔ After losing her part-time job, she decided to turn her passion into a business.


💬 "I never thought this would be my life, but my bakery has been such a blessing for my family and my community."


2. Making Your Business Known in Your Community


One of Kayce’s best marketing strategies? A simple sign on her mailbox.

✔ She had a local Etsy maker turn her logo into a custom mailbox sign.

✔ At first, she only put it out during pickup times—but eventually left it up full-time.

✔ Nearly half of her customers found her business through that sign.


💬 "Just having your name out there makes a difference. People may not look you up right away, but they’ll remember your name when they need bread."


3. The Power of Word-of-Mouth Marketing


Nothing builds a business faster than people talking about your products.

✔ Kayce made sure her customers had a great experience, so they naturally shared her business.

✔ She joined local Facebook groups where people were already asking for home-baked bread.

✔ She built relationships with other local business owners, who then referred customers to her.


💬 "When someone recommends you, there’s instant trust. That’s way more powerful than an ad."


4. How Pop-Ups Helped Kayce Build a Loyal Customer Base


Kayce prefers pop-ups over farmers’ markets, and here’s why:

✔ They’re indoors. No weather issues, no last-minute cancellations.

✔ They’re mutually beneficial. The shop gets more foot traffic, and Kayce reaches new customers.

✔ They create consistency. She now does pop-ups at the same stores on the same days each month.


💬 "I like pop-ups because they create a personal connection. Customers can meet me, taste my bread, and learn how to order again."


5. Why You Have to Be Your Own Biggest Advocate


Kayce shares that getting over the fear of putting yourself out there is key to success.

✔ She reached out to local businesses directly to set up pop-ups.

✔ She made a presence in her community before launching, so people already knew her.

✔ She learned to be okay with hearing ‘no.’ Some businesses weren’t a good fit, and that was fine.


💬 "If you don’t put yourself out there, people won’t find you. No one is going to do it for you."


6. Knowing Your Ideal Customers & Where to Find Them


Not every market or pop-up is a good fit. Kayce learned to focus on locations that attract her ideal customers.

✔ She chooses shops that match her brand. She partners with home decor stores and sustainable shops where her customers already shop.

✔ She avoids locations that are too far from her home base. Customers are more likely to reorder if they’re local.

✔ She tests different towns and events to see what works best.


💬 "You have to be strategic. I want customers who will come back regularly, not just one-time sales."


7. Lessons Learned from Big Orders & Slicing Challenges


Like many bakers, Kayce underestimated the time required for holiday orders and slicing loaves.

✔ She overbooked for Easter and learned to better prepare in advance.

✔ She started offering sliced loaves, but it became too time-consuming.

✔ Now, she’s considering investing in a commercial bread slicer to make the process easier.


💬 "Some things seem like a great idea until you’re slicing 40 loaves by hand. Now I know my limits!"


8. How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome & Build Confidence


Kayce openly shares that she struggles with imposter syndrome—but pushing past it changed everything.

✔ At first, she felt self-doubt about selling bread.

✔ As her business grew, she realized that repeat customers weren’t just being nice—they loved her bread!

✔ She gained confidence by starting small and growing slowly over time.


💬 "I still doubt myself sometimes, but I remind myself—people are coming back for a reason!"


Final Thoughts: Just Start & See Where It Takes You


Kayce’s journey is proof that you don’t need a perfect plan to start—you just need to start.

✔ Your community needs to know you exist. Make yourself visible in whatever way makes sense for your business.

✔ The best marketing is word-of-mouth. Make sure your customers have an amazing experience so they naturally spread the word.

✔ Test different strategies. Try pop-ups, Facebook groups, and collaborations until you find what works for you.


📌 RESOURCES & LINKS


What’s one thing you’re going to do this month to make your bakery more visible in your community? Drop a comment or tag me @carolinebower_sourdough on Instagram!


Happy baking!


Try Sunrise Flour Mill Organic Heritage Flour: 20% off Sunrise Flour Mill https://thebreadwinner.captivate.fm/sunrise20



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