April Recap: What Worked, What Shifted & How I’m Preparing for Summer | Episode 81

mikalonte
May 1
3 min read

April was a full month in the bakery—between porch pickups, Easter orders, markets, and big behind-the-scenes projects, it stretched me in the best ways and taught me a lot. In this recap, I’m sharing what worked, where I made small shifts to protect my time and energy, and how I’m preparing for a slower, more intentional summer.

Whether you’re running a microbakery, planning for a busy season, or just curious about the rhythms behind the business, this post will give you real numbers, honest insights, and practical tips you can apply in your own bakery.

Porch Pickups & Simplified Menus

The month started with a porch pickup week.

Here’s what I offered:

Two types of sourdough loaves
Cardamom buns
Sourdough cookies

One big shift? I skipped cinnamon rolls. And no one asked about them. That was such a good reminder that I don’t have to offer everything all the time and it made bake day smoother.

Easter Weekend Market: Lessons Learned

Next up was an Easter weekend market.

Here’s what stood out:

I brought five types of loaves, cinnamon rolls, cookies, and brownies.
Traffic was slower because of the holiday weekend, but it was still a profitable market.

Even with a slightly slower day, I hit my minimum goal and kept showing up for my customers.

Mid-April Market Highlights

The second market of the month was where things really clicked.

I baked:

Four types of loaves
Cinnamon rolls
Brownies
Cookies
Focaccia

Using my recipe calculator helped me prep in advance and keep things organized. Brownies sold out fast, and focaccia was a customer favorite. Focusing on fewer types of loaves and adding in popular extras made the difference.

Behind the Scenes: The Bread Winner Summit & Podcast Growth

April wasn’t just about baking.

I also:

Hosted The Bread Winner Summit, which had over 1000 registrants.
Balanced summit hosting alongside baking, thanks to careful scheduling.

t was a month that reminded me how much I love supporting other bakers—not just with bread, but with coaching, connection, and encouragement.

Revenue Recap & Shifting Toward Summer

April gross revenue came in at just under $4,900.

That included:

Porch pickups
Two full markets
Extra Saturday porch offerings

Looking ahead, I’m planning to:

Pull back for summer and bake less frequently.
Focus on slowing down without losing momentum.
Shift the podcast to one episode a week.
Launch the Breadwinner Network, a new space for coaching and community.

Final Thoughts

April was a month of showing up consistently, trusting that less can still be enough, and making small adjustments that paid off in a big way. As I head into summer, I’m focused on honoring my capacity, protecting time for rest and family, and building momentum without burnout.

If you’re in a season of planning, scaling back, or shifting your rhythms, I hope this recap gives you encouragement to do it your way—and reminds you that steady, thoughtful growth is always enough.

Resources & Links

Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more here!
Follow me on Instagram for more microbakery tips: @carolinebower_sourdough
Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!