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How a Signature Product Can Simplify and Strengthen Your Sourdough Microbakery | Episode 93



When you're running a sourdough microbakery from home, it's easy to feel pulled in every direction. You want to try new recipes, experiment with inclusions, and keep your customers delighted. But that can also mean long nights, burnout, and a menu that feels overwhelming to manage.


That’s why I believe every home-based sourdough baker can benefit from a signature product. Something that not only sets you apart but simplifies your systems and strengthens your brand. Let’s walk through how to create one, how to promote it, and why it matters so much in building a sustainable, profitable business that supports your life.


What Is a Signature Product?

Think of your signature product as the bake you're best known for. It’s the item people associate with your brand—the one they tell their friends about and come back for again and again.

It’s not always your most complex or expensive item. Sometimes it’s simple. But it’s unique to you. Something with staying power that reflects your style and values.


Examples:

  • A sesame-crusted sourdough sandwich loaf with a special twist

  • Cinnamon rolls that only hit the menu once a month

  • A nostalgic chocolate chip cookie that reminds customers of home

Your signature product makes your business more memorable and gives your brand consistency. It’s also the key to standing out in your local market and building word-of-mouth momentum.


Why It Matters

When you're starting out, it's tempting to bake everything. But offering too much can burn you out fast.

A signature product:

  • Simplifies your weekly menu planning

  • Differentiates you from other bakers

  • Helps customers recognize and remember your bakery

  • Creates consistency in your bakes and your income

  • Gives you a reliable anchor to build your bake days around


For me, that product is my English muffins. I can count on them to sell out, and they’re always the starting point for how I structure my bake and reach my revenue goals.


You’re Not Just Selling Sourdough—You’re Selling Your Sourdough

Your signature product isn’t just about what's on the menu. It's about identity. It's how your customers connect with your bakery and how you stand out in a sea of other sandwich loaves, focaccias, and cookies.

So how do you know what your signature product should be?


Step 1: Look at the Data

  • What sells out the fastest?

  • What gets reordered week after week?

  • Which products get the most DMs, compliments, or comments on Instagram?


Step 2: Look at What You Love

  • What product are you proud of every time it comes out of the oven?

  • What feels consistent and easy to produce in large batches?

  • What sparks creativity or joy?


Step 3: Align It with Your Brand

  • Are you known for comfort food? Think nostalgic bakes.

  • Do you value nutrition and real food? Highlight whole grains and fermentation.

  • Are you going for a modern, artisan vibe? Focus on aesthetics and technique.


Choose something you love, can replicate easily, and want to keep baking week after week. Because if you don’t enjoy making it, you won’t enjoy selling it.


Yes, You Can Still Offer Variety

If you’re someone who gets bored with the same menu every week, you’re not alone.

Your signature product doesn’t box you in—it anchors your offerings. Think of it as your “go-to” that customers count on, while you rotate seasonal or experimental items around it.

Examples:

  • Add inclusions to your signature loaf (e.g. blueberry English muffins)

  • Offer seasonal twists (e.g. seeded sandwich loaf in spring)

  • Rotate cookies or pastries around your staple bakes


This consistency builds trust. Customers come back for what they love and stay curious about what’s new.


How to Promote Your Signature Product (Without Sounding Repetitive)

Once you’ve identified your signature item, talk about it. A lot. People won't get tired of hearing about it if you keep it fresh and interesting.


Here’s how:

  • Share behind-the-scenes moments: mixing, shaping, baking

  • Show how customers (or your family) enjoy it

  • Tell the story behind the product—why you love it, why it matters

  • Make it part of your weekly menu rhythm and tell people when it's coming back

Think of brands like Chick-fil-A. We know about their chicken sandwich because they talk about it constantly. You don’t have to be that loud—but you do have to be consistent.


Make It Memorable With a Name

Product names stick.

It’s not just a seeded loaf. Maybe it’s the Sunday Sandwich Loaf.

It’s not just a chocolate chunk cookie. Maybe it’s the Bluebird Cookie.


I recently renamed my jalapeño cheddar loaf to the “Campfire Loaf” after adding smoked paprika and polenta—and people started ordering it just because the name was fun.

You don’t have to go overboard. But a creative name can make your product more desirable and easier to remember.


Recap: The Signature Product Roadmap

Let’s break it down.


Step 1: Identify the product people love, that you love, and that fits your brand.

Step 2: Make it the anchor of your menu. Bake it regularly and build around it.

Step 3: Promote it with:

  • Clear photos

  • Behind-the-scenes stories

  • Customer testimonials

  • Excitement and consistency

Step 4: Keep it simple, but make it unforgettable.


One Last Note

You might have multiple anchor products on your menu—and that’s okay. I always offer my sandwich bread, focaccia, chocolate chip cookies, and regular sourdough. But my English muffins are the one people talk about. They sell out fast and get the most attention, so I lean into them.


Your signature product is more than just a sales tool. It’s about brand identity. It gives people a reason to remember you and to come back.

So think about what you're known for. What gets people excited? What feels like “you”?

Lean into that—and let it make your sourdough microbakery stronger, simpler, and more sustainable.

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