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As a chronic bake sale volunteer and teacher with many such sales under my belt, I offer these suggestions:

1. People buy what looks good! You may make an incredible oatmeal cookie, but it never seems to sell as well as a chocolate chip cookie with the m&m's sprinkled throughout. You can still make your oatmeal, but jazz it up with a few sprinkles, raisins in a cute pattern, a little sprinkling of powdered sugar, a chocolate kiss in the center, or the like. Make cute cookies, fun cupcakes, nicely decorated cakes - nothing too drab or boring!

2. People buy what's easy to eat. Bag your items in individual baggies - maybe in the theme of the nearest holiday - and don't be stingy! Better to put two smallish cookies in the bag than one larger cookie! Don't make anything too messy or anything that requires utensils, even though your mini-cheesecakes might be fabulous!

3. People buy what their kids like! Parents like carrot cake and all those more interesting flavors, but they end up buying what the kids will like - usually popular standard flavors such as chocolate, chocolate, or chocolate!

4. People buy for the holidays! Gear your sale to the closest holiday. Offer an abundance of holiday treats along with other standard favorites and deck the tables out in fun holiday decorations! You'll attract more customers this way! Wear funny outfits or fun hats, paint your faces, put on some cheery music - whatever it takes to draw the crowds to your tables!

5. People like a good deal! Don't overprice your sweets and make sure they feel like they are getting their money's worth! Toward the end of the sale, pull out the End-of-inventory two-for-one sale sign to get rid of what is left! No one wants to spend time making cookies for a sale only to have to take them all home again!

6. People need to know about your sale! Advertise, advertise, advertise! Make sure your tables are in a visible, high-traffic location, make signs, place ads, send emails, make a few calls - bring those people to your sale! Set up at a popular event or at a popular location to make the most money.

Have fun and good luck!

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