Episode Description:

In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with someone very near and dear to my heart — Amy Gorski, owner of Poppy Bakery in Milwaukee, WI, and a former kitchen manager and head baker at Spilt Milk. Amy has had one of the most intentional, inspiring, hard-won journeys to bakery ownership I’ve ever seen, and in this conversation she opens up about the decisions, discipline, and deep commitment to quality that have shaped her business.

From her years of working in some of the Midwest’s most respected kitchens, to her methodical plan for gaining the skills she needed, to the realities of farmers’ market life, to launching Poppy Bakery and earning Best Bakery in Milwaukee within months — Amy shares it all. This is an episode full of honesty, heart, and so many takeaways for any baker dreaming of their next step.

Key Takeaways:

• The mindset shift that allowed Amy to confidently move from “someday” to opening her own bakery
• Why she chose not to pursue wholesale — and how that decision transformed the consistency, quality, and guest experience at Poppy
• How 14 years of working for other chefs became her greatest asset (and why she believes young bakers should avoid management too early)
• The surprising tough-love realities of farmers’ market life — and how those long, grueling weekends prepared her for brick-and-mortar success
• What helped Poppy Bakery grow a loyal community fast and earn city-wide recognition within months of opening

Resources + Links:

• Poppy Bakery - Check out Milwaukee’s best new bakery!
• Follow Amy on Instagram
• Got a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.com
• Visit Bakery Business Academy's website for more information about our courses, programs, and private coaching with Meg
• Join our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation

If your bakery is feeling the post-holiday sales slump right now—you’re not alone. In this episode of Kitchen Notes, Meg walks through a calm, strategic 5-step plan to help you assess the dip, figure out where it's coming from, and create a realistic game plan to recover revenue without panic or burnout.

Whether January is slow for you, or your dip hits in July or October, this episode will give you a framework you can return to any time the numbers feel off.

Key Takeaways:

• Why seasonal dips are normal (and even predictable) in bakery businesses—and how to plan for them
• The first number you must know before you can rebound from a sales dip
• How to analyze which parts of your business are underperforming so you can stop guessing
• Creative, low-effort promo ideas that can help you quickly fill the revenue gap
• The one action step that most bakery owners skip when they’re feeling stressed or discouraged—but that can make or break your momentum

Resources + Links:

• Bakery Finance Essentials – our self-paced online e-course course designed for bakery owners who want to get more confident with their numbers
• Got a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.com
• Join our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation
  
  

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Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I’d be very grateful if you'd leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Have a question or topic you want covered on a future episode? Send me a message—I love hearing from you!

Episode Description:

In today’s episode, we’re answering a listener question that came up during one of our recent live workshops — and it’s one I hears all the time:

What’s your top cost-saving tip for bakery owners?

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to make your bakery more profitable, this episode is for you. I'm shares the real, often overlooked secret to improving your margins — and it’s not about cutting labor, finding cheaper ingredients, or slashing your rent!

Whether you’re just getting your bakery off the ground or you’ve been in business for years, I hope this simple & powerful reminder helps improve the way you manage your bakery’s finances this year and beyond.

Key Takeaways:

• Why profitability isn't about one magic fix — and what it is about instead
• The slow, sneaky “leaks” that drain your profits (and how to catch them early)
• A simple routine that can help you make better, faster, and easier financial decisions
• How staying close to your numbers reduces stress and increases confidence
• My practical recommendation for checking in on your finances — even if you “hate numbers”

Resources Mentioned:

• Bakery Finance Essentials – our self-paced online e-course course designed for bakery owners who want to get more confident with their numbers
• 🗣️ Got a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.com
  
  

Enrollment is now open for our flagship bakery finance program - Bakery Finance Essentials 🎉

To learn more the course or sign up today, visit: https://courses.bakerybusinessacademy.com/bfe/

Episode Description:

It’s that quiet, cozy week between the holidays and the New Year—a natural time to pause and reflect. In this episode, let's walk through a gentle (non-hustle-y!) approach to year-end reflection and business planning. Instead of racing into 2026 at full speed, I invites you to slow down, look back with honesty, and begin the new year with grounded clarity about what’s working—and what’s not.

Whether 2025 was your best year ever or a bit of a blur, this episode offers a calmer, step-by-step framework to assess your numbers, your energy, and your goals—so you can move into the new year with confidence and intention.

Key Takeaways:

• Rushing into New Year planning can backfire—here's what to do instead
• The three simple numbers to look at before setting any 2026 goals
• Why “how the year felt” is just as important as analyzing your profit margins!
• A practical framework to reflect on 2025 without the overwhelm
• Avoiding “hope and pray” planning in 2026

Resources + Links:

➡️ Register for the Free 2026 Planning Workshop on January 12th

➡️ Join our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation

Episode Show Notes:

This week on Kitchen Notes, we’re doing something a little different — and very exciting. For the first time in years, we’re bringing our biggest sale of the year back to Black Friday Week… and today, you’re getting a behind-the-scenes preview of everything coming your way.

After selling our bakery this fall, I’ve finally had the headspace to revamp, rebuild, and expand many of the tools, templates, and programs inside Bakery Business Academy. And next week, we’re rolling out a curated lineup of offers designed to help you:

✨ streamline your production
✨ understand your numbers
✨ start a bakery with clarity
✨ price for profit
✨ build stronger systems
✨ and make 2026 your most profitable, organized, sustainable bakery year yet

In this episode, I walk you through how the 5 Days of Deals will work, what you can expect each day, and how to plan your week so you don’t miss the offers that support your goals.

Whether you’re dreaming of opening a bakery, knee-deep in production chaos, or ready to level-up your systems and profitability — there’s something coming for you.

On this week’s episode, we’re talking…

• What “5 Days of Deals” looks like and how to plan for it
• The types of problems each daily offer is designed to solve
• What to expect in terms of pricing, timing, and availability
• Why some offers are extremely limited (👋 maternity leave!)
• How to decide which deal is right for your goals, stage of business, and budget

MORE INFO:

Our Black Friday Week sale starts:

🗓 Monday, Nov 24 – Friday, Nov 28
⏰ New deal goes LIVE each morning at 6:00am CST
⏳ Each offer is available THAT DAY ONLY from 6am-midnight!
💸 Biggest discounts of the year
🎯 Tools + trainings designed for bakery owners at all stages

None of the purchase links activate until the morning of each deal — but you can preview the entire week right now!

👉 Preview the full Black Friday catalog and daily schedule here:

https://www.bakerybusinessacademy.com/black-friday-2025

Not sure which offer fits your goals?

If you’re torn between two programs or want help choosing based on your stage of business, send me an email! I’m happy to help you pick the best fit.

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Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I’d be very grateful if you'd leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Have a question or topic you want covered on a future episode? Send me a message—I love hearing from you!

Episode Show Notes:

In this follow-up episode, Molly and I are back to talk about what happened after we sold Spilt Milk. From the nitty-gritty of the transition process to the emotional side of letting go—we’re walking you through what it really looks like to step away from a business & successfully transition it to new ownership.

We also share what’s next for both of us, and what the future holds for Bakery Business Academy.

Spoiler: we're not going anywhere! In fact, we’re just getting started.

Key Takeaways:

• What a business transition period actually looks like (and how it’s nothing like selling a house)
• How we structured our handoff and training plan with the new owner
• What tools, checklists, and systems helped make the transition smoother
• The emotional side of letting go (and how to stay grounded through it)
• What’s next for both of us—and for Bakery Business Academy

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to sell a bakery—or maybe thought about selling yours someday—this one’s for you!

Resources Mentioned:

• Scribe is the tool we use for creating step-by-step PDF guidess
• Follow Molly’s next chapter (and new fitness & wellness biz!) → Whole Her Fitness
• Looking for personalized, 1-on-1 support launching & scaling your bakery business? Read more about private coaching on the Bakery Business Academy website, ➡️ Linked Here
• Have other questions we can answer about the business sale? Email us: hello@bakerybusinessacademy.com

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Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I’d be very grateful if you'd leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Have a question or topic you want covered on a future episode? Send me a message—I love hearing from you!

Episode Description:

Big news—after more than a decade running Spilt Milk, we’ve sold the bakery. In this special two-part series, I’m joined by my sister and co-founder Molly to talk about the journey that led us to this huge decision. This first part dives into the why behind our decision, how the idea came about, and what the early steps looked like.

If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to sell a business—or if you’ve thought about your own “what’s next?”—you’ll want to listen in.

Key Takeaways:

• Why we decided to sell Spilt Milk—even after our most profitable year ever
• What personal and professional shifts made this the right time
• How we got from “maybe someday” to “let’s do it”
• What we looked for in a buyer (and why it felt so personal)
• The mindset shifts that came with such a major transition

We’re breaking this story into two episodes, so be sure to tune in to Part 2 for more details about the business sale - including how we transitioned the business to the new owners, and what's next for Bakery Business Academy!

Resources Mentioned

• Our amazing bookkeeper, Daliah Fritz, recorded an episode with us on Kitchen Notes! Be sure to listen in for more tips from Daliah about how to manage your business finances ➡️ Listen Here
• Looking for personalized, 1-on-1 support launching & scaling your bakery business? Read more about private coaching on the Bakery Business Academy website, ➡️ Linked Here

The holidays are coming (fast), and your Q4 revenue goals won’t hit themselves.

So let me ask you this:
👉 Have you actually started planning?
👉 Or are you telling yourself you'll figure it out "next week"?

This week on Kitchen Notes, I’m breaking down the 6 core things every bakery needs to think through before the holiday season hits.

We’re talking:

✅ The 6 critical areas of holiday planning that every bakery should be thinking about
✅ Why simplifying your holiday menu will make you more money
✅ How to avoid the classic production and inventory headaches
✅ Why your cash flow plan and labor schedule must go hand in hand
✅ What happens when you don’t plan—and how to avoid burnout
✅ Why your packaging, promotions, and contingency plan deserve more attention now (not later)

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• 🎯 Register for Holiday Planning Bootcamp (Live Workshop on Sept 29)