On Apr 24, 12:09*pm, BH wrote:
On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:18:02 -0700 (PDT), Merryb
wrote:

I think the business is a fantastic idea!



Thanks, and no, I didn't ask any other groups. When I get it built,
you are more than welcome to come and test it yourself. Actually, I'd
like to start a business with a wood oven where folks could come in &
do their own baking, and also do pizza parties. Kinda like a
commercial bakery, but along the lines of the dinners to go
idea...classes, too!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Do you really? Still tossin' it around in my head, but I think I can
come up with some kind of plan. I just wonder how many people would be
interested. It's definitely not something I've seen before, but I'd
hate to end up with a business that fails.

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:04:20 -0700 (PDT), Merryb
wrote:

On Apr 24, 12:09*pm, BH wrote:
On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:18:02 -0700 (PDT), Merryb
wrote:

I think the business is a fantastic idea!



Thanks, and no, I didn't ask any other groups. When I get it built,
you are more than welcome to come and test it yourself. Actually, I'd
like to start a business with a wood oven where folks could come in &
do their own baking, and also do pizza parties. Kinda like a
commercial bakery, but along the lines of the dinners to go
idea...classes, too!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Do you really? Still tossin' it around in my head, but I think I can
come up with some kind of plan. I just wonder how many people would be
interested. It's definitely not something I've seen before, but I'd
hate to end up with a business that fails.

I was thinking more about this while mowing my lawn just now. What I
sort of envision is a small, park-like setting with a shelter, like
picnic shelters seen in parks, with electricity. The oven could be
under the shelter or just outside. I think the shelter might extend
your "season" by a couple of months, at least. I see a few picnic
tables that would seat 25-30 people. There would have to be running
water and a sink, probably with an on-demand water heater. There
would have to be at least basic "facilities" and a parking lot for a
couple dozen cars.

I think I would start marketing to birthday parties, small office
parties, etc. I think the idea of baking classes is good. You could
teach those yourself, and charge tuition of course, or rent the
facility to someone else to teach classes. You might get a community
college interested in offering the classes and renting the facility or
paying you to be the instructor. I think there would be quite a few
scout groups, church groups, etc., that would be interested in having
their events in a place like that. The problem with them might be
that would be unable, or hesitant, to pay a fee that would let you
make a buck. But, their members might be back for birthday parties,
too. It might be a promotional thing.

On the scale I am describing, I doubt it would ever be a big money
maker. But, you could get the oven, the shed, the tables, the wood
and everything else essentially paid for through tax deductions. If
you develop it "right" and in a good location, it could contribute to
the value of the property. I think if you were having an event, you'd
certainly have to fire up the oven well in advance to get the heat up
and stabilized. Then, I think you'd probably want to "test" it by
baking some of your own things before the customers arrived. (Do your
baking with fuel someone else pays for.) And, finally, operating the
facility could be a lot of fun as a spare-time pursuit.

What I envision could not be built where I live because of covenants
on the use of property. I might even get a lot of grief from the city
because of the wood smoke. We have a strictly enforced ban on "open
burning". I think the oven would not be considered "open", but that
might not prevent the fire department showing up every time they see,
or smell smoke. Over on the peninsula, you might have an easier time
finding a location where this could be done.

Does this describe something like what you had in mind, or were you
thinking of something entirely different?

Burney

On Apr 24, 2:54*pm, BH wrote:
On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:04:20 -0700 (PDT), Merryb
wrote:





On Apr 24, 12:09*pm, BH wrote:
On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:18:02 -0700 (PDT), Merryb
wrote:

I think the business is a fantastic idea!

Thanks, and no, I didn't ask any other groups. When I get it built,
you are more than welcome to come and test it yourself. Actually, I'd
like to start a business with a wood oven where folks could come in &
do their own baking, and also do pizza parties. Kinda like a
commercial bakery, but along the lines of the dinners to go
idea...classes, too!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Do you really? Still tossin' it around in my head, but I think I can
come up with some kind of plan. I just wonder how many people would be
interested. It's definitely not something I've seen before, but I'd
hate to end up with a business that fails.

I was thinking more about this while mowing my lawn just now. *What I
sort of envision is a small, park-like setting with a shelter, like
picnic shelters seen in parks, with electricity. *The oven could be
under the shelter or just outside. *I think the shelter might extend
your "season" by a couple of months, at least. *I see a few picnic
tables that would seat 25-30 people. *There would have to be running
water and a sink, probably with an on-demand water heater. *There
would have to be at least basic "facilities" and a parking lot for a
couple dozen cars. *

I think I would start marketing to birthday parties, small office
parties, etc. *I think the idea of baking classes is good. *You could
teach those yourself, and charge tuition of course, or rent the
facility to someone else to teach classes. *You might get a community
college interested in offering the classes and renting the facility or
paying you to be the instructor. *I think there would be quite a few
scout groups, church groups, etc., that would be interested in having
their events in a place like that. *The problem with them might be
that would be unable, or hesitant, to pay a fee that would let you
make a buck. *But, their members might be back for birthday parties,
too. *It might be a promotional thing.

On the scale I am describing, I doubt it would ever be a big money
maker. *But, you could get the oven, the shed, the tables, the wood
and everything else essentially paid for through tax deductions. *If
you develop it "right" and in a good location, it could contribute to
the value of the property. *I think if you were having an event, you'd
certainly have to fire up the oven well in advance to get the heat up
and stabilized. *Then, I think you'd probably want to "test" it by
baking some of your own things before the customers arrived. *(Do your
baking with fuel someone else *pays for.) *And, finally, operating the
facility could be a lot of fun as a spare-time pursuit.

What I envision could not be built where I live because of covenants
on the use of property. *I might even get a lot of grief from the city
because of the wood smoke. *We have a strictly enforced ban on "open
burning". *I think the oven would not be considered "open", but that
might not prevent the fire department showing up every time they see,
or smell smoke. *Over on the peninsula, you might have an easier time
finding a location where this could be done.

Does this describe something like what you had in mind, or were you
thinking of something entirely different?

Burney- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Pretty much! Dont't be stealin' my idea, now!!! LOL- Unless you're
rich & want to finance me! I do wonder what kind of grief the health
department would give. Where I live is outside the city limits. We are
on a septic tank, so I think that would be an issue. I do think the
oven would have to be indoors, as well as prep areas, but I like your
idea of the sheltered picnic areas. Hmmmmmmmmm............

On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:46:35 -0700 (PDT), Merryb
wrote:

LOL No, no worry about my stealing the idea, although it does sound
like fun. I'm enjoying retirement and have plenty of things to keep
me busy, already. And, regretfully, I'm not wealthy and looking for a
place to put venture capital. :-)

I doubt that the health department would be a great obstacle. The
septic tank might be a bigger problem, but, if it has enough capacity,
having a couple of dozen peope there for a few hours a couple of times
a week might not be too much for it. And, having it pumped might be
another deductible business expense, or at least partially. (I'm
sorry, buy I was an accountant and just can't get my mind off those
kinds of things.)

I was thinking of the shelter partly because I'm thinking that oven
would put off a LOT of heat and an open-sided shelter would allow the
heat to be carried off. But, I really don't know anything about them.
Maybe I'm wrong.

BTW, Mary Fisher posted something to alt.bread.recipes this morning. I
thought I had seen that name!

Burney


Pretty much! Dont't be stealin' my idea, now!!! LOL- Unless you're
rich & want to finance me! I do wonder what kind of grief the health
department would give. Where I live is outside the city limits. We are
on a septic tank, so I think that would be an issue. I do think the
oven would have to be indoors, as well as prep areas, but I like your
idea of the sheltered picnic areas. Hmmmmmmmmm............

On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:18:02 -0700 (PDT), Merryb
wrote:

Thanks, and no, I didn't ask any other groups. When I get it built,
you are more than welcome to come and test it yourself. Actually, I'd
like to start a business with a wood oven where folks could come in &
do their own baking, and also do pizza parties. Kinda like a
commercial bakery, but along the lines of the dinners to go
idea...classes, too!

Hi Merry,

Have you ever seen the Seinfeld episode in which Kramer
wants to have a "Bake it yourself" pizza business...?

It's worth a look,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

On Apr 25, 9:55*am, BH wrote:
On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:46:35 -0700 (PDT), Merryb
wrote:

LOL *No, no worry about my stealing the idea, although it does sound
like fun. *I'm enjoying retirement and have plenty of things to keep
me busy, already. *And, regretfully, I'm not wealthy and looking for a
place to put venture capital. *:-)

I doubt that the health department would be a great obstacle. *The
septic tank might be a bigger problem, but, if it has enough capacity,
having a couple of dozen peope there for a few hours a couple of times
a week might not be too much for it. *And, having it pumped might be
another deductible business expense, or at least partially. *(I'm
sorry, buy I was an accountant and just can't get my mind off those
kinds of things.)

I was thinking of the shelter partly because I'm thinking that oven
would put off a LOT of heat and an open-sided shelter would allow the
heat to be carried off. *But, I really don't know anything about them.
Maybe I'm wrong.

BTW, Mary Fisher posted something to alt.bread.recipes this morning. I
thought I had seen that name!

Burney



Pretty much! Dont't be stealin' my idea, now!!! LOL- Unless you're
rich & want to finance me! I do wonder what kind of grief the health
department would give. Where I live is outside the city limits. We are
on a septic tank, so I think that would be an issue. I do think the
oven would have to be indoors, as well as prep areas, but I like your
idea of the sheltered picnic areas. Hmmmmmmmmm............- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Well, if it ever pans out, you can be among the first to test it out!
I worked in a restaurant in Tacoma (Primo Grill) that had a wood oven,
and got some experience using that. I really appreciate all of your
imput- it's nice to hear ideas from others.

On Apr 25, 10:43*am, Kenneth
wrote:
On Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:18:02 -0700 (PDT), Merryb

wrote:
Thanks, and no, I didn't ask any other groups. When I get it built,
you are more than welcome to come and test it yourself. Actually, I'd
like to start a business with a wood oven where folks could come in &
do their own baking, and also do pizza parties. Kinda like a
commercial bakery, but along the lines of the dinners to go
idea...classes, too!

Hi Merry,

Have you ever seen the Seinfeld episode in which Kramer
wants to have a "Bake it yourself" pizza business...?

It's worth a look,
--
Kenneth

If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."

I vaguely remember that episode- guess I'll look for it! Thanks!!

Merryb wrote:

Do you really? Still tossin' it around in my head, but I think I can
come up with some kind of plan. I just wonder how many people would be
interested. It's definitely not something I've seen before, but I'd
hate to end up with a business that fails.

Speaking as someone who has started and ran a couple of businesses...
You really should be prepared to fail, the mortality rate among new
businesses is very high - and very near unity when it comes to food
related businesses. There really isn't a 'sure thing'.

Insofar as cooling the area around the oven, I'd go for some form of
forced ventilation myself - as the problem 'round here (I live in
Bremerton) isn't just the cool temperatures but the wind.

I've seen references to natural gas fired ovens, which means no smoke
for the county to get all upset over.

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

http://derekl1963.livejournal.com/

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL

On Apr 29, 9:00*am, (Derek Lyons) wrote:
Merryb wrote:
Do you really? Still tossin' it around in my head, but I think I can
come up with some kind of plan. I just wonder how many people would be
interested. It's definitely not something I've seen before, but I'd
hate to end up with a business that fails.

Speaking as someone who has started and ran a couple of businesses...
You really should be prepared to fail, the mortality rate among new
businesses is very high - and very near unity when it comes to food
related businesses. *There really isn't a 'sure thing'.

Insofar as cooling the area around the oven, I'd go for some form of
forced ventilation myself - as the problem 'round here (I live in
Bremerton) isn't just the cool temperatures but the wind.

I've seen references to natural gas fired ovens, which means no smoke
for the county to get all upset over.

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

http://derekl1963.livejournal.com/

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL

Thank you for your opinion. Yes, I would plan on failing as I know the
percentages would not be swinging in my direction. I guess that's why
I still have my office job!!!