The Advent of Thanksgiving and Christmas Sales

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By Sister Cecelia

Sister Patricia prepares the baking pan.
Preparation for the fall involves not only cleaning up the gardens for winter, but our readiness for having enough of our products to be sold through our online store,  in our gift shops, and to the many fundraisers who use our food products.  We always question how many fundraisers we can handle and still have enough cheesecakes and other products for our regular and seasonal shoppers for Thanksgiving and Christmas. How much to make ahead of time is always a guessing game. Our plan is to make as much product as we sold the year before, allowing a few extra days so we can make whatever we are short of.


Sister Patricia - a day of baking your favorite holiday flavors.
Pumpkin, Eggnog, and Apple Walnut
Our preparations during the summer included lining up those who have already used our products for their fundraising, and contacting others who would benefit as well. This year, a round 6-inch-diameter 2-pound cheesecake is replacing the half cheesecake. A special offer of four flavors of cheese spreads is again available. One year during the past 20 years we had over 25 different churches, day cares, schools, sports organizations, and others use our cheesecakes and fruitcakes for their fundraising efforts.   Many tell us how delighted they are to be able to buy our products, as they know how good they are. We are pleased that several new groups have signed up for the fundraisers this year.
 
This past spring the New York Times food section published, in the paper and on line, an article and a video of a little peek into our life. Many orders for the Easter holidays came as a result.  Our hope is that the same people will want to use our products for end-of-the-year holiday feasting for themselves and for their friends and employees.

Linda stacking boxes.
Many laws have been created to protect customers from having their financial information stolen. As a result, we have to update our shopping cart to comply with these requirements. While our holiday season would be much more manageable if we could make these changes at any other time than in the fall, we are incorporating them now.

More contacts and business matters are now handled through the internet, but many of our customers still do not use a computer. Many who do use it still have questions that need to be answered by phone. Difficulties with the shipping method frequently require either an email, a phone call, or both. We must always be prepared to answer phone calls, attend to customers ringing the doorbell, and restock the inventory and supplies as we maintain the quality of our offerings from New Skete Kitchens.


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