Back to blog

Operations

Cottage Food Pickup Tips That Save You Time

Batch your pickups, set clear windows, and stop answering the same DM questions over and over.

May 12, 20265 min read

Why pickup logistics matter

For cottage food sellers, pickup is where the magic meets reality. A great product with a messy pickup experience leads to frustrated customers and wasted time.

Batch your pickup windows

Instead of letting customers pick any time, offer two or three pickup windows per week. This lets you prepare everything at once and be ready when people arrive.

Set expectations on the order form

Use your OrderPost order page to show available pickup slots. When customers choose a slot at order time, you eliminate the back-and-forth scheduling.

The pickup checklist

  • Label every order bag with the customer name
  • Sort bags alphabetically or by pickup time
  • Have a designated pickup spot (porch, front table, specific address)
  • Send a reminder message the day before
  • Keep a simple log of who picked up

Handling no-shows

Set a clear policy: orders not picked up within 24 hours of the window are forfeited. Communicate this on your form. Most customers will show up on time when the expectation is clear.