A new website is helping Austinites find small and home-based bakeries around town. Small Batch provides a neat, browsable online marketplace for independent bakers and cottage food businesses.
In its first eight weeks, the site has surpassed 100 Texas sellers and 220 products, Small Batch founder Wesley Elliott said in an email to CultureMap. Sellers can be based in private residences, commercial kitchens, or their own bakeries.
Small Batch organizes an industry that is inherently decentralized. Texans don't actually need a storefront to sell edible goods, and they don't necessarily need an affiliation with something like a farmers market, either. Texas has cottage food production rules, but much of the system is hands-off.
Elliott says there's a "growing concentration" of sellers signing up in Austin. In addition to the area's strong farmers market culture, DIY ethos, and foodie reputation, there's also local government support for cottage food businesses. In March, Austin's city council approved a resolution encouraging more front yard businesses by allowing them to be visible from the street. But that only goes so far for people craving cookies miles away. Small Batch helps increase visibility to anyone shopping online.
There are two main types of browsing on Small Batch. Shoppers can look at and purchase individual goods, or they can check out nearby markets in a directory that lists participating vendors and logistical information.
When browsing local goods, users can filter by product category (including bread, baked goods, jams, sauces, spices, and more) or type in a search query. Popular searches in Austin, according to the website, are homemade food and sourdough. Before clicking on a product, a user can see its price, location, the business name, and information on availability including pickup dates and how many are left.
After clicking a product, users can also complete their purchase through the site. Each cart is limited to one seller, so users will have to lock in their pickup or delivery preferences (when available) and payment before moving on to another seller.
Seller accounts are free, with no monthly or listing fees. The first 100 sellers who qualify in a region will get an early adopter perk that waives marketplace commission. Small Batch charges a standard payment processing fee (which it lists as about 2.9 percent and 30 cents per transaction), and buyers pay their own service fees separately.
Elliott also explains that although there isn't a universal list for cottage food producers in Texas, Small Batch has its own compliance setup that requires seller to confirm that they meet the requirements they're legally subject to.
In addition to Austin, Small Batch has sellers in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and smaller cities and suburbs.
