By: Juliette Eckler
OMAHA, Neb. —
According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, more than 1,000 cottage food stands are registered in Douglas County alone. The number of home-based treat stands increased from 64 in 2019.
Despite the growing popularity, some business owners face challenges when advertising their products online. Posting home addresses, displaying business signs on residential properties, and sharing personal information can create privacy concerns and potential violations of HOA rules.
Audelia Orellana, owner of Canvas and Crumbs, said, “I know some people, like on their front doorstep, they’ll like put their business name. I don’t do that either just for the privacy of my kids and the privacy of my home. So anytime anybody knows something, it’s because I have strictly given them that, I have provided that information.”
Nebraska’s cottage food law, LB304, expanded where cottage food producers can sell their products, including directly from their homes. Selling from a residential property makes the question of what information to share particularly relevant.
Max Yu, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, said “My suggestion is to not upload your personal information online,” Yu said. “Try to avoid all that, do not upload your friends and your family’s pictures.”
According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, cottage food producers must print their business name and address on packaging for customers.
