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Sell grilling planks: how to price, market and build repeat buyers

Discover how making, using, and selling grilling planks can add value to your BBQ business, with simple steps and a supportive ecommerce platform.

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Sell Grilling Planks and Boost Your BBQ Sales

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Grilling planks are one of those products that people love once they’ve tried them.

The problem is: loads of shoppers don’t really know what they are, how to use them, or whether they’ll actually make a difference.

If you want to sell grilling planks online, your job is to make them feel simple, safe, and genuinely worth buying – not like a weird BBQ gimmick.

Start with what people want from grilling planks

Most buyers aren’t searching for “planks”.

They’re searching for better flavour, easier grilling, and food that feels a bit special.

Why people buy grilling planks

  • They want smoky flavour without needing serious BBQ skills
  • They’re scared of fish sticking or falling through the grill
  • They want a “wow” dish for guests without stress
  • They’re bored of the same BBQ routine
  • They like the idea of healthier cooking with less flare-up

Your product pages and marketing should lead with these outcomes.

Not just “cedar planks – pack of 2”.

Choose your niche: fish, meat, veg, or gift sets

Grilling planks can suit loads of foods, but customers buy faster when you give them a clear use case.

  • Fish-first: salmon, trout, sea bass, prawns.
  • BBQ meat lovers: chicken, pork, ribs, burgers with plank smoke.
  • Veg and plant-based: halloumi, tofu, aubergine, peppers.
  • Gift buyers: BBQ gifts, Father’s Day, housewarming, summer host gifts.

You can sell across all of these, but pick one main angle so your shop feels focused.

Tip: Treat grilling planks like a “recipe product”. People don’t want wood – they want a guaranteed result. Include a simple recipe card or quick-start guide and your conversion rate will thank you.

Build a product range that’s easy to understand

Grilling planks can look like a commodity.

You can avoid that by building a range that’s structured and clearly labelled.

Choose your wood types carefully

Different woods create different flavours, and this is where you can add value without adding much complexity.

  • Cedar: classic for fish, especially salmon, with a bold aroma.
  • Oak: stronger smoke, good for meats and hearty veg.
  • Maple: slightly sweeter, good for poultry and veg.
  • Alder: milder smoke, often used for fish.
  • Hickory: strong, punchy flavour, popular with BBQ enthusiasts.

If you stock more than one wood, make the differences obvious in simple terms like “mild”, “medium”, “bold”.

People shouldn’t have to guess.

Offer sizes that match real cooking needs

Many sellers list plank dimensions and stop there.

You’ll sell more if you translate size into use.

  • “Fits two salmon fillets”
  • “Perfect for a whole trout”
  • “Great for veggie skewers and halloumi”
  • “Party size for sharing platters”

Still include measurements, but lead with what it’s for.

Create three product tiers

Simple pricing tiers help buyers choose quickly.

  • Starter pack: a small pack of cedar planks with a quick-start guide.
  • Regular griller: multi-pack for repeat use, best value per plank.
  • BBQ gift set: mixed woods, recipe card, maybe a rub or seasoning add-on.

Most sales will come from the middle tier if it feels like the sensible choice.

Bundles and add-ons that make sense

Grilling planks work brilliantly with a few related products.

  • Seafood rub or seasoning blend
  • BBQ gloves
  • Digital thermometer
  • Grill brush
  • BBQ sauce set

Keep add-ons practical and clearly tied to the plank experience.

No random upsells.

Comparison table: grilling plank woods and flavours

Wood typeFlavour strengthBest forHow to describe it simply
CedarBoldSalmon, prawns, veg“Classic smoky aroma, especially good for fish”
AlderMildDelicate fish, chicken“Gentle smoke that won’t overpower lighter flavours”
MapleMediumPoultry, veg, pork“Slightly sweet smoke, very crowd-friendly”
OakMedium to boldSteaks, sausages, hearty veg“Deeper smoke flavour that suits richer foods”
HickoryBoldBBQ meats and strong sauces“Big BBQ flavour – best for confident grillers”

Price grilling planks so you’re not competing on pennies

Planks can become a price war product if you let them.

Your goal is to sell confidence and results.

Use value-based pricing with packs and kits

Instead of only selling “pack of 2”, build pricing around how people actually grill.

  • Trial pack for first-timers
  • Value pack for weekly BBQs
  • Mixed wood pack for “try different flavours”
  • Gift set that feels complete

When you package it like this, you’re not just selling wood – you’re selling an experience.

Factor in shipping and margins properly

Planks are light but bulky.

Packaging matters because shoppers don’t want broken, cracked, or damp planks arriving.

Build your price to cover:

  • Product cost
  • Packaging that keeps planks flat and dry
  • Shipping and handling time
  • Payment fees
  • Profit margin

Then decide if you’ll offer free shipping above a threshold.

Free shipping can work well if it nudges buyers into value packs.

Create product pages that make beginners feel safe

Beginners won’t buy if they think they’ll mess it up.

So your product pages need to remove that fear.

Grilling plank product page checklist

  • Best for: salmon, chicken, veg, mixed grilling
  • Flavour strength: mild, medium, bold
  • How to use: soak time and basic steps in 4 – 6 bullets
  • Grill type: works with gas and charcoal, plus any notes
  • What’s included: number of planks, size, wood type
  • Safety notes: simple reminders without scaremongering
  • Storage guidance: keep dry, store flat
  • Delivery and returns: plain English

Add one short “first plank” recipe and you’ll reduce hesitation massively.

Use photos that show the outcome

Planks alone don’t look exciting.

The food does.

Your images should include:

  • Food on the plank mid-cook on a grill
  • The finished dish plated up
  • Close-up of the plank texture
  • Pack shot showing quantity and size

People buy the result, not the wood.

Tip: Put your “how to use a grilling plank” steps in the first third of the product page. If someone has to scroll to learn how it works, you’ve already lost some of them.

Market grilling planks with recipes, not hype

Recipe content is your easiest win.

It’s shareable, it’s search-friendly, and it makes planks feel simple.

Content ideas that sell grilling planks

  • “How to use cedar planks for salmon on a BBQ”
  • “Grilling planks vs wood chips: what’s the difference?”
  • “Best foods to cook on a grilling plank”
  • “Do you need to soak grilling planks?”
  • “Grilling plank recipes for vegetarians”
  • “BBQ hosting menu using plank-cooked mains”

These are exactly the kinds of searches that bring in buyers who are ready to try.

Use seasonal moments properly

Planks sell best in spring and summer, but you can sell year-round if you pitch them right.

  • Summer BBQ season
  • Father’s Day gifting
  • Camping and outdoor cooking
  • Christmas gifting for grill lovers
  • Indoor grill pan and oven plank recipes in winter

Make it feel like a useful tool, not just a summer novelty.

Build repeat buyers with sensible packs

Grilling planks are a repeat purchase product if customers like the results.

Encourage repeat buying with:

  • Multi-packs that feel like good value
  • Subscribe-and-save style offers if your platform supports it
  • Seasonal recipe emails for people who’ve bought before

It’s easier to sell a second pack than to find a brand new customer.

Set up an online shop without the tech headache

Grilling planks sell best when your shop makes them feel easy and beginner-friendly.

That means clear categories, strong photos, and product pages that explain the basics quickly.

What your shop needs to do well

  • Organise planks by wood type and use case
  • Make pack sizes and value obvious
  • Support bundles and add-ons cleanly
  • Show delivery and returns clearly
  • Work smoothly on mobile

Done-for-you ecommerce setup can get you selling faster

If you’re managing stock, creating recipes, and running marketing, building a shop from scratch can slow everything down.

Make Local for Global offers a done-for-you ecommerce setup that’s simple, affordable, and built for small sellers who want to avoid tech stress.

If you want to plan your product range, bundles, and site structure, you can book a free consultation.

If you’re ready to launch with a proper store without the faff, you can Get your website for £99/year.

FAQ: selling grilling planks online

Are grilling planks worth selling online?

Yes, because they’re an easy upgrade for home BBQs and make beginners feel more confident cooking fish and veg, but you’ll sell more when you include clear instructions and recipe-led marketing rather than treating them like a basic commodity.

What grilling planks sell best?

Cedar planks are often the most popular starting point because they’re closely associated with salmon and classic BBQ flavour, while mixed wood packs can perform well for people who want to experiment with different smoke profiles.

Do customers need to soak grilling planks?

Many do, and buyers feel safer when you give a simple step-by-step guide, because the real barrier isn’t the plank – it’s fear of doing it wrong and wasting dinner.

How do I reduce returns on grilling planks?

Be clear about what’s included, show plank size in photos, explain storage to keep them dry and flat, and include a quick-start recipe so customers feel confident using them as soon as they arrive.

How do I compete with cheap planks?

Compete with better guidance, better kits, and better presentation, because many buyers will pay more for a pack that includes clear instructions and feels like it will actually work rather than a random stack of wood.

A practical 30-day plan to start selling grilling planks

If you want to launch without overthinking, use a simple plan.

Week 1: range and positioning

  • Pick your main angle: fish-first, BBQ meat, veg, or gifting
  • Create three tiers: starter pack, value pack, gift set
  • Decide on 1 – 3 wood types and label flavour strength clearly

Week 2: product pages and assets

  • Photograph food on planks, not just the planks
  • Write product pages using the checklist above
  • Create one quick-start recipe card and include it in every order

Week 3: shipping and packaging

  • Choose packaging that keeps planks flat and dry
  • Set simple shipping rules and a clear delivery promise
  • Decide on a returns approach for damaged or cracked planks

Week 4: marketing rhythm

  • Publish two recipe posts and one “how to use” guide
  • Post short BBQ clips and finished dishes weekly
  • Push the value pack as your default “best value” option

Grilling planks sell best when you make them feel simple and beginner-friendly.

Lead with the food, teach people how to use them in minutes, and sell packs that fit how people actually grill.

Do that, and you’ll build repeat buyers every summer – and plenty outside summer too.

If you want the ecommerce side handled without tech stress, you can book a free consultation or Get your website for £99/year.

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