Where Are These People Getting These Prices??
Business By BrandyCakes83 Updated 20 Nov 2014 , 9:38pm by smysha
A[quote name="costumeczar" url="/t/776027/where-are-these-people-getting-these-prices/150#post_7542678"]It's not just clients who are cheap, though. There was a dustup on here recently when a member decided to sell something instead of giving it away. I also get complained to for not handing info over for free. http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com/2014/07/stop-complaining-about-cheap-customers.html[/quote]
That's a great post. I've also seen people here recommending getting a student to design your website cheap or for free. The irony nearly killed me.
It's not just clients who are cheap, though. There was a dustup on here recently when a member decided to sell something instead of giving it away.
On numerous occasions people have emailed me, or sent a Facebook message, or from CC they send a PM. Their request is something like: "I'm not in business so I don't need to buy your book. But I would love to have a few of the recipes. Pretty please!"
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On numerous occasions people have emailed me, or sent a Facebook message, or from CC they send a PM. Their request is something like: "I'm not in business so I don't need to buy your book. But I would love to have a few of the recipes. Pretty please!"
wow...but it doesn't surprise me either, sadly.
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On numerous occasions people have emailed me, or sent a Facebook message, or from CC they send a PM. Their request is something like: "I'm not in business so I don't need to buy your book. But I would love to have a few of the recipes. Pretty please!"
The best part about buying peoples books & tutorials is to have a hard copy in my hot little hands. No matter if the power does out, or if the computer dies, or if the whole technology changes and becomes obsolete. (Beta, Video tape, DVD, Blue Ray, Digital phones etc.) There are books on my shelf that go back to the 1960's in decorating.
It's well worth supporting the creator of the concept, recipe and design technique. Like the people on PBS say.......Support the folks.
AIf you're on this thread and new to baking for business, OR, just want to get your operation together I recommend both of Mimi's Books :). It really helped me to get organized in my operation!
I have read all 3 Mimi`s books and Kara`s book too and visiting Kara`s blog regularly (helpful blog by the way). I would say they a a must read books for someone who even thinks to open home based food business. Of course, there are other books and blogs like that but it is better to listen to someone you know.
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I have read all 3 Mimi`s books and Kara`s book too and visiting Kara`s blog regularly (helpful blog by the way). I would say they a a must read books for someone who even thinks to open home based food business. Of course, there are other books and blogs like that but it is better to listen to someone you know.
Why, thank you! (I'm Kara.) I got one person who read my book write to me to tell me that after reading it she decided that she wasn't ready to open a business, so between myself and @MimiFix we'll give you a sad reality check.
here's another business start up good read
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bryan-elliott/chef-duff-goldmans-7-simp_b_6029868.html
Ha, I know you are Kara! I have visited your website and etsy store many times before I joined CC. And then I found you on CC and was so happy. I have changed a lot of thing because of those books.
I was looking for the like button then realized that there isn't one.
Running a business is hard work. But for me (and maybe @costumeczar, too), I find that writing about running a business is even harder. Thank you ladies, for your kind words.
I'm a home baker (it's legal in my state!), I have a website that I refer ALL clients too. It outline all my pricing up front. Before I even move forward with anyone wanting a cake, I will email a link or hand them my card and tell them to read over my pricing page before we start. I don't go all through what they want yet, pictures of what they want and then them telling me what they will pay for it. If they say they have a price budget, I then tell them what they can get for that. All this before I start on any sketches, etc. I am firm but polite and professional when telling them to check out my prices before we move forward. I just don't have anytime to waste. None of the back and forth emails/texts and in the end they want the cake for cheap. I don't haggle over prices, it took me awhile but I have priced all my recipes and supplies and time. It's very important that all cake decorators do this, even the home bakers! So that there is no room for misunderstandings in what your cakes cost.
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Original message sent by vervainangel
I'm a home baker (it's legal in my state!), I have a website that I refer ALL clients too. It outline all my pricing up front. Before I even move forward with anyone wanting a cake, I will email a link or hand them my card and tell them to read over my pricing page before we start. I don't go all through what they want yet, pictures of what they want and then them telling me what they will pay for it. If they say they have a price budget, I then tell them what they can get for that. All this before I start on any sketches, etc. I am firm but polite and professional when telling them to check out my prices before we move forward. I just don't have anytime to waste. None of the back and forth emails/texts and in the end they want the cake for cheap. I don't haggle over prices, it took me awhile but I have priced all my recipes and supplies and time. It's very important that all cake decorators do this, even the home bakers! So that there is no room for misunderstandings in what your cakes cost.
This is good advice, however you should also give them a cake out of their price range. They may get emotionally attached and pay for it. This is good business/sales tactic.
I know where. From all the low ball places around. I had someone actually yell at me 'why are your prices so high". I told her $3.75 per serving for a wedding cake for 170 people with flowers going down the side. She said a local bakery told her it would $270!!! Then she continued to try to see if I would negotiate the cake lower if she gave me more business down the road! When I told her I don't negotiate my price she hung up on me.
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Then she continued to try to see if I would negotiate the cake lower if she gave me more business down the road! When I told her I don't negotiate my price she hung up on me.
"That sounds like a good deal but let's do it this way. WHEN you send me the business, I will give you a referral credit toward a future purchase!"
(Somehow they always want the discount now IN CASE they send you business later .... instead of the discount later WHEN they actually send you the new business. Things that make ya go "hmmmmmm......!)
On the negotiating part, when I had someone tell me they found a "really great price" elsewhere, I'd just smile and say, "Wow , that is a good price. If price is your major concern, you should grab it." It was always fun for me to see the shock on their face when I didn't fall over on my hands and knees to beg them to take my cake at a lower price rather than see it go to a competitor.
There is a lady in my area who has a 'business' and recently announced that she doesn't make a profit, she does it for the love of making cake. She makes 6 decorated cupcakes with fondant flowers, or plaques etc. in a box for £5.75. This woman has a shop and is still selling cupcakes for less than a pound. There is no hope.
WHAT. Sometimes when things are priced in dollars I just trust on everybody else's outrage but when I get them in pounds I KNOW. I saw a woman on Instagram in my area charging a £1.50 for cupcakes with fondant toppers and I scoffed at that. I scoffed hard. Somebody else posted a quid a cupcake earlier. A QUID. And this is less? You get bars of ****ty chocolate that are more expensive. OH GOD. How does she support her shop? Because if she is making a profit I sense magical genius.
Are you sure? It is illegal to publish recorded material without permission but using it as proof isn't publishing it.
@FioreCakes When I first started (not very long ago) I used market stalls to build up a presence in my area. I worked out how much each cake would cost me to the penny in terms of ingredients. So I KNOW my 8" double layer chocolate cake filled and covered with chocolate buttercream costs me £3.53. That's when I learnt my ingredients cost had no relation to how much I needed to charge! :)
Oh this is the wanting what you can't afford thing that everyone loves these days. It's similar to the 'can't-afford-it-buy-it-on-credit' mentality which has worked so wonderfully well.
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