We have been considering adding the selling of cake decorating products, not only to help subliment our income, but there doesn't seem to be a decent store in our area that sells the higher end products or "Non-Wilton" products. I would also like to offer Hi ratio shortening and items like that.

My question to you guys is if you had a store near you for decorating needs, what products would you like to see? What do you wish you could run and get instead of having to go online?

Thanks for your feedback!

Boxes and boards is a definite must!!! If you can get them wholesale and sell them, you could make a good investment return. It seems as if no one around here sells them or at least they sell them for your right arm. Also, I've been going nuts trying to get a set of Lily flower nails. No one carries those. An if they do, they are out. It seems as if the #9 and #7 nails are the only things I can find and I don't need anymore of those. Luster dust would be a good one to! You need the pearl one to make edible pearls. I'll try to think of some more, but I have to run out the door. Those are my must have items! I'm curious to know what other people think on this one!!

The Americolors or any other coloring products beside Wilton. I know that there are several brands out there. Packaging material, cake boards and containers, cupcake items. . . anything that maybe hard to find locally. Will be shipping products to customers locally? I'll send more ideas as I think of them.
Good luck! Missed you last Sunday for the NC ICES Days of Sharing!
Leslie

Blocks of white and dark chocolate for making curls, non-wedding cake knifes, all colors, oil-based colors, too. All tips (Michael's only stocks the basics), I'll keep thinking!

Blocks of white and dark chocolate for making curls, non-wedding cake knifes, all colors, oil-based colors, too. All tips (Michael's only stocks the basics), I'll keep thinking!

Definitely impression mats!!

Not only cake boxes, but cupcake containers - 6 pack and 12 pack; Luster dusts; rice paper, how-to books on decorating with BC, fondant, gumpaste, etc.; molds; impression mats

boxes, boards in all shapes & sizes; coloring in EVERY color!!!! and cake decorating books

Good Luck with your selling!

Large selection of tips; Americolor products; luster, pearl, and petal dusts; yep, hi-ratio shortening and good quality fondant; GOOD pans; large assortment of candy molds; specialty fondant molds (lace molds, pearl molds)

I'm sure there are more I could think of but these are the first that come to mind that I can't get around here!

Good tasting fondant (not Wilton!), such as Satin Ice or others.

I would really like to see American Cake Decorating Magazine for sale on a shelf somewhere.

Also boxes, boards, pans, colors. Non-Wilton products. Sugar pulling and blowing tools. Gumpaste cutters and tools.

Non-wilton fondant.

Let's see: Scallop Cake pan set; Lace Molds, Textured rolling pins; lustre Dust; hard to find Fondant Cutters; Patchwork Cutters; Comma Shape Cake pan set; illustrated Cake Decorating Books.

Mostly repeats, but my choices are:


cake boards
boxes
disposable bags-Ateco, not wilton
Americolor
dusts
impression mats
cookie cutters-a good variety
molds-again variety

This is exactly why we make a trip once a month to a local supply store in Sugarland, right outside of Houston. The Cake Craft Shoppe. She carries tons of fondant/gumpaste cutters, patchwork cutters, crimpers, textured rolling pins, impression mats, etc. that you can't find anywhere but online. (She does have a website too.) There is another store not too far from her that carries plateaus and tons and tons of candy molds. Those are the kinds of things that we will make a special trip for because Michael's, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's or Walmart does not carry them.

Good luck with your new endeavor - let us know what you decide!


Marilyn

Will someone tell me what the difference is between a regular cutter and a patchwork cutter?



I'll probably need to add that to my list.

Oooo!!!! What they all said!!! Anything non-Wilton!!!! The nearest real cake decorating store to me is at least 2 hrs away. And I have to travel 1 1/4 hrs just to get Wilton at Michaels. :'(

I vote for Americolors, good fondant/gumpaste, gumpaste tools/cutters, luster/pearl dusts (just for starters )

I would also say the ingredients in larger quantities. Sugar, mer. powder for royal icing, and LOTS of bags and couplers. I always run out of bags. Good luck with your store. We are 55 mins from a small cake supply store and the prices are very high, then more than an hour from Michaels/Ac Moore. Good Luck!!!

Geez there's a special ready made gumpaste that Collette Peters recommends to mix with CK's or Wiltons that im dying to try but havent because i only have stores that sell Wilton stuff. GRRR.

It seems that Wilton would improve on their colors and fondants. I have been on CC for a while and I see that almost everyone feels the same about Wilton products. They do have good products but obviously need improving on some.

Good luck if you put in a store. Wish it was close to me.

Diane

Check out Teresa Crawford's website, www.crawfordscreations.com. She sells cake supplies too. She could probably give you good advice on who and what you should stock or not stock, etc. She is an active ICES member and has her own business in High Point.
OT, B. Keith Ryder was one of the demos and his whimsy cake was really good (we actually had it for our dessert after lunch)! Don't know what kind of fondant he used (he said that he makes it) but it was good!! All of the demos were good! You were missed! I hope your business is doing well!
Leslie

Oh that does sound cool! I am looking forward to the one in July...I hope I can make it! (its been very busy!!)

Thanks for the link..I sure wish I could take her class on transporting wedding cakes without stress! I get more nervous about transporting the cakes then making them!

And speaking of which, am off to set up a wedding cake in about an hour....I sure hope it doesn't rain till I get there!!!

Back on subject: I don't think Wilton will every improve the taste of their products because the would have to charge more. And part of the popularity of Wilton products is that they are cheap. So I guess you get what you paid for! hahaha!

My DH is brillant at finding resources. He is trying to find me a good distrubitor on High Ratio Shortening. Ever since I discovered that stuff, I hate going back to crisco, but its just too expensive to use on anything but wedding cakes. If he finds anything, I will keep everyone posted!!!

I would like to see "frosting sheets" and edible inks at our local stores. It's such a pain to have wait out the shipping time to get them.

Also, Dragees and good quality fondant. (Satin Ice or Pettinice)

Anything heavy-
-fondant
-boxes (especially corrogated full sheet boxes)
-boards
-shortening

ribbon that doesn't absorb grease
drums

How about renting stuff the local rental places don't carry?
-wedding cake stands & plateaus
-large or odd pans
-fountains
-chocolate fountains
-trays & platters
-books
-videos

Everyone's suggestions have been great so far! Here is my list, even though some are duplicates, they are definitely ones I wish were close to me and I didnt' have to order

-Magic Line cake pans (after trying these I don't care for the wilton)
-Americolor (any of their products gels, airbrush, writers, chocolate coloring)
-frosting sheets
-ricepaper
-LorAnn oils
-Vanilla Beans (no one carries these that don't cost over $7.00 for a dried out bean, I can order online for a lot cheaper but it takes time)
-Bulk quantities of flour/sugar (i prefer dominoes, but it is hard to find here)
-Cake boards of all sizes/shapes
-Cake boxes (i can't find reasonable priced ones at all)
-Kee-seal disposable bags (I LOVE these and i have to order them from them directly)
-Luster/petal dust
-Books/videos
-Any fondant supplies/tools (mats, rollers, etc...)
-Pastry fillings (not even a lot, just some of the basics)

Well that is a few of the things I would like to see around me. I really enjoy being able to go into a place and hold the item and see if it is really what i want or how it will work. As you can tell though it seems i live out in the boondocks i just have to be content ordering online for now =)

Hope your additions are a success.

Leily

loriesmom, I just went live 4 weeks ago with my baking supply online shop. It's a lot of fun shopping for products for your customers. The difficult part is not buying one of everything for yourself. It's a lot of work but very rewarding. I was praying for just two orders in our first month but I'm shocked at the amount of orders we've received so far. I eventually want a store front but that will have to wait until next year. Some advice for you is to have all your ducks in line before you contact distributors. Some want to see a picture of your store front before you're approved. Some people wanted to see my website before I was approved to sell their products. But so far, I've met some really nice and helpful people. Goodluck to you! Let us know what you choose for your business name.