I am avidly following the threads about what products you would like to buy and what you would like to learn in a class, as I am working on a business plan to open a cake decorating supply store in San Jose, CA or one of the surrounding towns. One concept I have been thinking about is whether people would pay more for a class in which everything was provided.

If I had a cake or cake dummy, icing, colors, and all the equipment needed to learn the techniques, would you pay for the convenience of not needing to initially bake or buy anything? Then, would you buy the things you liked afterwards, especially if you got some sort of discount coupon?

Thanks for your opinions.......

Shalom,
itsacake!

Fantastic idea!!

For me, it would depend on the cost of the class. If it made sense to "borrow" the equipment, and the additional charge was reasonable, I would pay it. But the extra cost would have to be less than the cost of buying the stuff myself.

absolutly, that way if they didn't like decorating they are not stuck with material they dont use or want. What a great idea

Good idea! Or let them provide the dummies, you bring the icings, tips, etc.

OMG I love it! It's like a little pastry school! I also have an idea to someday teach a course on cutting corners when decorating and using anything and everything at home to save money in this wonderful hobby/profession.

That's how all of the courses are run over here. Everything is always provided and included in the cost of the class. Afterward you can buy whichever supplies you think are best for your own situation. A purchase is not required, though, so if you don't want to buy anything you don't have to.

I think this is a really good concept to use in the US, too, but you need to be careful about pricing. Here, they can charge an arm and a leg for the (all-inclusive) courses because the market is so tight (due to all fo the regulations) and the supplies are very expensive. If the students needed to buy the supplies need for the courses, it would be too cost-prohibitive and no one would take the courses. But, in the US the supplies are so cheap (relatively speaking) and there is so much more competition that I think it would be difficult to add more than a maximum of 25% price premium for providing the materials.

JMO

I am currently scoping out areas to do the same thing, I want a store front and I also want to give classes, I would really like to teach kids. One Day My Dream will come true. I would still bake cakes and cookies on the side to satisfied my creative need.

A cake decorating store in San Jose???? When? Where? I'll be down there in a week and I sure wish I could go to one.

Where I go up here in WA, the classes are in between $30 and $35 and the supplies are included. Let's say I want to learn gum paste flowers. The teacher provides enough gum paste to make the kind of flower we are going to be learning how to make and sometimes there is a little extra. You can bring your own tools but, if not, the teacher brings some with her for us to use. After the class you can buy the tools if you don't already have them from the store. We also get a brush for dipping in the water or sugar glue and a small container of crisco (the size of the container where they put ketchup when you get a burger to go or something like that, a tiny container, but it's enough for just putting some crisco on your hands while kneeding the gum paste). Some teachers even give you a little box to take your creation home. They also provide a set of instructions. It was the same for a teacher who taught how to make buttercream figure piping. She brought in her own buttercream for us to use and we got to take home the cake board where we put our little figurines. I think the thought behind it is that the people taking the class will end up spending $$$ in the stores after learning how to make something. I know I do.

Hope this helps.

Inma

Ps: Really excited about it. I can't wait to go when you open the next time I'm down there.

I think that is a great idea. I began taking the Wilton Course I three weeks ago and decided not to go next week because of the time it took to prepare my materials for class. Normally it wouldn't be such a task, but because I have my first cupcake "order" (it's for a family member, so no profit) for this weekend, a 2 yr old step-son, and a full time job, I just didn't see how spending over an hr getting my supplies ready for a course that I find remedial was worth it. I needed to get at least a few hours of sleep. I understand that it is also a lesson in time management by getting materials for class, but it is just not motivating to spend so much time getting supplies together for projects that don't excite me and decorating in a style on a practice cake that I don't even want to sit in the breakroom at work. I found that I have learned a lot from this site and lots of practice and don't feel that I need to take on the time consuming task of preparing for a wilton course. If I was taking a course where the supplies were already there, I would continue and take many more courses.

This is a super-duper idea. Classes seem to vary so much in price. I have taught in my home and will probably start doing it again. We don't do elaborate decorating . This is strictly baking desserts and pastries. For 3 hours the charge is $65. But in reality the class is finished when the students are finished. It could take longer. I can only take 2 to 3 students at a time. Evertything is provided for here. As far as Wilton classes, I gave up after the first cource. I learn more here and Baking911, books, DVDs, videos.