I've been making cakes for my office for about a year now for free, trying to drum up some business. I've been bringing practice cakes and cakes for baby and bridal showers (volunteered to make the cake). Well apparently this method is not going anywhere and i've been wasting my time! There's a bridal shower coming up this week on Thursday and I decided to see if the throwers of the shower would ask me to make the cake, instead of me volunteering. Well it has been completely silent. No one has said anything to me. So I guess i've been snubbed. They are probably going to get some piece of frozen overly sweet ugly flower confectionary mess from the local grocery store. ARG!!! I can't believe i've wasted time on these people! Sorry for my rant....

I should say too that I don't really talk to the throwers of the shower, one being a girl who I don't know if she likes me and the other the bride's boss. So that very well may have been a factor in it. But then i also find myself 2nd guessing my abilities. I wonder if people don't think my cakes look or taste good?

I just wanted so much to be asked to make this cake. I feel so snubbed!

Perhaps they just assume you're going to make it? You said you've been making cakes for baby and bridal showers. Will be interested to see what happens Thursday, if there's a cake there......... or, kinda worse yet, see if they ask you tomorrow........

They were probably just waiting for you to volunteer again.

Hang in there.....I've always done cakes for nothing and decided after doing 3 large decorated sheet cakes for my church that the next ones would be at the very least for cost. On the day I brought the 3 large sheet cakes to feed 200 + ( last minute change of plans from 125 people to 200), I was asked if I would consider doing trifle for 200 + people for a church gathering (this is a fund raiser that people are paying big bucks for ). At this point, I decided, ok....I'll do it, but there'll be a cost associated. AFter factoring my costs I tacked on an extra $50.00 for my troubles ( I work full time and this would have meant late nights getting this stuff done , delivery etc... ) I spared no expense and was going to make some delectable toffee apple and choc. cherry triffles. When I called to advise of the cost, there was a stunned silence on the other end. I said, "these deserts or cakes are not cheap. Let me know".... I never heard from them. Thought....ok... no harm done, I'm busy, and I refuse to do this for nothing anymore. WElll......the do is this Friday and guess who called on Sat (last sat) wondering what I would charge for sheet cakes to feed 200 people. I didn't hesitate and said "Sorry....I'm busy". Drives me crazy....people think cakes etc... should cost nothing and my days of doing this for nothing are done....(except for my niece's wedding on July 8th that I committed to a long time ago.....but that's different....that's part in parcel of my gift to the couple).....Sorry....long rant, but your post hit a nerve with me. Dnt' give in.....if they want cheap wally world cake, so be it....you can't put a price on home baked quality!

I suggest saying it out loud to them, make them an offer. Sometimes people don't ask because they feel they would be imposing. Perhaps they think you are quite busy already. Ask them straight out if they would like for you to do the shower cake, at a discount. Make sure they know you will charge them.

Good luck!

I doubt seriously that they are assuming you will make it. Anyone throwing a shower would be double checking to see if you're making it. This sounds to me like an other fine example of the fact that the more you do for people, the less you are appreciated.

My advice is to say nothing and then snicker to yourself when they have that piece of frozen overly sweet ugly flower confectionary mess from the local grocery store. Of course, if they have one from another baker that does good work also, you won't be snickering!

I looked at your photos and your cakes are great. Don't beat yourself up over this. And definitely don't waste your time taking free cakes to the office again. Let your true friends spread your talents by word of mouth.

Hold your head high and don't let them know they have gotten to you.

diane

I looked at your pics and your cakes look great. When people get things for free they usaully don't value it. If that makes sense. Don't let those people get to you. They are the ones missing out. Concentrate your efforts else where. Cheer up.

if I were you, since you don't seem to mind making them cakes for free in the past, I would make a very, very pretty one.. One that would stand out, one that would make the "other" cake look like trash..
Don't make a big one, maybe a 10" or 12" but one that would get everyones attention, and would make everyone ignore the ugly cake, but a cake that would "aawwww" everybody and make their jaws drop while looking at your cake.

But make it like a surprise and personally hand it to the bride to be, just telling her that this is a gift from you to her, while ignoring those
Party Coordinator wanna-be's ....

That's I would do if I were you.

They're probably waiting for you to volunteer again. Don't do that. I know you want to practice, but everything costs money. They've probably been planning for the shower for a while and they should've talked to you about it by now. Are you invited to the shower?
Emi

Something similar happened to me this week. I offer a discount for a relative's monthly office b-days (a 1/2 sheet for $30 rather than $50). No problem. But then the office manager wanted a shower cake at the same rate and I said I only felt comfortable giving the discounted rate once a month. I offered a different style cake for $40 but they decided to go to the grocery store. I guess its all about the $$ a lot of the time.

Your cakes are great. I'd feel snubbed too but maybe they were being cheap-os and waiting for you to offer a freebie. Now its too late. I'm with the others who say, stand your ground---don't let them realize it bothered you, and smile to yourself as they pick at the cake they've chosen. :O)

It's their loss. Hold your head up and know that eventually they will realize how much better your cakes are than a storebought thing. And if they don't, then you don't want to waste your time and $$ on them anyway. I wouldn't take it personally, most people just don't realize how personal a cake is to the person who made it.

It isn't fair to expect everyone to order your cakes just because you work there. I have experienced this myself but I try to let it roll off my shoulders. I just make darn sure they know I didn't make it if it came from somewhere else.

Could be they aren't going to have a cake or someone is going to make plain cupcakes from home. They may want to save the money for the bride gift instead.

Don't get your feelings hurt or sneak in a "better" cake. Others appreciate your talent and will order from you in the future. Hang in there and keep a smile plastered on your face at the party.

Yes, I think like most here that they are waiting for you to volunteer again.

Most peoople don't really know... They think it is "easy" for anyone to whip up a cake and "viola" you have one.

We are waaaaay under-rated! While some people don't give it much imporance, others do but don't want to pay the price for a quality cake.

I have a friend of mine that decided not to order from me and the cake they got she said that tasted old and not very appealing.

To another one it pretty much happened the same. Dissapointing..

I agree that you shouldn't do the cake. Lets see what happens.

dont second guess yourself, some people just like to do their own thing. I have had the experiance where i work. I decided to go to the babyshower and had some of the crappy cake there but while everyone was there another coworker told the one who put the babyshower together (very louldy) that the cake was horrible and that i should have done it. i was glad for that. I also havent taken in a cake since, now they are all wanting me to bring a sweet treat in. Give it time and things will be in your park again and by all means do not second guess yourself. another thing that i realized is that i work with people who do not have lots of expendable cash for sweet treats so i know i will not get lots of business from them, i think of them as my testers and make smaller things when i do something for work.

I agree, I think they are waiting for you to volunteer. I think what happens is when you keep giving cakes for free people tend to expect that. I know it's hard not to take it personally but try not to.

Don't give in. Where I was working they all knew I do cake decorating; they'd all had plenty (for free!). I had always donated a cake of choice to our Christmas silent auction and for our Relay for Life silent auction. One girl would always outbid everyone else but she always managed to get the cake for less than what I would have charged. Now this year I'm not working there and her daughter's birthday is next month....bet she won't call me. I've given up on co-workers; as was said before, they expect it and think it can just happen at a finger snap. I also had a "friend" call me the other day and want to know about some cupcakes for a baby shower. When I told her how much she balked and said that was "a little steep." This woman could afford to buy the whole store but she doesn't want to pay $2 a cupcake for 60 cupcakes. Whatever! Some people just don't get it. Keep us updated on how things go at the shower and keep your chin up!!
Ellen

I agree. People think it is so easy for us to whip up a cake. It takes a lot of thought, work, and long hours. Also, the ingredients list adds up quick. Why give a cake for someone you don't really care for when it's actually going to cost YOU money.

p.s. I looked at your cakes. They look great!

don't question your abilities. The same thing happens to me at work. The people reap the benefits of my practice etc. and the free great tasting cake, but when it comes to a birthday or special occassion you can bet your booty they go to the grocery store to buy that pure sugar icing etc. I decided a long time ago not to take it personally. The folks get to eat good cake and I get to use them a testers for me to practice and develop better skills.

Sometimes you just gotta remember that your cake is for a certain market. The people who continually go to Wal-Mart for a cake usually don't want an expensive, well-done cake. Ours is a specialty market. I am not afraid to tell someone who says "$40? I can get it for $15 at Wal-Mart", "Well, then you should probably go to Wal-Mart and get it." I try not to do it in a rude way, but if they are expecting grocery store prices, they need to go to the grocery store.

Perhaps they have been eating your cakes for some time now, and they haven't had a grocery store cake lately, they'll taste it and realize the difference. Gocery store bought cakes aren't half as good. I didn't realize this until I went to a birthday party with a store bought cake. HUGE difference in taste to me! Not everyone gets it. If they did, we here at CC would all be rich, and busy!
BTW, I looked at your cakes, and I love You-Know-Who! I am a huge HP fan, along with my 6 year old.
Keep up the great work! Your cakes are really good, and very creative.

This so hit's a nerve with me tonight!! Just today at work I was asked by one of my coworkes if I would make her wedding cake. I was thrilled, but at the same time a little nervous since it would be my first "paying" wedding cake. Anyway, I course said " I would love to, what do you have in mind, how many people, etc. etc." She says " Well, I want this cake.", shows me a VERY complicated cake that was HUGE and then tacks on " it needs to feed 450, and I told my fiance you would probably do it for $150 - $200." I then did this followed by !!! I said "You're kidding, right? There's no way i could do it for that much." So she replies "Why not, it's not like you're a professional pastry chef or something." I then walked away because I don't believe in violence in the work place.....


I could not BELIEVE the nerve!! Sure, I'm new to all this, but DAYAM, how insulting!!

I, too, did LOTS of free cakes and then got snubbed when I didn't offer, only to find some crappy wally world cake at the party. GRRR!!
sorry to ramble - just irritated me!!

This has been so good to read all this. I have just gotten into this whole new world of cake in the last few weeks and this really makes me rethink the idea of taking cakes to my place of employment. I teach school and since I have time off in the summer I have practicing and reading all the great advice on CC. My thought was "How great it would be to take cakes to school this next school year. I could get so much feedback and what a great way to get your name out there." Maybe not. I can see how people would take advantage. I agree with you guys 100% - grocery store cakes are not near as good as homemade cakes. After just doing a couple here lately, I see how much time and thought and work goes into it. I say hold your ground and please be sure you come and post what happened at the party. I am dying to know!

Everemton, I know that you were very upset about your coworker asking you to bake that cake for that amount of money. ROTFLMAO Please excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor. I'm not laughing at you---I'm laughing at the fact that anyone could be that TOTALLY IGNORANT. What in the world kept you from slapping her into next week?

I don't sell many cakes as I am not always physically able to decorate them. I do make them for my Red Hat Ladies and for my Lions Club functions when needed. I never charge for them but that is my choice and I do it because I feel like I am contributing my part. Everyone raves about how good they are (I always use cake mixes--LOL) and tells me how pretty they are. If one of them asked me to make a wedding cake for that amount of money, I'm afraid I would forget that I'm suppose to be a lady.

I'm afraid my freebies would cease immediately.

Diane

i am dying to know how the shower turned out.
keep us posted!
melody

Update: ok, the cake was good. The girl wanted to order the same type of cake she had for her wedding for her friends shower. So she ordered from the Italian Bakery. This place makes very yummy baked goods, so i guess i shouldnt' feel snubbed. I can understand why she would want that cake. It was very yummy (chocolate kalua cake with vanilla custard and nondairy whipped icing). It was a standard looking cake though. 12x18 sheet, with pastel bc roses and writing. So the goods are all in the flavor, not in the presentation.

I think that I will have to make it known that I am a business. I can't just make cakes for fun all the time for these people. So I'll have to make up some brochures and business cards. I'll send my pratice cakes to dh's work from now on.

Everemton - That will be a sight to see!!!! LMAO!!