I've been putting classified ads in the local paper every week, and the phone is ringing some, but I'm not getting as much business as I'd like. I thought I'd do a cupcake variety box of different cake flavors I have on my menu (dulce de leche, almond joy, strawberry cheesecake, etc.) and deliver them along with brochures and business cards to wedding shops in the area. Is this too much work/expense to get referrals? I'm thinking the quality of my product will sell itself, then when brides see my brochures the people who work there and have sampled my cakes can give them a first hand endorsement. What do you all think.

I'm also thinking of doing this for the different catering managers at venues where they hold wedding receptions.

Any input, ideas or thoughts about this plan or what has worked for you would be much appreciated. Oh, also what do you think of leaving a dummy cake to be displayed at bridal shops?

How long have you been licensed? Have you allowed enough time for word of mouth?

Newspaper ads are not always the best bang for your buck. Think of how you read the paper, and how many ads you see, and how many you miss.

If shops allow cake dummies, they can be a good draw, but it must be almost perfect. You can buy perma-ice (expensive) or use spackle, or all royal, or fondant. Buttercream is easily damaged.

You could do mini's and put them in display boxes, then the icing would be somewhat protected.

Word of mouth.

I've had 3 different (small) businesses over the years, and really -- the only TRULY cost-effective form of advertising is word of mouth.

Are you making cakes for practice and offering them up to all your friends and acquaintances to come by and taste-and-see? (That's way different from baking cakes for friends and acquaintances and GIVING them to them for free.)

Do your relatives and friends and community contacts know you're doing this for a business? Have they seen and tasted your cakes, so they can recommend you to their friends?

What about any organizations you belong to? Do you have little kids? Playgroups or something? Connections to other moms?

In my experience, word of mouth is the ONLY cost-effective way to advertise. But it takes a long time to build up a business that way.

Hang in there and keep plugging away. Word of mouth will carry you far, eventually.

You might even offer a discount to those who refer business to you.... you know, ask how your client who told them about you and offer that person a 5 or 10 dollar discount on their next cake. That way you can also get repeat business.

Word to mouth is the best thing!!! Try with all the organisation you might be in. I'm using the services of a "for the families" organisation (daycare, meetings for moms and so on) and at pot-lucks I always bring a cake and business cards. Everyone takes one. And even the organisation calls me for their cakes now. I did the graduation cakes for their pre-K with edible photos of the kids. Guess what :I got new customers.
This saturday I'm doing the cakes for Indian day, and I'm bringing little pamphlets with me to distribute. I'll be there to talk to people so that'll be nice!

I wish you good luck and hope you'll get lots of business!!

Like everyone has said, word of mouth really is the best advertising...and getting to know the people who make referrals for celebration cakes (florists, photographers, bridal shop owners, bridal consultants, party supply stores). Also, take advantage of your local Chamber of Commerce (join if you can!). I did newpaper advertising my first year and it gave me no return for my dollar.
I did better after I did a Bridal Show, chatted with local vendors, and started hand my cards out to everyone. Be bold! The worst thing anyone can say to you is "thank you" and they may throw out the card later...but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than newspaper ads. Good luck with your business! And do some business reading and research as well...we all talk here about decorating know-how, but very little about business know-how.

Back in the day when I was a math tutor my phone number was 291-MATH and I had business cards made ( www.vistaprint.com ) and would give them to EVERYONE! I had more business than I could handle. People probably like cake better than math so that same system should work for cake decorating. I would get a memorable phone number, make a website to showcase your cakes and make business cards (or even better, refrig magnet business cards, also availalble from www.vistaprint.com ) and give them out to all your friends so that the word of mouth gets around.

Back in the day when I was a math tutor my phone number was 291-MATH and I had business cards made ( www.vistaprint.com ) and would give them to EVERYONE! I had more business than I could handle. People probably like cake better than math so that same system should work for cake decorating. I would get a memorable phone number, make a website to showcase your cakes and make business cards (or even better, refrig magnet business cards, also availalble from www.vistaprint.com ) and give them out to all your friends so that the word of mouth gets around.

have you advertised on www.craigslist.com ? I rodered a cake from someone on there before I started baking my own. She had a link to her website and her prices were reasonable. I figured I'd try her once and actually used her for quite a few parties. I plan to advertise on there when I'm ready. HTH

Florists....caterers....fund-raising events/charities...web site....craigslist.com...
I don't have a business, but I always thought that my daughter's college sorority would be a good bet; those girls know A TON of girls who are always getting married. Maybe you can donate a small cake for one of their "rush" meetings and take it from there.

I'm not really a "business" but my mom works for the largest company in my town, so I just send my practice cakes with her. I just started doing this last week and already sold a couple of big cakes. Also, one of my aunts is a teacher and she said there is a decorator in her town (she doesn't live in my town) that brings cakes to the faculty lounge and she said almost all the teachers use her exclusively. When I give my cakes away, I try to give them to large groups, not a single person, more exposure.

Where I live, there is a company called "Warm Welcomes". They visit any new person/family in town and also visit you whenever you have a baby. I advertise with them (would't work well for wedding cakes-but does for everything else). I've gotten a lot of buisness this way. I figure if you're new, you don't have a cake lady yet, and if you have a new baby you're going to be needing a lot more cakes! My town has two huge companies that are always transferring people in and out of town so between new people and new babies, my cards go to almost 50 households a month.

Word of Mouth! I donated a very special cake to a primary school retirement (3 teachers) and have gotten at least 10 orders and a wedding from it. Those people keep telling other people and the calls keep coming!

Choose your donations wisely to get the most out of your effort. I put my name on the cake: "Donated by_____" and my website. I left lots of cards.

Not from experience, but this is what I will try when I am licensed:

Advertising in local area of www.theknot.com

Call wedding planners and let them know of my services.

Put an ad in Local Wedding publications.

Not sure how much the ads are, I heard $600 for 3 mos. But it's VERY targeted.

AND.......Word of mouth

That is for a Wedding Cake focused business plan. Also, sometimes I tell myself slow down for now, improve my skills, perfect recipes, When #3 kid is in school all day, then I can solicit a lot of business and Burst onto the scene!

Also..try local wedding shows or even organize your own! These are great if you are targeting weddings.