What & how do you market you cakes when a Bride calls in. Tasting books etc thanks for thew advice

Most of my inquiries come in via email (from The KNot and from Respond.com). I send a pre-formatted email with some info to them. In the email, I invite them to call and make an appointment for their free sampling. At the sampling, I have a one layer 6" square cake, punch, and my mints. If they are buffet shopping, I also have various foods for them to taste. They can go thru my books.....one book is photos of cakes I've done and one book is photos of cakes I've printed from the internet, from Wilton books, etc., to give them ideas of other designs. Once I get them in for a sampling, I have a 98% booking rate. I sample at least 3 brides a week.

indydebi-

What does it cost you to advertise with The Knot? I am looking for good ways to get me name out there for wedding cakes.

Another question, do you book the bride the day of the tasting or do they usually call you back to let you know they want to work with you?

The Knot costs me $85 a month and has paid for itself for the next few years. I get more responses from Respond.com than I do the knot but it's still worth the money.

Last November, I contacted them because I noticed my Knot traffic had slowed down. In checking the site, my ad was gone!! When I contacted them, they found it had been moved to the "Caterers" category. I told them to move it back to "Wedding Cakes". My theory being that not everyone is looking for a caterer but ALL brides are looking for a wedding cake! Once they moved the ad back (it was a computer glitch when renewal was processed), my Knot traffic was back to normal. (I keep track of my inquiries on a spreadsheet and I make a note of where the inquiry came from ... the Knot, Respond, referral from one of my brides or a vendor.)

I actually prefer that brides DON'T book with me the day of the tasting. I've created a number of order forms (one for cakes, one for buffets, one for the chocolate fountains, one for appetizer tables, etc.) and what I like to do is email them the proposal, based on our conversations of what they indicated they wanted.

I like for them to take at least a couple of days to look everything over and I encourage them to comparison shop! I want them to discuss it between themselves and (when applicable) their parents and they should have a chance to do that when I'm not sitting right there. When they book with me, I want to be sure that THEY are sure .... it avoids cancellation conversations down the road. I've only had 3 cancellations in 2 years ..... 2 were because the wedding got postponed (and I didnt' ask why). The third one had an offer from a family friend to do the food for them and no one can turn down a deal like that!

If they decide to go with us, they email me their acceptance (she has it in writing that she told me to be there and I have it in writing that the order is confirmed). They send a deposit check or I take credit card info over the phone.

Although I did have a bride pay me in full this week for her wedding in May '07..... my annual price increase is coming up in Sept and they wanted to lock in the current pricing.

indydebi-
It sounds like things are going really good for you and your business. Congratulations and I wish you continued success!

TPDC....thanks so much! We have been very blessed and I never take it for granted. Like a lot of folks in here, I am fortunate enough to be able to do something I really really enjoy! Lots of people spend their whole lives searching for whatever it might be for them and never find it. I may be almost 50 years old before I was finally able to get a "real" store, but as the song by Journey says: "Don't stop.....believing!"

That is a wonderful motto! I always say, "With determination, anything is possible!" I am hopefully on my way to that possible mark. I have been legal for 8 months and have had one customer 4 times. She must love my cakes. I to have been blessed and hope one day to have a store front also. Oh, the dreams you can achieve when you only try!!!

indydebi,
You do awe inspiring wedding cakes. It's good to recognize blessings for what they are. We appreciate them all the more and tend to use them to bless others. Love your work!

Indydebi~ Congrats on your store! I'm curious where you've been conducting your business before now. I'd love to get more leads through the Knot or respond.com, but I'm scared to get caught doing this out of my home.


Edited to add: Does either The Knot or respond.com require any kind of business info (like license # or tax ID #) to get a listing started?

CakesonCall: Neither the knot nor respond requested any such info. I just contacted them and set up the ads.