No, not really.....but it is looming. I haven't had but one customer since I started this business.
I've spent a lot of money on my website, equipment, etc, and am starting to get panicky. My husband tells me to not worry, at least I don't have a lease on a storefront, so all is well. But I'm really down.
Add to that, I'm trying to make my entry into Wilton's contest, and it's going profoundly badly. The cake is an odd shape, and I can't seem to find a way to support it. Plus, I had my measurements all wonky and had to undo a large part of my cake, which left marks all over the fondant. I don't know if it can be repaired.
While I'm whining....
I have an extra 40% off coupon for Michaels. If you were waffling between a half sheet pan, a fountain, or a new decorating turntable, which would you pick and why? I find it funny that I'm considering buying something else with the state my "business" is in, but I guess there's a tiny seed of hope buried deep in my brain somewhere. So what do you think? Fountain, pan, or turntable?
When did you open and are you a home baker? Don't dispair! There are many ways to correct this...
if you are a lic home baker, contact your local newspaper and see if they would do a human interest article on you and your start up.
if not, then maybe doing a few "sample" cakes for friends, family and school kids may help you out.
HTH
Hang in there, before you know it you will have more business than you want!
I'm sure you have probably done this but word of mouth is great. Talk to people about cake you do...anyone, people at the grocery store, at the park, where ever. Most people need cake some time in their lives and a lot of people are willing to pay for it, so don't despair something will happen. Also, if you haven't already print up some business cards and start passing them around.
I just looked at you cake photos. Be patient I am sure you will have customers soon. You do great work.
Your cakes look really good. Don't quit....you have talent and people will see that and start calling. I suggest making cakes and taking them to Doctor offices to help getting your business name out there. Keep your head up and I know you will be getting calls soon.
I sure hope all works out for you! I wouldn't throw in the towel until you've given the business a good....um...uh...50 years...100 if your wrists hold out. Like the others have stated, get more info out there by whatever means possible..business cards, newspaper...but word of mouth gets around fastest...so, sample cakes to school faculty, banks, church functions, fundraisers, oh my...BEAUTY SHOPS!!!! I ain't jokin...take one into a beauty shop and watch what happens!
You have until like September 30th for the Wilton contest...take your time...it is soooooooooooo worth it! I was 2004's winner....truly awesome experience!
I'd go for the turntable. Whether you use it to decorate multiple cakes(when business picks up...), or to display your winning piece, or maybe even you happen to get someone wanting to pay you to learn, an extra turntable is a PLUS.
All the best to ya.
I know how hard it is, I still don't have the amount of business I really want (ideally 2-3 celebration cakes per week and a wedding or two per month!). If I'm lucky, I get to do a couple of paid cakes a month (and that's currently a good month for me!), but I can go 2 or 3 months without any paid orders! It is disheartening I know, but I cling to the hope it'll get better. Justtry to get your name out there as much as you can, samples & business cards all help - don't be shy when it comes to business - you do great work, so spread the word around!
Would you like to set up classes for students? Or a after school program for teens or kids if you are paitent! That would bring extra income. Hmm I would say pass out samples. I would also post card on bulletins or pass out flyers. I dont know just giving all the ideas possible to make it work for you. Good luck. As for the 40% cupon always go for the most expensive item. That's what I do!
Thanks to all of you, I really appreciate it. I never thought of bringing in a cake to my beautician....her salon is frequented by ladies who are dressed to the nines all the time. I'll bet I could get some business from there. And I don't visit my doctor near as often as I should, but I see my pediatricians more than I'd like. So that's a good thought, too. I've already passed out cards to my whole neighborhood and my sister and brother each have a stack. I could ask my dad to pass some out at work. Or mom if she'd leave some on her checkout counter at her business. Thanks, guys, you got me thinking.
I guess I was letting myself get down because I lost a wedding and 2 birthdays, and all the $$ I've spent was starting to make me feel ridiculous. But hearing that you guys have slow weeks makes me feel much better.
I'll try to avoid posting just to whine for quite a while.
As for the coupon, I had a thought. Dad gets the paper....maybe he kept his coupons....hmmmmm.
I've scrapped my Wilton entry, and am looking for other ideas. Any other cc'ers entering?
I don't know why...but this year's contest seems confusing to me with the appetizers and what nots added into it.
It'd be great if they would substitute the equivalent in the other courses(colette peters', pulled sugar, gumpaste....)for the masters course.
It doesn't say anywhere in there that if you win once you can't enter again. If it does, I missed it.
I don't reckon I'll be entering it.
Hang in there! It will take off! We've all been thru it.
I "officially" re-opened my business in Sept '04 and my first wedding wasn't until April'05! (I'd been doing this off and on for 20-25 years, but had "closed" the business for awhile and just did it for family and friends. Decide to re-open a couple of years ago and become official again). I spent those months doing the website, the internet ads, creating my order forms, fine-tuning my menus, letting everyone know I was back in business. In 2004, I had close to zero in sales to report on my tax return. In 2005, I did 16 weddings....the first one not until April. In 2006 so far, I have 48 weddings booked.
It will happen..... your photos are too good for it not to. Don't give up!
Another suggestion to get your name out is to volunteer to give a cake decorating demo to the local high school home ec classes (lots of grad parties and upcoming weddings sitting in that classroom!).
Don't worry!
Like everyone else said, get your name out there as much as you can. I really like the class idea or the kids program.
Try visiting reception halls in the area. They give out LOTS of recommendations to brides. Maybe you can have your business card put in all of their information packets they give to interested brides. Try connecting with other wedding vendors. Caterers, DJs, Videographers, bridal shops.
Or for party cakes, a local party supply store, kids cakes, a toy store.
Good luck and DON"T GIVE UP! You've put all the effort in already to getting things started. Sometimes it takes a while if you didn't already have a huge client base.
Hey kARATEKA,
Girl don't worry take a pen an paper here I go. Go to the local chamber of commerce bring a nice platter of sampler with your business cards of course. Go to the local school system contact the pta at the local school contact business around your area. Put flyeers with cool brite colors at schools get peoples attention some times you have to spend money to make money. Go to the local supermarket and but business cards around give our frying to family and friends so they can help you. Don't worry there is nothing that a GOOD PRAYER can solve leave it up to good to guide you thru this difficult time don't worry if you bring there sweets peeople will come. Best of luck to you i will definally keep you in my prayers.
God Bless and Good luck to you
Michelle
What about doing a Grand Opening Celebration type thing. You can have samples of all your goodies, maybe some free coffee and water, and a couple copies of your portfolio.
On a side note, I do taxes and most business will take a loss during the first 2-3 years. Don't feel bad! You do wonderful work and it'll get you there!!
Leslie
I had a look at your web-site and have some ideas about what you could do to make it more appealing to vistors. I visited it pretending I'm a bride thinking about using you for a wedding. Please feel free to ignore all this as I don't want to seem rude, just trying to help if your business is about to collapse which would be a horrible shame as your cakes are lovely.
1. the 'my home to yours' slogan makes me feel that you're making nice homebaked cakes - I feel there needs to be something which implies these cakes are elegant, special etc. rather than homely baking. The little picture of a basket with fruit coming out of it, it's acute picture but it reinforces the 'mamma's baking' idea over then 'gorgeous attractive cakes' idea.
2. the brown background is a little old fashioned - simply changing this to lilac / pale blue or something would make it feel more contemporary
3. When I click on 'gallery' I don't want to have to click on each sub gallery again to get into it and telling me how many times each gallery has been seen shows that not many people are visiting your site. Give your wedding cakes a higher profile by putting them on page one! They are the moneymakers and show off the most impressive talents.
4. When I'm in the gallery how do I get out again? Each page needs to have a link back to the home page.
5. newsletter - there isn't one. Why would you need one anyway?
6. The contacts page - just give out your details, the list of 'don't contact me at work, don't contact me at such and such a time' is off putting as is the idea that you work in a hospital - some people are very squeamish!! Just give out your home phone number and say that you will return any message left promptly on your answer machine.
I really hope that some of these tips give you some idea, I normally wouldn't dream of being critical to another cake decorator - I just hope that someone would help me out too if I were having problems so bad that I was considering giving it all up.
Good luck Stacie, my fingers are crossed for you.
All of you have such great ideas, thank you. I never thought of a grand opening, or a decorating demo at a high school.
As for the website comments, I appreciate them. I just don't know how to implement too many of those changes.
I can change the color, I think, but the picture of the basket is a stock image I can't get rid of. My web site package is one of the cheaper ones. I chose the best image I could find. Most of the others are just plain ugly. My gallery is a separate install. I don't think I can put a link to the home page on each page. I have looked into switching my wedding cakes to page one, but can't figure out how. Maybe a call to the support center is in order. Maybe they can delete the counter as well.
I put hours of operation in because that was a suggestion from another cc'er. It wasn't meant to sound off-putting.
Many thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I've dusted off my attitude and resolved to stay in as long as possible. I guess declaring a business loss on my taxes wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Hope you all have great decorating weeks!
Karateka, what software did you use for your website?
It might be worth getting someone professional to do your web-site for you at some point in the future then Stacie as it sounds like you don't have much control over what's in it. I do mine myself using Dreamweaver which is a nice easy to use software package. Mine's nothing whizzy though! Do you have a friend who could help you out in return for a delicious cake?
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