Putting Myself Out Of Business. . . Already!!
Business By midialjoje Updated 12 Sep 2006 , 10:41pm by yassy
Bad news. I've only had my website up for a few weeks now. I got a call to order a 1st birthday cake for sometime in September--well, it's almost Sept and I can't find the info I wrote down ANYWHERE. No name, no phone #, no DATE. I'm praying she calls to confirm a few days in advance, because otherwise, there won't be a cake ready and I'll obviously get really bad press there, and no new referrals, (she promised many). Please pray for me!! How stupid can I be????
(I also got 3 or 4 wedding consults with one booking so far. I'm obviously being more careful about where I write and keep my info.)
Have you got caller ID, maybe her number may still be in your data. Even if there are some names there you don't recognize you could try calling some of them. Just a thought. I know this is not a good way to start, all you can hope for is that she'll call. Can you remember anything at all about the order? Maybe you can back track a little and it might jog your memory. I hope this works out for you. You have got your other orders written down now, so these will work out for you. Good Luck.
Bad news. I've only had my website up for a few weeks now. I got a call to order a 1st birthday cake for sometime in September--well, it's almost Sept and I can't find the info I wrote down ANYWHERE. No name, no phone #, no DATE. I'm praying she calls to confirm a few days in advance, because otherwise, there won't be a cake ready and I'll obviously get really bad press there, and no new referrals, (she promised many). Please pray for me!! How stupid can I be????
(I also got 3 or 4 wedding consults with one booking so far. I'm obviously being more careful about where I write and keep my info.)
OMG 
this happened to me once. The problem was that all the details came through email, i had the date and the cake type, and all the lady's details. And i had a computer crash and LOST it all.Luckily i remembered the cake i needed to make and the date, so i prepared for the cake, and hoped for the best. Luckily the lady called me a couple of days before hand to confirm when she was going to pick it up.
After that, i started to write everything in my diary, and my diary goes everywhere with me. It's a big diary so it's hard to lose it : )
I hope that your customer turns up, and dont worry about not getting customers, it takes time for the word to get around, you'll see in no time, you'll be turning ppl away : )
Good luck!!!
Nati
thanks for the kind words. I remember the decorations she wanted--baby einstein caterpillar, but not the date or the name. I was going to make one in advance and freeze to try to be ready, but don't know the flavor she wanted 
great idea about the phone bill, i may check that. my old numbers from the phone and old emails (where I sent her pics) have fallen off into neverland.
thanks for the kind words. I remember the decorations she wanted--baby einstein caterpillar, but not the date or the name. I was going to make one in advance and freeze to try to be ready, but don't know the flavor she wanted
great idea about the phone bill, i may check that. my old numbers from the phone and old emails (where I sent her pics) have fallen off into neverland.
You can probably access your telephone records online also.
my old numbers from the phone and old emails (where I sent her pics) have fallen off into neverland.
hint:
in you email program set up a custom folder just for cake orders and when one comes in, immediately move it into that folder.
most email systems will NOT remove any mail from custom folders until you purposefully instruct it to. (i use yahoo, hotmail, aol, earthlink, and gmail -- those all work this way)
(and if you do have multiple accounts, you can forward it to other accounts to get duplicate copies all over the place).
simple way to prevent headaches.
thank you. I can't believe I didn't do that. I have a "cakes" folder. Don't think it will ever happen again (or I should be out of business 
Midi - Take a deep breath .....I will pray for you. I know you are super stressed about this (as I would be, too). As the others said, try to jog your memory by thinking about the phone call or e-mail. How did you get the order from her (referral from a friend, right from the website?) ?? Sorry I can't remember. If this one falls through I hope that the customer will understand that we are all human and make mistakes. All you can do is apologize and hope for forgiveness!
(((Hugs))))
Suzanne
I would make it and freeze it. If she shows up and you have nothing for her she will be upset. Make it vanilla/white/yellow. Be honest with her, even do it for free, we are all human!
"I would make it and freeze it. If she shows up and you have nothing for her she will be upset. Make it vanilla/white/yellow. Be honest with her, even do it for free, we are all human!"
And, if you have eveything on it.....except the name, you can explain the situation, then put the name, etc on while she waits. If she is a normal human being.....noticing that you tried really hard to right the wrong, she should be okay with that.
in the meantime, pray for divine intervention.
Sarah
UGH sorry that happened to you- hope that straightens out and good lesson for future to make yourself a secure safe place that will never go missing for that kind of stuff.
On what Doug said- if you're using outlook express for your email and your computer crashes, you will probably lose stuff-that is one of 2 reasons I NEVER use outlook/express for emailing. All my email addresses - multiple accounts for various endeavours- are webmail based and therefore if your computer crsahes you will not lose those.
As Doug also mentioned making duplicates- just have a list of a couple of different email addresses (yours) (you know how you make address lists so you dont have to click on multiple email addresses to send to) and when you get a cake order, just forward that to your 'list'-
I've nevre had a problem losing emails or anything of that nature, since I always use web based emails- yahoo being one of them,
I wish you luck and hope the woman calls back or you can always find a hypnotist and find out where you left that piece of paper? LOL
you all are so kind. Thank you for all the support and encouragement. I'll let you know what happens.
Can you remember the date--the phone company could help you track the caller by the phone number. I put orders in two places--folder in computer and a date book that never leaves the spot on the counter. I keep info in both places so if one is lost the other is still there.
Can you remember the date--the phone company could help you track the caller by the phone number. I put orders in two places--folder in computer and a date book that never leaves the spot on the counter. I keep info in both places so if one is lost the other is still there.
LOL @ leaving something on the counter- at my sister's place that'd never work- her kids have this sense of entitlement that everything in the house they can pick up and play with. I wouldnt know where to begin to list all the important things she's misplaced because the kids take something and end up playing with it lol
I have a big corkboard which is high enough that the kids cant reach it when they come over and everything of importance goes on there (and on the calendar that's also pinned up there. Little pieces of scrap paper with info on them dont stand a chance now for disappearing LOL
Happy ending!! Client called Wednesday to confirm. Unfortunately, it was for this past weekend, when I was to be out of town with my family (parents, out-of-town siblings, etc.) I made the cake prior to leaving and she picked it up on Saturday from my neighbor. My neighbor said she loved it, but I'm going to call today to make sure all went well. here's the picture, and, again--thanks for ALL the support and good wishes on this one!
WHEW!!!! Great! Glad to hear it!!!!
You did such a great job. I am so sure she loved it. It's awesome! Thanks for sharing your dilemma...I think you have taught us all a lesson. I think that I have a pretty good system, but I have learned a lot through this thread and have started to make some changes- especially what to do if OUTLOOK crashes...I would be in so much trouble.
Thanks again and congratulations!!!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%