Hello...let me first say that I haven't posted very much on CC but I LOVE this site and have found so much useful information. Last year I decided to try advertising my cakes and thought about doing a bridal show. Thanks to information that I learned on this site, I found out all about being licensed and what could happen to you if you weren't. Decided not to do the show or any advertising until I got licensed. Fast forward to this year. I JUST received my inspection from the health dept. and am finally legal. I am renting commercial kitchen space and couldn't be more excited. So I decided to do a fall bridal show. When I arrive today, the show organizer tells me that she received a phone call from the health department requesting ONLY MY licensing information and she has a feeling she knows why I was singled out. She goes on to tell me that there is a another very competitive cake decorator who always does this show and that she wouldn't put it past her to have called the health department trying to get me investigated. I assured her that I was licensed and luckily was carrying a copy of it with me (also learned that here on CC!). Still it left kind of a bad taste in my mouth-not a good way to feel at the beginning of the show. So the show opens and one of the very first people to my booth is a nicely dressed older woman. No bride with her. She takes my brochures, looks through my portfolio and proceeds to ask me "Did you really do all of these cakes?" She asked about my prices and at this point I am starting to get suspicious. Her final question to me (said very sweetly) is "Do you work out of your home?" I proudly said, "No, actually, I rent a commercially licensed kitchen" and she walked away. I figured that she was sent over by the person who had called the health department so I sent my husband around to check out the other booths. Sure enough, she headed right over to the booth of the "competitive cake decorator" that the show organizer had told me about. I know there have been other threads on here about does anybody really care if you are licensed, etc. I always figured "oh well, who is going to know?" Wasn't I surprised to learn today that there are other cake decorators out there who will slit your throat if given the chance! Everyone on here is so nice and supportive that I just couldn't believe that these petty mean people have nothing better to do than try to shut down their competition! Luckily I am licensed or I could have been in big trouble. Let this serve as a warning that you never know who might turn you in...hopefully it was just one bad egg. It's ok though...several people came back to my booth a second time and told me that my cake tasted so much better than that other booth! Thanks for listening and for all of the help I've received off of this site. It helps to know that there are other decorators out there who are kind and willing to share their knowledge!
OMG!!! Thank good ness you had your ducks in a row. Good for you for keeping your cool the way you did. Her sneakynes did pay off. Her cake was nasty. HA HA!
Well, there is nothing wrong with being COMPETITIVE, but that was downright DIRTY!! Shame on her for acting like that. I hope the old hag is a member here and sees this post!! She should be ashamed of herself for being a triple decker, double fudge, frosted slice of evil!!
That is so terrible!!!! You put her in her place! It backfired on her.
Congrats on getting your license!!
Melvira, you crack me up!! A triple decker, double fudge, frosted slice of evil?!??! ROFL!!
OH MY!!!! I'm lucky here, the other lady that makes cakes is getting old and is starting to turn down some orders. So I get them. I guess I started out at the right time.
I guess you're the winner! Your cakes tasted better, you were really nice, and I'm sure you had a big smile, just by reading your post, I can see your smile 
so you'll get business, and she'll lose hers!!!!
Have fun and congrats on being licensed!!!
I used to do craft shows (painting) and had another booth turn me in with the Disney company! Disney reps actually came in shut me down at a show during inspection and then proudly announced over the speakers to visit my booth because they were buying my things, etc.
Disney is NOT someone to tinker with!!!
But yes, I had been doing the same shows with this woman for years but my ideas, were selling and hers weren't.
Sometimes who you think is a friend is your worst enemy when it comes to competition! Keep fighting! and Good Luck!
Thank you for your kind words. I guess I just thought everyone I met would be as nice and helpful as everyone here. Call me naive! I told my husband that I was so tempted to send the other cake decorator a card that just says my business name, my license number and "I'm legal and I'm good but thanks for checking." But I guess I should take the higher road and not start trouble I had always thought the same thing about doing licensed character cakes...who is ever going to care? Just goes to show that somewhere down the line, somebody might report you!
Hey Lisap... you know what would've been neat... to send that person a little card that said "Thank you for being a socially responsible businessperson." with a certificate for a free mini cake. They would be guessing as to whether you were THAT naive, or if you were onto them. That would accomplish one of a few goals, either they would realize they were being jerks and you were savvy, or it would simply establish you as 'the bigger person'. Hmmm... I'm going to remember that little trick.
Two words Jealousy and insecure....If these other cake decoraters where confident in their skills and product they wouldn't need or care to start trouble.The fact she wanted to know everything about you tells me she is not confident about her business.Too bad really!!! She'll sink herself!!
Oh Vicky... don't you know better than that??? I mean, they're mutants AND they're ninjas!! What's worse... they're teenagers! hahaha! I have always been rather quick on my feet for the snappy comebacks. It's something my (extended) family truly enjoys. They will often think of things to say to me just to get a quick fire reply. It's like a game for them! Then my grandmother will shake her head at them and say, "Don't you know you can't get her?"
Congrats on getting licensed!!!!
I understand being competitive but wow what a jealous person she is. I love the idea of the card but I would n't do it even though its so tempting, you don't want to start a larger battle. Good luck with your business 
Congrats on the license and landing a commercial kitchen (that's the hard part!!).
As far as the "competitive" cake decorator, yeah, there's bad apples like that out there in every business. She's insecure and jealous, like Kiddiecakes said. She probably also knows her weakness is taste, or lack-thereof. So anyone who is an up and comer, she's threatened by.
It's sad. I'm laying low right now because someone I used to work for would turn me in a heartbeat. Heck she never believed I could do cakes. I was only good for "paperwork". I'm looking for commercial kitchen space myself. (Damn Illinois kitchen laws!)
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