My Mom Says I Charge Too Much.

Decorating By summernoelle Updated 24 Aug 2007 , 3:38am by delta95

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summernoelle Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 7:53pm
post #1 of 30

So my mom keeps giving me a hard time about charging too much. Right now I am charging icon_redface.gif 1.50 for buttercream icon_redface.gif and icon_redface.gif 2 for fondant icon_redface.gif
Apparently, according to most people on this site, that's nothing! What do you think?

29 replies
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Carolynlovescake Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 7:58pm
post #2 of 30

host a "bring your mom to work day" have her do a stacked cake start to finish and then ask her if she feels the same. icon_lol.gif

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JoAnnB Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 7:58pm
post #3 of 30

definitely not too much. Show here the bill for the supplies and ingredients (board, box, etc) and tell her how many hours one cake takes. definitely not too much.

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johnniekake Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:01pm
post #4 of 30

My mom used to think I charged to much......until she started helping me out at the shop....she got a real dose of what goes on.......now she tells me I dont charge enough..I need to double my price!...Stop giving it away!...........................................maybe my customers need to work with me for a day.hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif

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darandon Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:04pm
post #5 of 30

Stop telling your mom how much you charge if she has a problem with the amount. If you are making a cake for one of her friends, talk directly to the friend. You do need to charge more. Call a couple bakeries and find out their prices.

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PaulaT Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:09pm
post #6 of 30

I totally understand what you mean. At first I choked on $25 for a filled 8" cake thinking it was too much but now - no way. In 2008 I'm going to increase my prices. Yes, it's not just the labor but the supplies (boards, boxes and ingredients) not to mention gas prices. Sorry Mom - your daughter isn't charging enough!! BTW - Dallas is doing well economically compared to all of us here in Michigan. My brother lives there and I visited this summer. I couldn't believe the growth since my last visit. You go Girl - start charging what you're worth!!! thumbs_up.gif

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tiggy2 Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:09pm
post #7 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by CarolynGwen

host a "bring your mom to work day" have her do a stacked cake start to finish and then ask her if she feels the same. icon_lol.gif


Ditto! icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif

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melysa Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:09pm
post #8 of 30

for a person who acts snobby about my pricing ($4 a serving) i suggest to them to come and babysit my kids or clean my house for 12 hours STRAIGHT. no devided times, but straight. oh, and how about cleaning the house overnight...as in, i stay up all night sometimes to work on a large cake. yup, and it all usually works out to be less than $10 bucks an hour. i should be charging time and a half for the graveyard shift. hahaha.

host a "bring your mom to work day" ...i like that.

raise your prices. PLEEEEEEEEEEEZE!

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rajinaren Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:15pm
post #9 of 30

I think its very reasonable! I saw ur gallery your cakes are very beautiful...I think you can charge more for the good work!

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ATLcutiepieDST Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:15pm
post #10 of 30

My mom fusses and tells me I don't charge enough. It's hard to really price a cake "correctly" because someone you run into may think its to much and others not enough. Pricing is something I am struggling with too. Help. What is resonable and what is not?

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summernoelle Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:18pm
post #11 of 30

What a great idea! I tried telling her that everyone here charges way more than I am, and she was like "well, but for your neighborhood...." And I actually live in a very nice area!
I think she must think it comes easy....Earlier this summer, there was a possibility that me and my DH would be moving to London for a couple of years. I had my turquoise scroll work cake dummy out on my kitchen table and she looked at it and said "you know what? I think that I'll just have you show me how to do that before you leave." Like it was so easy that she could just take over my little business for me!
I say, I should invite her over and make her cover a cake in MMF (because MMF is harder to work with and always falls apart on me) and then see what she says.

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Katskakes Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:21pm
post #12 of 30

I get the same BS from my family, mostly my sister. I'm so fed up with it. She for one knows it's not easy to make a cake, she took the clases with me. I have 4 cakes to do for this wknd, for my brother. and i told sis to come on friday night to help me make them. she automatically claims she has no time.

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melysa Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:26pm
post #13 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by summernoelle

I say, I should invite her over and make her cover a cake in MMF (because MMF is harder to work with and always falls apart on me) and then see what she says.




and have her figure it all out herself. icon_surprised.gif yup, you have to learn somehow right? you did.

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CoutureCake Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:33pm
post #14 of 30

Explain to her that WALMART charges more than you do for the same sized slice... And they won't even TOUCH fondant!

I agree... Take your Mom to work day... and tell her at the end that there isn't enough money left over to purchase a cheeseburger for either one of you at those prices!

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summernoelle Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:44pm
post #15 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoutureCake

Explain to her that WALMART charges more than you do for the same sized slice... And they won't even TOUCH fondant!

I agree... Take your Mom to work day... and tell her at the end that there isn't enough money left over to purchase a cheeseburger for either one of you at those prices!




Oh..My...God...
You so did not just say that Walmart charges more than me.
I must be doing something wrong. Please tell me why my phone hasn't rang all week.

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thecupcakemom Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:48pm
post #16 of 30

Well...to state the obvious here...if your cakes are selling then I guess you aren't charging too much. icon_lol.gif

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MCook Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 8:56pm
post #17 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by summernoelle

So my mom keeps giving me a hard time about charging too much. Right now I am charging icon_redface.gif 1.50 for buttercream icon_redface.gif and icon_redface.gif 2 for fondant icon_redface.gif
Apparently, according to most people on this site, that's nothing! What do you think?




WAY to cheap for your area! I'm near Waco and I can get $2.00 for BC (base price). Your cakes are beautiful--in fact, your Tiffany blue cake is in my favorites and one of my very faves!! thumbs_up.gif
Raise your prices and I agree--have your mom "help" next time you have a tiered cake to make.
It may be that everyone is getting ready for school to start and aren't thinking about cakes right now--it's slooooow here,too.

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summernoelle Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 9:15pm
post #18 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by thecupcakemom

Well...to state the obvious here...if your cakes are selling then I guess you aren't charging too much. icon_lol.gif



icon_cry.gif conundrum

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CoutureCake Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 9:16pm
post #19 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by summernoelle

Quote:
Originally Posted by CoutureCake

Explain to her that WALMART charges more than you do for the same sized slice... And they won't even TOUCH fondant!




Oh..My...God...
You so did not just say that Walmart charges more than me.
I must be doing something wrong. Please tell me why my phone hasn't rang all week.




If you figure out the size exactly what your normal sized slice is inch per inch (have to include height)... If you go by Wilton's teeny slice chart for that matter, not more realistic ones out there... They charge around $1.75/slice for wedding cake... AND, they don't deliver or make the cake or icing there.

Did I mention you needed a raise???? icon_biggrin.gif

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kelleym Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 9:27pm
post #20 of 30

And before you and your mom start your "bring a mom to work day", ask her, real casual, "So, mom, how much per hour do you think I should be getting paid for this work?" Then note the time. When you're finished, tally it all up for her, and don't forget shopping time, baking time, and doing dishes time. And gas. And utlities. And boards, boxes, and dowels. Bet her eyes will pop out of her head.

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CoutureCake Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 9:31pm
post #21 of 30

Part of the problem may just be the fact that you're too cheap with your pricing for the market you're trying to attract. People go to Walmart because they expect what they're getting for cheap, not because it's good... If you're cheaper than Walmart, and walmart's cake tastes like, well, cardboard, you get the drift. Your marketing to the wrong market segment.

I still consider myself new to the industry, but one of the many important marketing things you can do for yourself is your positioning. If you position yourself in the wrong market, you're going to lose more business than you'll gain. Foot in the door versus door in the face. Saying "Our per slice rate begins at $1.50 for unfilled aluminum pan sheet cakes" is a lot different than saying "Our prices start at $1.50/slice for an elaborately decorated wedding cake with your choice of fillings."... They read it as "something's not right here" without EVER tasting your product or looking through your portfolio...

Also, this is not a busy time of the year when it comes to selling cakes. This business is a "Feast or Famin" business which makes being able to follow and stick to a budget all the more important and thinking about investments as a long term affordability. Now is the time to start your planning for marketing to the Thanksgiving and holiday crowd believe it or not. October is only 6 weeks away and the end of October is when we get to breathe again after wedding season.

The only thought is to redo your marketing and pricing plans and be brutal with where you really are positioning yourself in the industry even at the local level.

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summernoelle Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 9:31pm
post #22 of 30

Well I have been going by the Wilton chart. For example, for this cake I only charged $40. http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=871493. But then I found out that that was insane, and when someone called to request it, I said $64 because it should feed 32? Well, the girl was shocked by that priced and didn't order.

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Jopalis Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 9:38pm
post #23 of 30

Some use the Wilton Chart. I feel the slices are too small. Earlene's has one that is slightly larger. Also from what I have seen on here... it depends on the icing, the filling, amt. of decorating, etc. Just BC seems to be least expensive. I think merengue might be more and fondant is definitely more. I wouldn't use the Wilton serving sizes. Most like a nice slice of cake.... I think at a wedding it is kind of expected but some still prefer more.

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CoutureCake Posted 22 Aug 2007 , 9:38pm
post #24 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by summernoelle

Well I have been going by the Wilton chart. For example, for this cake I only charged $40. http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=871493. But then I found out that that was insane, and when someone called to request it, I said $64 because it should feed 32? Well, the girl was shocked by that priced and didn't order.




You aren't going to book 100% of all contacts that call you. If someone is calling and just asking for price alone for a cake, they likely aren't your customer in the first place or are another baker calling to find out what you're charging (or a Marketing student doing their semester project).. I remember back to some advice I got when I was looking for my first real job... "The first person to mention price is the person who is going to LOSE the negotiation".. Hook them in the door for a tasting (have the pricing worked out in your mind ahead of time), and then go over the pricing with them there. Also, set a minimum order you're willing to accept for cakes. What is the absolute minimum you need to turn the oven on.

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mezzaluna Posted 23 Aug 2007 , 5:04am
post #25 of 30

Raise your prices, and you raise the bar both for yourself and for cake decorators everywhere.

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wgoat5 Posted 23 Aug 2007 , 11:49am
post #26 of 30

Summer I just checked out your cakes...and WOW ...you are sooooooo much better than I and I charge 2.50 a serving for bc cakes and 3.50 for fondant! UP YOUR PRICES GIRL!!!!! You are selling yourself sooo short! You need to get paid for the talent you have, your time, expenses and talent are worth way more than what you are charging. And if your mom has a problem with it DONT divulge any more caking information to her or like others have said take her to work with you just once will do it!!! Good luck girl and RAISE YOUR PRICES icon_biggrin.gif


(((((((hugs))))))))

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indydebi Posted 23 Aug 2007 , 12:23pm
post #27 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by CoutureCake

You aren't going to book 100% of all contacts that call you. If someone is calling and just asking for price alone for a cake, they likely aren't your customer in the first place or are another baker calling to find out what you're charging (or a Marketing student doing their semester project).. I remember back to some advice I got when I was looking for my first real job... "The first person to mention price is the person who is going to LOSE the negotiation".. Hook them in the door for a tasting (have the pricing worked out in your mind ahead of time), and then go over the pricing with them there. Also, set a minimum order you're willing to accept for cakes. What is the absolute minimum you need to turn the oven on.




First, it is so true that you're not going to book everyone. In 2007, I have sent out over quarter-million dollars in quotes and I've booked a little over 16% of them. Most marketers are happy with a 3% return, so since I'm getting between 15-20%, I'm very happy with how I do my sales solicitations.

Second, I cannot believe they are still teaching this crap about "the first one to mention price loses" and teaching the tactic of "hook them in" first THEN give 'em the sales pitche. no, no, no, no, no. This is SO archaic, so "used car salesman", it's laughable. THis is the age of the internet. People have easy access to information and that includes pricing. Brides tell me ...... if the price isn't on the website, they are moving on. So...... so much for that "hook 'em in and THEN give 'em your sales pitch" theory, because they are not calling so you can "hook 'em" in.

This may work if you are a manufacturer's sales rep and you are going into the purchasing manager's office and are giving him the sales pitch from the git-go. But I have never seen how it works in this type of business. The sales rep is dropping in whether the purchasing guy called him or not .... the ony chance you have to talk to that bride is if SHE calls YOU.

If she's looking for pricing information and you don't have it available, then she's not going to call. I've told the story a number of times, but hubby bought a brand new truck from a local dealership by checking websites. He NEVER called any dealership that wouldnt' give pricing on the website. they NEVER got to "hook him in" with the sales pitch before giving him pricing info. The website that did give him the info is the dealership that got the sale.

Sorry to make this so long, but I've spent over 20 years in sales and marketing (management) positions .... unlike the professors who are teaching the theoretical, I was out there actually DOING it. This is such a passionate topic for me!

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summernoelle Posted 23 Aug 2007 , 7:59pm
post #28 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by wgoat5

Summer I just checked out your cakes...and WOW ...you are sooooooo much better than I and I charge 2.50 a serving for bc cakes and 3.50 for fondant! UP YOUR PRICES GIRL!!!!! You are selling yourself sooo short! You need to get paid for the talent you have, your time, expenses and talent are worth way more than what you are charging. And if your mom has a problem with it DONT divulge any more caking information to her or like others have said take her to work with you just once will do it!!! Good luck girl and RAISE YOUR PRICES icon_biggrin.gif


(((((((hugs))))))))




Thank you. That is sooooo nice to hear!

Indyebi-do you put your prices right next to the photos of your cakes?

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indydebi Posted 23 Aug 2007 , 8:24pm
post #29 of 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by summernoelle

Indyebi-do you put your prices right next to the photos of your cakes?




No, because I don't charge by design. Cakes are the same price per person, no matter what it ends up looking like. I have a pricing page for cakes and a pricing page for my buffet menus, so the price *IS* on the website.

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delta95 Posted 24 Aug 2007 , 3:38am
post #30 of 30

I agree with all the girls....I'm new to the cake business and even then, it's a very part-time...once in a while thing.
HOWEVER...I am a hairstylist by trade and I've had to teach myself the same thing they are all telling you. I've learned over the last 15 yrs. that if someone doesn't want to pay my prices, they can go somewhere else. Do they want quality or quicky? I love what I do and I'm pretty good at it, so I have to value my work or else no one will.
And just to give you some perspective...I charge $145 for a foil and cut that takes me between an hour and a half to an hour and 45 min. With a $20 tip or so...thats over $80 an hour they just paid to get their hair done...and they don't bat an eyelash.
What does your mom pay to get HER hair done? Does she pay $20....$30...$50...for a haircut that takes no more than 45 min.?? If so, tell her your time is just as valuable and if you charged per hour what she was paying her hair dresser, you'd be rich with all the time you put into each cake.
Sorry, I know this got a little off topic..but just wanted to give you another viewpoint at valuing your time and TALENT! You're worth it.

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