You have a pretty large menu of things that people can order...why not choose a couple different things each week to showcase as well as a few cookies and cupcakes along with coffee? It would help introduce people to what you offer!

Could someone elaborate on the pvc pipe??? What do you do??

I think just enough to tease the customers. Always leave them wanting more. Like a few of the other people said. Six inch cakes can be as beautiful as the bigger ones. I don't think there is anything more romantic than that special dinner and then bringing out that little cake just for the two of you to share. But whatever you do decide just know that we are all here to support you!!!!

Lu

I like what HollyPJ said about the laminated flip book on your tables-those would work great! I want to start my own business when I get better at cakes and I kind of had in mind what you said at first-just taking orders for cakes. But reading all of the posts here has given me a new concept to look at. I really don't know anything about running my own business I'm just dreaming, mainly. But those people that first came into your shop
and said they didn't know what they wanted must have been lost-I guess they were expecting more. But you can't devote ALL of your time to put stuff on the front when you know you've got cake orders waiting. I would say make just enough to last through the day-brownies, cupcakes, etc., and have on hand pre-made roses, flowers, etc. to put on your display cake that the customer picks out. Hope things get better!!!

PVC pipe is used often in hotels for mass production of desserts rather than buying moulds.
Cut and sand pvc pipe to equal heights.
Line sides with accertate
Torte sponge into required thickness. then cut with round cutter just a little smaller than pvc pipe
Place sponge in bottom of pvc pipe.
Fill with filling you can add more sponge for layers etc. You could use any filling really. in the hotel I worked in we used mousse.
Fill to top remember to squish it down to remove air gaps.
Place in freezer.
When frozen you can just push them out of pvc pipe because of the accertate which sticks to sides of cake. Decorate as required.
We used to dip in ganache while frozen place back in frezzer dipped and pull out and plate when required. the best way to feed 400 people an individual dessert.
You can also line sides with decorative sponge fill with mousse and top with glaze. they look really cute and people love the idea of there own cake as opposed to a slice of cake.
I hope this helps any questions post them here or pm me.

wow that's about the coolest tyrick i've heard in a long time....

Cupcakes are the big thing now why not make different flavors with different icings simply done with some sprinkles coconut nuts etc. Make them fresh in the mornings and display them in your show case. Customers can come and grab a cupcake snack and away they go. Id love to do that if I had a store front to sell them. Don't sell theem to cheap either $2.75 or up. Might take a while to catch on but if you have a good yummy product your on your way $$$$ I went to a place called Sprinkles good cupcake but nothing special and they sold them for $3.75 ea and sold nothing but cupcakes.

You need to have something to offer them right then. Otherwise I would walk out to. You dont have to do alot 3-4 cakes a day they don't have to be large just a suggestion

You poor thing, everyone has had great ideas for you but there is only so much one person can do. have you thought about renting out kitchen space when your not baking, i know thats really your competition but that would be some money coming in. you could even rent out to caterers and not specifically a cake decorator. how about holding classes or cake decorating birthday parties, when you have days that arn't busy. Baking up lots of differant things can mean alot of waste if it doens;t get sold so i understand you wanting to take only order, i hope they come soon, but try to hang in there. all the best to you my dear.

I think I must be dense . . . the PVC pipe trick doesn't make complete sense to me. How high are you cutting these lengths of pipe? Are you doing this to make mini cakes? Once you push the cakes out of the pipe are you cutting them into slices for individual servings? Your description was very thorough but it's not coming together in my head. Maybe I'm just stuck on the PVC pipe part . . .

There is a bakery near me and yes, I go there even though I bake. This bakery offers coffeecakes, cake squares, cookies and dog biscuits. They also have a refrigerated case with 4" cakes that are for sale and cake slices of maybe two kinds of cake. I am thinking that the refrigeration keeps them fresh longer. They also offer parfaits from this case. They are very simple with a cake circle in the bottom of a clear plastic cup with pudding and whipped cream on top. The cake books with pictures of the cakes lay on the counter near the cash register so that anyone can look at them for orders. Now, does anybody want to know why I go there almost every week? Dog biscuits! My dogs love them and they keep very well. Many customers go in there for dog biscuits and end up getting cookies or cake squares. Just a thought.

I agree with a previous post, though, that this can be hard for one person to pull off. If you've got your own storefront and are doing customized cakes, when do you have time for that when you're baking and freezing treats, ringing up the cash register, making coffee, etc . . . ? A lot of these ideas sound fantastic but I'd imagine you'd need an employee on staff just to do the extra stuff. I am not in the business so I have no clue what it really entails . . . it just seems like it would be hard to incorporate all of these great ideas without help.

I do think that word of mouth with the cakes will build up your clientele and you would benefit from figuring out ways to get the word out to the masses (bridal shows, bringing samples to wedding planners, photographers, florists, etc...) as you'll get more bang for the buck that way than with the individual people who are coming in looking for a quick treat. They're important, too, of course as they're likely your neighborhood people who can grow into steady customers, but I'd think the main focus would need to be on getting known for the spectacular cakes. Maybe make one day a week a showcase day and you can make a simple but stunning cake for the masses . . . make a stacked or tiered cake, display it in the window all morning and then around lunch time bring it in to slice it up and offer it for samples. I don't know what kind of visibility you've got from the street or if people are wandering around the strip of stores that you're in so that people would see the display in the window but you could have a sign every Wednesday or something inviting people in for a lunch break celebration. You can have a sign up all week telling them what flavors are coming and each week have a different, unique offering that will pique their interest. If you've got multiple layers with different flavors, then each week you'd have two or three different flavors to offer. You could take a picture of each week's cake and have a display board so that in addition to any albums you've got around, you'd have this "lunch break party" board up and people could see the different party cakes you've created. The board would also serve as an advertisement for this as people coming in would inquire about it and then you'd tell them what it was for. This may be a totally goofy idea and if it is, forgive me. I'm just trying to think outside of the box. This might not even be feasible or practical. Just thinking that if you're in a neighborhood and you're thinking of baking cakes for display anyway, why not make a weekly event of it (maybe instead of lunch time you could do it right at the end of the work day and call it a happy cake hour) and maybe the same people will start coming around for a slice of cake and you'll get a group or regulars coming in.

Hi the pvc pipe is usual about 2 1/2" wide and height is about the same. It all depends on the height you want your cake. You don't cut the finished cake. the whole idea is to give someone their own small cake that is just enough for one person to eat. If you make a really rich cake you might wan to make it shorter.
I hope that helps it is easier to understand if you can see it I know.

This is a wonderful post full of lots of ideas! I also aspire to have my own store-front one day, and although I would love to have an "appointment only" situation, I realize that I'll need to build-up to that, and will need to offer other items in my store. I think that's the best way to promote my products I'll use the public as my guinea pig for new flavors, etc! Thank you all for such wonderful ideas!

I've enjoyed reading this post, so here's a bump for more replies.

Yeah-that's what Iwas picturing in my finite mind, too. I was also wondering-How do you get that long thing in the freezer?? It takes a little explaing on everything to get it right in my mind

Ok. I am trying to understand the pvc thing. I have just come off 3, 15
hour days so please type slow! lol

Where does the cooking come in for the cakes? Are you talking cake mixes? I am so brain dead. Maybe I should read all of this after some sleep. I'm sorry. I'm really not trying to be difficult!!! Just trying to understand.

Thanks,

Lu

Could you *bake* the cakes in the PVC pipe? Cut the pipe into perfectly flat rounds, lay them on a parchment paper covered cookie sheet, fill with batter and then bake? Or would the PVC pipe melt in the oven?

Good luck with your business I'm sure you will figure out what works best for you and become a HUGE success. I make celebrations cakes. These are small cakes that will work for any ocassion. They are in addition to my special order cakes. There are always going to be those people who don't order ahead and need something fast for a birthday, anniversary, etc. Just make an assortment of cakes that display your specialties. Because they are small if they don't sell you're not out that much money or trouble. Once they have a taste of your work they will be back for more, but almost always they come back for a special order cake which is more money in your pocket. Just an idea of what works for me. Good luck!
Jamie T
Sweet Celebrations

I feel like I am saying what has already been said.
but I agee with selling coffee and soda and cupcakes and cookies....even if that was not your original dream. You have to pay the bills until everyone gets "trained" to call ahead and place an order. or until people really start ordering your wedding cakes.

with your hotel background, coming up with individual desserts shouldn't be that hard. Once the customers come in to buy a cookie, you can tell them about your custom wedding cakes and special occasion cakes. .....while they are spending money with you.
good luck,
and please, please, keep up posted.
I would love to have a retail shop one day.

melody

To answer the pvc pipe question. You cook a sheet cake torte it and cut little rounds with a round cutter. Any excess sponge goes into cake balls or anything needing sponge crumbs. You are basically asembling a minuture cake in a pipe, so pre cut sponge in the bottom then filling more sponge if desired more filling etc etc. Then freeze so they are easy to push out.
PVC will melt in the oven, so you can't bake the sponge in the pipe.
I hope this helps, Any more questions let me know.

Totally clear for me. Thanks for the explanation. Anything non-conventional with me, and I usually require a diagram. I am so not an "outside of the box" thinker.

I think you should consider offering attractive mini-cakes in a take out case. If your customers are like me, there are many times I want to indulge but don't want to take the time to bake somthing. Not to mention, that I would never order a cake from a place where I had not tasted the cakes beforehand. You already have the foot traffic without much effort. Why not offer a few regular flavors plus a speciality flavor which changes weekly? Think of it like this: you're not changing your business concept, you're expanding it!

Several of my friends have ordered special occasion cakes from places where they visit to just get a cupcake or a cake slice. And, in my opinion, the specialty cakes weren't even that good! Imagine how much success you'll have if your mini-cakes are both attractive and tasty!!

sweet chef...........

i've been wondering how it's been going for you, and what you decided?

It sounds like the location may be an issue as the type of clientelle you are receiving...However.....changing a few things like many have suggested can really help.I know when I go into a specialty shop/bakery in a strip mall I at least expect to see a few cakes made to show what the decorater/shop can do.A few fancy cakes and definetly a few takeout style Birthday/all occasion cakes for the last minute buyer who forgot to get a cake etc....I also am enticed into the shop by a great window display.If there isn't anything really attractive in the window,I probably won't go in.Have your self a Grand Opening..Again or a big Birthday celebration and advertise for it on the radio or newspaper/flyers and basiclly re-open with a newer concept.You don't have to specialize in fancy petit fours or expensive ingredient cakes which cost a fortune just cakes that most people enjoy everyday but offer the fancy cakes as special order.It's all about getting the people in and back and then offering a delicious affordable product.Once people have been in and see how nicely the shop is decorated with displays and desserts...they will think of you next time they need a cake.Good luck!!


Laurel