O.k. so I have the website, passed the inspection with flying colors, have my Food Manager's Cert... Now the problem, everyone who was encouraging of me to get into business literally "flaked out" on me and the way next year looks, it's a good thing that I peddle beer at the golf course during the summer

I did a cake for a major fundraiser with lots of people walking by my cake.. NO calls...
I've done cakes for co-workers who also show reception halls (and get asked about vendors).. NO calls..
I had two brides set up tastings with me... no show, no call.

What looked like it was going to be a smooth transition turned into something neither myself nor DH expected, no business...

I'm not sure what to do anymore... I'm limited until March with what I actually can do since I'm literally kicked out of my kitchen space until March.. Any ideas for drumming up more business????? I'm also in a major metro area, so the cost of bridal fairs is the next thing to impossible right now.

I guess I'm in the phase wondering if this cake thing is ever going to get off the ground...

I remember about 2 months ago i said the same thing to my hubby, and low and behold a day or so later the phone started ringing and hasn't stopped yet..

Don't give up, the orders will come...

I thought i was getting a few days off over this coming weekend, but not now, i got a last minute order's today for twins to have done by saturday...

just get yourself out there and tell anyone who will listen....lol

good luck

kylie

I am so sorry It's like this for you at the moment,...I cant offer any advice as I have never been in business with anything, but I bet all the other girls that are in business will tell you it takes time to pick up, I have looked at your website and I'm convinced it really is just the fact that all business takes time to get going, your site is great, cakes are great, so I am sure it will take off and you will be rushed off your feet.

My Good Wishes to you for the future

I haven't sold alot of cakes. Just getting started. But I know it takes awhile to get going. And friends usually want stuff for FREE. So don't get down. So what about smaller shows like craft shows?? They are usually cheaper. Or check with other venders you may see at a bridal show like DJ's Or floweriest (SP??) and try to go in on a booth with them. Try to work around the road blocks. GOOD LUCK AND IT WILL HAPPEN.

get your business cards and fliers out to bridal shops, see if they will refer you. When my friend was planning her wedding she asked at the dress shop if they knew anyone that made cakes, they pulled out several business cards and gave them to her. Good Luck, I hope business picks up for you!

After seeing that last post. I remembered I gave my cards to a woman who has a hall that she rents out for weddings. And they are always asking her for referals for cake decorators. I just gave her the cards before Thankgiving. But she bought a cake from me at a craft show. She was so impressed by the flavor of my cake samples that she took my cards also. So check with wedding consultants (SP??) also. Just a few more tips. Getting your samples out ther is also helpful. Take you cake smples all over.

Don't give up!! It seems like the ones who are all gung ho about the cakes are NOT the ones who order them, LOL. This is how it is for me anyway. I have one friend who's ordered a few cakes and she's always telling me about other people who are supposedly going to order a cake and then they never call. A lot of my other friends just love my cakes but they don't usually order them from me. All it takes is one good customer to get things going. One of the mom's at my son's school referred me to her friend, and this woman has ordered 5 cakes in the past 2 months and referred me to one of the director's at the hospital she works at, which gave me another cake order. Now I'm hoping to get some orders from the other people who will see my cake at the hospital. For me what really gets the orders is when people actually see one of my cakes.

Good luck!
Courtney

my business is moving at a snails pace...if the snail is 1/2 dead and gasping for air. But I'm slowly getting orders (just to get told I'm too expensive--but that's in a different thread)

Just be patient and the orders will soon be rolling in. Most business' struggle for a year or more before growing by leaps and bounds. My DH computer business had only 6 clients when he started and it seemed to be going somewhat slow for about 6 months and then BOOM! At the end of that same year he had 35 clients. Almost 3 years now and he has 58 clients and is turning business away because he is insainly busy. Give it time girl, it will happen. My DH never advertised either his business growth was all by word of mouth.