Maybe this is an old idea, but maybe not. I thought I would share anyway.

For about 10 cents, you can make cd's of cake pictures and just keep them on hand. That way, if someone asks about your cakes, you can just hand them a cd that has your contact info on the front and they can look at your work in their home.

Jill

That's a great idea Jill!!! I was thinking of doing that when I get going a little better. You can also add in photos that you make in paint or another program with your contact info and info about each cake like serving sizes and such kinda like a movie and when they view it as a slideshow it'll just play as a movie with all the info following each pic I've thought long and hard about this obviously lol but am not good enough for my cakes to be shown like that just yet lol maybe soon.

But great idea and great topic to start so other's can know they can do it

What a great idea!

Reckon I'd have to watermark the photos first? Can you do that?

Lawwwd, I ain't never gonna get over photo theft. Lawwwd.

--Knox--

I have a power point presentation of some of my wedding and groom's cakes that is set to Pachelbel's "Canon in D" that I have on CD's for my Brides. My phone number and lists of cake and filling flavors are also on it. When someone requests a flyer I generally send one of these so that the Bride and Groom can look at it together in the quiet of their home. They can peruse the photos I have, and if they are interested, they will call me and we set up a meeting.

I also have a paper flyer that I will sometimes send along with the CD, but it's pretty much overkill to do that.

My cake philosophy is also on the PP (that I only bake the week of the wedding; I don' bake ahead and freeze; setup/deliver/cutting are all included as are wrapping the anniversary tier for freezing and a "midnight snack" box for the newlyweds to take on their wedding nite. I've had some success with this but please don't ask me how I managed to get the slides to be set to music ... I did it myself and, truthfully, don't recall what it took to get the magic all together like that. But if I can do it, anyone can with just a little effort!

Happy Baking,

Odessa

This is a great idea!!

Yes Knox I would suggest watermarking them but do it lightly so that your client can still see the details of the cakes.

I have a "Collectiong" of cake pictures, most of them have the author's name on them, but some do not. Anyways, I burn a cd with about 300 pictures on them to give to brides for "inspiration". I mark right on it that they are NOT my cakes, NOT my idea's.

And I do not charge for this. I think this is "grey", but the brides love it.

Odessa - thanks for the feedback, your cd sounds amazing. I'm going to keep this in my mind for whenever I can get a license. (Can't get licesned yet, I have a dog and he's a no-no. Dog is WAAAAAAAAAY more important to me than $$$)

I didn't come up with this myself, it was one of the chemists I work with. I work with a lot of people, so he made the suggestion to keep a few cd's in my desk to hand out whenever someone says, "Oh? You make cakes? Can you make me one?" It sounded like such a good idea, I had to come right here and share.

Jill

It sounds like a good idea. . .

LittleMom, thanks for the kind words. I don't keep my cake stuff in my desk at work; it was a sore spot for my boss before I got hired here, there had previously been secretaries that did things like tupperware and home interiors and the like, and they would do their own business on his time (and his dime!). He knew that I do cakes, but I assured him that I appreciate my paycheck way too much to do my things and have him pay for them. If I had employees, I would want them to be working on my stuff if I'm paying them. Just makes good sense to me.

However, that being said, if people know I do cakes and call me at work, then I get their phone number and ask to call them back later. That way, I'm not turning off a customer, and the boss is very understanding of this attitude. He's not a total troll about it, I just don't want to abuse the privilege.

He has asked me to bake for him in the past, though. In fact, tomorrow I'm providing him with a large graduation cake for his wife -- she is getting her Masters in Education degree and he's throwing her a surprise party. I appreciate that he has the confidence in my skills, and he'll get a good price. I'll try to post photos afterwards.

As for my CD, right now it just has wedding and groom's cakes on it. When I get a weekend where I can really tackle a big project, I want to try to make a presentation with all different types of cakes (birthday, anniversary, graduation, wedding, holiday, etc.) and set to different sorts of music depending on which cakes are on the screen. THAT would be a great tool for my customers to see and might just get me even more work.

Something to think about, at least.

Happy Baking,

Odessa

Excellent idea!

Alot of computers have Windows Movie Maker pre-installed which is fairly simple to figure out and you can add music to a slideshow and tweak it however you want.

Thanks for the idea! When I open a business in a few years, I will have to remember that.

Does anyone worry about the customers showing the CD to someone else and that someone else making the cake from the CD?

What would be a good all around song or tune that would play through all categories on the CD?

Thanks

I just thought it was a good idea and so I wanted to share. I don't have a store or a website, and the only cakes I have "sold" have been to my boss. I don't want someone to think I make grocery store sheet cakes for $8 - so rather than carry a photo album around with me, a CD seemed more managable.

I guess it's a stupid idea - I've only been at this since October, I don't know much. Sorry.

I just really love the idea--and I guess if the photos were watermarked, that would protect your artistry.

And the music thing--well that's just cool. I always find myself laughing at your funny posts, Odessa. And when you have an idea, it's usually a good one too! I really like your work also.

GO ODESSA!!

I'm going to have to see if I'm savvy enough to actually burn a photo cd one of these nights before I go back to work! Hmmmmm......

--Knox--

This is not a stupid idea at all. It is actually a great idea to send to wedding coordinators, bridal shops, etc, as well as brides. People will always steal, borrow, etc, and as much as it sucks when it happens we all have to deal with it if we (or our cakes) are in the public eye.

there is also an alternative to the cd and you can make a

POCKET ALBUM. I have one and I carry it in my pocket book all the time..

It's no bigger than a change purse..

you can get the software and paper ( the pics come out on sticker photo paper to place on the pages)

the little album is no bigger than a business card. But, I can see the practicallity of the CD...that is totally cool too!

But yes...theivery would be harder to control

I have used the cd advertising idea for my photography business for several years. It has been a wonderful tool for me. I have wedding samples from dozens of weddings on the cd. I also carry a portable flash-drive where I have cake photos stored, and I can whip it out at any moment and plug it into a PC and show cakes that I've done.

I think these cakes (OR PHOTOS), on cd or flash drive, should be only the work of the person trying to make a sale. I would be honked if I ran across a cd from someone trying to sell cakes and discovered that one of their examples was MY WORK! Just my personal opinion.

power point has an option to put music to your presentation..


but like everything....music is also subject to the laws of copywrite!

they get you going and coming..!

Do a search for "royalty free music". You may have to pay a one-time download fee, but there won't be copyright violations to worry about later.


Edited to say:

PowerPoint also has music and sounds! In PP2003, go to Insert, Music and Sounds. You can then search, just like for Clip Art.

Zmama...I'm going to do that ..and guess what everyone that I will be networking for the new year will get? lol

ROFL - this is too easy! Even YOU can do it, Risque!

I was browsing the selections, and "Communications_S" is calm, but upbeat. Good for wedding cake photos. Not sure of good background music for other cakes. Anyone else have suggestions?

I think its a great idea...and I think it makes a great impression to hand someone a CD of your creations...not many people wpuld expect that. As far as people stealing your ideas for your creations: I think you run that risk every time you take a picture of your work...someone could share what they saw and get someone to duplicate it...or maybe someone shares a picture fo work you did for someone else and gets someone else to do it. I think it's a risk regardless. But, I like the image I would leave with that (potential) customer from handing them my CD.

Risque - I've got some Nine Inch Nails songs for ya, something to go with that line of cakes