"sorry Ms. Levy, It Doesn't Seem You Made An Appointmen
Business By nglez09 Updated 3 Jan 2007 , 8:29am by PieceofCakeAZ
Appointment only! I'm not a full-time baker and even still I don't keep inventory sitting around because I have no other place to put it.
If I had a store-front it might be a different senario, but the key word being MIGHT...
It depends on what kind of business you have. If you have a storefront, most people depend on walk-ins for keeping the rent paid.
If you work from home, with our without a separate kitchen, generally appointment only, regardless.
If you have a shop, and only do cakes, it would again depend on where you are, and how much business you have/need.
But what about people coming in to talk about a future cake w/o having called beforehand?
I do most of that via email, thru my internet ads and my website. I've signed a lease on a commercial space, but it's pretty much going to be a commercial kitchen "by appt only" with an area to meet with brides AFTER they make an appointment. If someone walks in to get information, I can give them the information but they will still need to set an appt for a sampling.
My sampling/consultations take about an hour to 90 minutes, depending on what kind of questions they ask. I'm not sure how I would be able to just drop everything I'm doing to do a 90 minute consultation on the spot.
For example: Someone walks in on Friday morning at 10:30 and wants to do an impromptu consultation. I'm sorry, but on Friday morning at 10:30, I'm swamped with trying to plan the cooking, the baking, the logistics, the equipment, the staffing for the 2 or 3 weddings that I have tomorrow. What if they walk in on MOnday morning? That's when I'm making sure all of the equipment, dishes, etc., have been put away properly, I'm restocking equipment containers, (i.e. for example, I have containers that hold my chocolate fountain equipment. On Monday after a wedding, I make sure it is stocked with the fountains, that the fountains have been cleaned properly, the cords are in there, 2 power strips, an extension cord, 150 disposable plates, napkins, a plastic tablecover, etc., so that it's ready to go on the next job); and I'm seeing what I have to order from my food suppliers for the jobs next weekend. There's nothing worse that showing up at a wedding and not having the power cords you need to run the fountain! 
I'm only trying to say that it depends on how you are going to structure your business and what your impromptu availability will be. Understand that mine may differ from your plan because I'm not just a wedding cake maker, I'm also a caterer. What works for one may not work for another. Doesn't make it good or bad.....just makes it different. 
I have a bakery and while I am usually always in the shop - I am Appointment Only! I am busy making cakes - I don't have time for people that decided to just show up - especially if I am in the middle of whipping egg whites or cooking a simple sryup - you can't just walk away from those kinds of things. Most Brides know that bakers need a heads up and usually call ahead.
I have a store front, a locked door, a doorbell and a security camera.
I prefer appointments but since I also do alot of birthday cakes I will open the door. If I am too busy to discuss weddings I will apologize and ask for an appointment. Most people understand when I explain our set up. I have had a couple of them get pissy, but oh well! They probably weren't serious anyway.
My daughter works with me and she is usually able to take birthday appointments.
mpc
I have a store front, a locked door, a doorbell and a security camera.
Awesome!!!!!!
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Look, they're not buying socks or Big Macs. They are wanting information on a specially designed cake "just for them". That's a little more involved than walking up to Walmart's counter and saying "I want that one". 
That's exactly what I want MPC! EXACTLY!
When people ring the doorbell, what do you do if you're cooking a syrup or egg whites? I plan on going at this alone one day for the first while . . .
Like I say there is usually 2 of us there. But if I can't get to the door I just can't.
I do get calls from people who say I came to your shop and no one answered the door. I probably have some good excuse to give them.
But I am serious about my business and I make every attempt to answer the door and if I can't I will post a note in the door window.
It's my business and I run it the way I want to. The customers are my boss and I decide who I want to work for. I like to work for alot of customers so that is why I have this set up. For now it works for me.
mpc
I have a store front, a locked door, a doorbell and a security camera.
Same here... sans the doorbell. 
We do get pop-ins from time to time and if we happen to have some samples ready we send them away with something but we almost never meet with a pop in bride on the spot due to our work schedule.
I mostly work by appointments for weddings. Birthday people usually just call and order, although I have had call-ins for weddings, usually we discuss on the phone what they want, they'll e-mail me a photo or tell me where they saw the one they want after reviewing their request I give them the price, they send the deposit in the mail. I do not keep my shop locked, however I do have a security entry that lets me know when someone has come onto my driveway from the highway. I will take a walk-in for a wedding providing I am not in the middle of something crucial. I just give them a cup of coffee, and the books, and tell them I will be with them as soon as I can, they are usually very understanding. I don't do samples, and as long as I have been doing this I think only 2 times I did, and they were both out of state, and I just shipped them.
Great. Do you guys have any signs in your store's windows?
Yes I have a generic 9x13 sign from Office Depot posting my hours.
right now i am at home so it's appointment only and usually has to be after 5pm since i also have a home day care
once i get my storefront i will be an open door, however, weddings and big occasions will be by appointment. my door will be open for customers to look through my books etc but no orders will be made without a consult for weddings and big occasions. i will allow call ins for simple parties if i'm givein free range with some ideas for what they want on it.
i also plan on having pies and cookies sold by whole pie, piece and cookies each or bulk that will be in a showcase in the front of my store.
Great. Do you guys have any signs in your store's windows?
Just our name & web address on the door. We don't even have our hours posted because the City inspector said it was OK since we are actually "never open".
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