A Thread For All Uk Bakers!!

Decorating By hailinguk Updated 25 Aug 2017 , 10:29am by Magic Mouthfuls

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Davwattie Posted 12 Jun 2011 , 4:37pm
post #2011 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanmarco5

Does anyone know of a good pl;ace to buy the basics, like boards boxes etc. My local; shop is basically naff! only open 3 days a week, 10-1, and so over priced, I have bought of the cake stuff website, but wondered if anyone can recommend anyone else?
Thanks




When i know what i want in advance i use sugarshack the most, good prices and svc but most of the time use the people on the Market.

Check to see if there is an indoor Market nearby that has a cake supplies stall.

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sanmarco5 Posted 12 Jun 2011 , 5:14pm
post #2012 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davwattie

Quote:
Originally Posted by sanmarco5

Does anyone know of a good pl;ace to buy the basics, like boards boxes etc. My local; shop is basically naff! only open 3 days a week, 10-1, and so over priced, I have bought of the cake stuff website, but wondered if anyone can recommend anyone else?
Thanks



When i know what i want in advance i use sugarshack the most, good prices and svc but most of the time use the people on the Market.

Check to see if there is an indoor Market nearby that has a cake supplies stall.




No indoor market sadly icon_sad.gif and nearest decent shop is 4o min drive and i dont drive

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sanmarco5 Posted 12 Jun 2011 , 5:17pm
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Will have a look at the web sites you reccomend and see how prices compare, thanks x

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Rosiepan Posted 12 Jun 2011 , 5:26pm
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Yeah I do agree with what you say, it's just difficult!
I am doin g a wedding cake this week (for the brother of my son's ex girlfriend!) and told them £150, my Hubby went mad because I havent one a wedding cake (apart from gifts) for 8 years & I charged £150 for that one!!
BUT, although it sounds cheap, it is still a decent profit, and she did only want fabric flowers, but I couldnt find them (silly me didnt look on ebay) so offered to make sugar ones, and surprisingly they only took me about 4 hours, which isnt too bad.

Men icon_confused.gif They have no idea.What other trade or skill would you expect to be paid about 50p an hour? you need to trawl some cake sites and find cakes similar to the one you are doing and highlight the prices.Also calculate the hours it takes you to work on this cake when you do it and then work out exactly how much you earned an hour.
I have a colleague who is dropping heavy hints for me to do a wedding cake for her and is shocked at the cost of the cakes she has looked at. 400 is too expensive for her as she is on a budget, fair enough but the posh hotel she is getting married at is charging 70 pound per head. icon_rolleyes.gif
I told her if I am available to do it next year and she goes out and buys all the supplies and I mean all then I will do it but I am not running around on my petrol on my time .

Its the kiddies cakes that I think peop[le don't want to pay for, had another girl send me an email on facebook the other day, the mum of a little boy who use to go to the nursery I worked in, so an aquaintance, not really a friend, anyway message said 'i really love your cakes etc, can you make one for J, I don't mind paying you'!! so I basiclally sent a message back saying that my cakes start from £30, and have heard nothing since! LOL

Thats the problem they want Asda prices but not Asda cakes. Some genuinly don't get it all they see is the eggs and flour. I had to pop in Asda today and had a close look at their new cake range and the undecorated fruit cake.OMG they are so badly put together, hardly centred on the board properly and so small with no depth.

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 12 Jun 2011 , 7:38pm
post #2015 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeSooz

Sorry - another question (I'm on a mission this morning). I'm looking for some edible images to put onto some cupcakes for a business launch. I don't have a printer, does anyone know a good place to get it done? Have done some googling, but mostly come up with places in the US.




Hi I do edible images and will sell them if people ask for them and post out. I don't advertise them for sale on website but I often do if people call and need them. I don't like the ebay ones as a lot are rice paper not actual edible icing sheets icon_smile.gif

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 12 Jun 2011 , 7:44pm
post #2016 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by sanmarco5

I am struggling with pricing, I did a 12" fruit for work make (its the blue & white christening cake in my album) charged her £50 which I thought a decent profit & she was happy with it, have also done a couple of shaped ones (peppa pig & timmy the sheep) and charged £30, they are quite big (14" or 12x16 boards) not great profit but OK. then someone else enquired about a 'Fosters can' I told her £30 and she didnt come back to me, but oh well, her loss!
Anyway I mentioned before doing this number one cake for £20, I planned on it being pretty basic, but being me I cant do basic LOL, so it was really worth a lot more then the £20 he paid (or hasnt paid yet!) but my hubby took it into work this morning & loads of people saw it & have asked about cakes, one in particular being the castle cake i made for my daughter ten years ago (in my album) it took me hours, and I said I wouldnt make another, but this lady want's one for her grand daughter & i am thinking i havfe a lot more experience now so maybe it wouldnt take so long, what do you think? based on what I have been charging for the other cakes, how much should I tell her for this one?
Thanks




Hi there, you do need to try to factor in some of your time into the price even if you do it as enjoyment or to build up some more business. It's great for building up portfolio but if everyone knows wow I can get a number 1 with all that on it for £20 everyone will expect it and that isn't fair on a) your talent and b) your time involved. Your castle cake is lovely. to give you an idea my castle cake I charged £125 for the 2 tiers with all sugar modelling. As you know they aren't the kind of cake that takes an hour to whip up icon_smile.gif Why not get a bit of a price structure then offer friends say 10% discount mates rate on these prices. HTH

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idontknow Posted 12 Jun 2011 , 10:52pm
post #2017 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davwattie

Quote:
Originally Posted by idontknow

i've just spotted this item on ebay, it looks a lot like the Agbay, anyone had any experience with it?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Large-Cake-Leveller-Levels-Torts-Cakes-Craft-leveller-/180678034773?pt=Uk_Crafts_Cake_Decorating_MJ&hash=item2a11400555[/url]



I saw this a while back so now I've got some funds in my paypal account am gonna order on I think, can't be any worse than the rubbish Wilton one.




oh yes do let us know if it works, because once i saw the video of the Agbay in action, i was sold!

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SamHarrison Posted 13 Jun 2011 , 2:04pm
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Hey again everybody! Well I've been rather poorly so have been cuddled on the sofa icon_sad.gif Didn't even so much as set foot in my kitchen for 5 whole days! That was so strange! How is everyone?
Well I'm getting back into the caking swing of things again. I have a business course thing on Thursday and will be concentrating on getting all set up then, how exciting! I have had the order for my friends wedding cake and I'm now pricing it up properly for her. I will be doing some practice stacking cakes before then to make sure I can get it perfect but I've been looking at different ways of stacking. She wants a carrot cake as the bottom tier and my carrot cake is so moist, I don't know how well it'd hold up under a 10" and an 8" on top of it. I was looking at the SPS system. Has anybody used it or know of anything they like better? I've been looking online and it certainly looks like it's reasonably priced but I haven't seen anywhere in the UK that does it. Does anyone know of where I can get it in the UK?

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idontknow Posted 13 Jun 2011 , 2:53pm
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Hi sam, sorry to hear you've been ill.

about stacking, it shouldn't really matter what cakes are on top of each other as if you've dowelled them properly, the weight of the cake rests on the dowels and not on the cake below. i'm sure more experienced stackers will be able to chime in on this one. I haven't looked at the SPS system but I have seen something similar offered in decorating shops, maybe it's the wilton system?

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Davwattie Posted 13 Jun 2011 , 4:32pm
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I agree with idontknow that if you have good support in the cake it won't matter what's at the bottom.

I used bubble tea straws in the black and White 3 tier cake I did recently and it was fine and boy was that cake heavy!

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SamHarrison Posted 13 Jun 2011 , 4:58pm
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bubble tea straws? I take it they're like kids drinking straws but bigger? I have some of those in the cupboard that are maybe a little smaller than a centimetre across. Does that sound right?

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Davwattie Posted 13 Jun 2011 , 5:30pm
post #2022 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by SamHarrison

bubble tea straws? I take it they're like kids drinking straws but bigger? I have some of those in the cupboard that are maybe a little smaller than a centimetre across. Does that sound right?




If you just type in bubble tea straws on ebay there is one place in UK that sells them on there called viet mart which is where I had mine from.

They come in different colours and are about 1cm wide.

I used to use the ones out of Asda that are wider than normal straws and they worked fine

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Noobz Posted 14 Jun 2011 , 9:11am
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I just used bubble tea straws on a 3 tier as well, the bottom tier was over 10 kilos but I didn't weigh the other two, i've still got arm ache and it was on saturday. I got them from viet mart on ebay as well.

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sanmarco5 Posted 14 Jun 2011 , 9:46am
post #2024 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rosiepan




I have a colleague who is dropping heavy hints for me to do a wedding cake for her and is shocked at the cost of the cakes she has looked at. 400 is too expensive for her as she is on a budget, fair enough but the posh hotel she is getting married at is charging 70 pound per head. icon_rolleyes.gif
I told her if I am available to do it next year and she goes out and buys all the supplies and I mean all then I will do it but I am not running around on my petrol on my time .


.




we went to a wedding last year that was £60 a head, was beautiful lovely old castle type building, amazing food, everything was perfect until I saw the cake, i almost laughed out loud. I was a cupcake tower, shop bought cupcakes, just the basic type you can buy for 12 for £1.50 with rice paper roses stuck on top, all 'chucked' onto a stand, a total mess, they look stupid standing in the photo's with the cake knife poised cutting nothing! LOL

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Carlascakes1977 Posted 14 Jun 2011 , 3:08pm
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I use www.cakecraftworld.com for all my bits and mixs and www.caketopperdesigns.co.uk for all my edible icing sheets (although they do wafter too but I prefer the very thin icing.

The print is fantastic quality too!!!

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WeeSooz Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 12:45pm
post #2026 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by allaboutcakeuk

Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeSooz

Sorry - another question (I'm on a mission this morning). I'm looking for some edible images to put onto some cupcakes for a business launch. I don't have a printer, does anyone know a good place to get it done? Have done some googling, but mostly come up with places in the US.



Hi I do edible images and will sell them if people ask for them and post out. I don't advertise them for sale on website but I often do if people call and need them. I don't like the ebay ones as a lot are rice paper not actual edible icing sheets icon_smile.gif




Thank you - I'll maybe give you a wee shout when I know for definate if the order is going ahead if that's ok? icon_smile.gif

On a different subject, I saw some cupcakes recently in a book that had been dipped in fondant. Does anyone know what kind of fondant can be heated in that way for dipping? I've been using supermarket fondant, but somehow I think that just might turn into a minging mess if I tried melting it! icon_biggrin.gif

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Rosiepan Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 1:08pm
post #2027 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeSooz

Quote:
Originally Posted by allaboutcakeuk

Quote:
Originally Posted by WeeSooz

Sorry - another question (I'm on a mission this morning). I'm looking for some edible images to put onto some cupcakes for a business launch. I don't have a printer, does anyone know a good place to get it done? Have done some googling, but mostly come up with places in the US.



Hi I do edible images and will sell them if people ask for them and post out. I don't advertise them for sale on website but I often do if people call and need them. I don't like the ebay ones as a lot are rice paper not actual edible icing sheets icon_smile.gif



Thank you - I'll maybe give you a wee shout when I know for definate if the order is going ahead if that's ok? icon_smile.gif

On a different subject, I saw some cupcakes recently in a book that had been dipped in fondant. Does anyone know what kind of fondant can be heated in that way for dipping? I've been using supermarket fondant, but somehow I think that just might turn into a minging mess if I tried melting it! icon_biggrin.gif



http://www.cakejournal.com/archives/how-to-cover-cupcakes-with-poured-fondant
This may help

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Carlascakes1977 Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 1:19pm
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How about the fondant from Squires Kitchen??

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jakip Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 1:26pm
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Silver Spoon do a powdered fondant which you just add water, there is a receipe on the box for a dripping fondant ( its the same one for the top of bakewell tarts)

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sanmarco5 Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 2:25pm
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I always thought the type you dipped was called fondant, the rolled type was sugarpaste, well thats what i have always called it anyway!!

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idontknow Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 2:28pm
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another question aimed at those who currently sell their cakes...

how do you do consultations/tastings? do you hold them at your own home? do any of you hold them in coffee shops and bring along a box of different flavours etc?

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sanmarco5 Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 2:34pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by idontknow

another question aimed at those who currently sell their cakes...

how do you do consultations/tastings? do you hold them at your own home? do any of you hold them in coffee shops and bring along a box of different flavours etc?



In 24 years of making cakes no one has ever asked to taste! Only make for friends though and friends of friends.
Not sure a coffe shop would approve might see you as competition!

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idontknow Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 3:02pm
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oh i didn't think of that ie no tastings! i guess i just see it so much on here that i assumed it was standard practice for cakers in the UK too. So what about for wedding cakes, do brides not want to try out different flavours and talk through a deisign in person? Do you decide all design details over the phone/email?

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idontknow Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 3:24pm
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oh i didn't think of that ie no tastings! i guess i just see it so much on here that i assumed it was standard practice for cakers in the UK too. So what about for wedding cakes, do brides not want to try out different flavours and talk through a deisign in person? Do you decide all design details over the phone/email?

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sanmarco5 Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 4:09pm
post #2035 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by idontknow

oh i didn't think of that ie no tastings! i guess i just see it so much on here that i assumed it was standard practice for cakers in the UK too. So what about for wedding cakes, do brides not want to try out different flavours and talk through a deisign in person? Do you decide all design details over the phone/email?




Am making a weddi g cake for saturday, my sons ex's brother. His fiance emailed sent a pic, she hadnt even seen my cakes, i sent her a link to my photos she preferred one of my cakes, sent email saying she thought maybe fruit cake but her fiance diesnt like it, so suggested half fruit half vanilla sponge. She dropped deposit through mydoor, have never met her in person.
i generally only offer fruit cake vanilla or choc sponge and never had any complaints. Its more about the decorating for me

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idontknow Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 4:20pm
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thanks for your input sanmarco! does anybody else offer tastings/consultations or not?

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napa Posted 15 Jun 2011 , 8:03pm
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I offer tastings for weddings and large events. I bake from home and meet clients at home in my front reception room. They do not go further into my house as I keep the rest of the space private.

Weddings - bride plus one other person (often MOB, grooms don't seem bothered!), tasting up to 3 cake flavours and 3 frosting flavours. They can eat cake while looking at my pics/ back copies of WCADS etc to point out things they like/don't like. Then we figure out a design and I do a sketch and they pick flavours.

Large events - depending of size of event depends on the number of flavours to taste - 2 or 3, again up to 2 people. Similar to wedding tastings - look at pics, sketch the design.

If anyone ordering smaller cakes wants a tasting they have to order cupcakes, I don't meet for those consults, either by phone or e-mail

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sanmarco5 Posted 16 Jun 2011 , 8:23am
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I just worked out the cost of the wedding cake i am making this week & I am shocked!!!
I am charging £150, which I guessed was about £100 profit, but having worked it out, it came in at around £78! so £72 profit for about 20 hours work!
I did have to pay through the nose for silver pillars which i had a job to find & one tier is fruit which adds a bit to costs, plus its heart shaped so boards a little more expensive, but i honestly didnt realise they cost that much!
Also I have had to buy a few colouings etc and opted to buy whole rolls of ribbon of ebay (only worked out the cost per metre when working out the price) along with a few other bits & pieces that I didnt have (due to not making many cakes in the past 8 years) so probably come out of it with about £50 profit tops! (which I already spent on stuff for the 4 cakes i am making at cost (and probably now I have worked it out properly less than cost!) for a friend at the end of the month icon_sad.gif
Really need to sort my prices out icon_sad.gif

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LisaPeps Posted 16 Jun 2011 , 9:28am
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That £50 is not profit. You are working for £2.50 per hour and making £0 profit. Did you factor in electric/gas/water/cleaning products? You are actually paying them to let you make them a cake.

What sizes were the cakes and how many tiers?

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sanmarco5 Posted 16 Jun 2011 , 9:32am
post #2040 of 25877
Quote:
Originally Posted by LisaPeps

That £50 is not profit. You are working for £2.50 per hour and making £0 profit. Did you factor in electric/gas/water/cleaning products? You are actually paying them to let you make them a cake.

What sizes were the cakes and how many tiers?




I added £5 for gas/electricity etc. it is a 3 tier, 10" fruit & 6", 8" sponge, hand made flowers, on pillars (struggled with pillars no one seems to sell them!)

It had a little plaster bride & groom on tops, looks disgusting, have extra flowers and have made a small spray for top & am sending pics to bride this evening to try & persuade her to have the flowers instead! LOL
will post pic tomorrow x

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