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A Thread for all UK bakers!! - Page 4

post #46 of 3077
3/27/09 at 1:48pm
Thanks for the tip re setting up garnt will have to try and look into that! Good to know that you still make money doing them for £1.50 each, is that still the muffin tin sized cupcakes or the smaller "fairy cake style" tin? do you do loads of flavours?

I find the whole setting up business think very daunting, just wish you could do food hygiene and environ health and start as it is unlikely in the first year or two I will make enough to be taxed, and then there is the cost of insurance arghhhhh just hate the initial costs before you earn a penny!

I know I will never know if I don't give it a go but is seriously taking me out of my litttle £15 zone for cakes for friends!
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post #47 of 3077
3/27/09 at 3:03pm
Hi Eilidh

I've pretty much done what you said, did the food hygiene and enviro and then gone for it (not in that order actually but mainly just been small orders for friends so far, first wedding cake coming up). I was lucky to inherit a few tins and what have you so that has helped, but I'm trying not to worry too much about profit just yet as long as I cover costs. I'm doing it on a really small scale while kids are young and am working part time to help out, but it'll be worth it as have got big plans for one day.

Don't let the fear hold you back, the highs from producing your edible art will be worth it. Just think you get to make someone happy with every order icon_biggrin.gif

Where are you based? Just thought I'm probably egging on the competition here , hee hee!

icon_lol.gif
www.justdarlingcakes.co.uk
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www.justdarlingcakes.co.uk
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post #48 of 3077
3/27/09 at 10:53pm
Go for it!!!! I was like you, I'd done some evening classes and cakes for mates etc, but then I was made redundant at the end of 2007, didn't want to go back to work, so it was a case of now or never!

re the profits bit, you have to make £5,000 IN PURE PROFIT, before you pay tax! So it's not something I worry too much about. As long as you register as self employed, get your EHO and house insurance etc sorted, you are good to go. Just buy what you need as you go along. If it's specific tins/cutters etc, remember to charge the customer a portion of the cost.

The cupcakes I sell are muffin sized, and I usually have 5 or 6 flavours per market, depending on whether or not I have cookies/sweets etc. I don't suppose I make a 'wage' as such, but it's such fun doing it, I don't really mind!
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post #49 of 3077
3/28/09 at 11:43am
Thanks for all your replies on my hang ups! I am based near swindon (but orginally from Glasgow). I also have two kids that are pre-school age and gave up working a couple of years ago to look after them full time. I think that is possibly where my issue with profit is, I was a retail manager and keep on thinking profit margins etc and keep on ending up back at that sticking point! I have quite a lot of tools and luster dusts cutters etc as I love doing this anyway, I just think that if people don't pay proper prices I am wasting my time. Mind you today was at a nursery fun day and they were charging 50p for basic fairy cake sized cupcakes with icing that possibly kids do so yes surely a muffin sized one with decent decor is worth £1.50.

A friend in america sent us a link to a cupcake website that may interst you fairycakes..it is called www.sprinkles.com i think anyway the thing I loved other than their flavours and elegant designs was their packaging! Fabulous. I am slightly obsessed with how I would presen it etc....

Anyway off to bath the monsters.
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post #50 of 3077
3/28/09 at 11:52am
Hi everyone

Just Darling - thank you for the welcome and I'm beginning to find out about the addictive bit - I just keep telling hubby I'm doing my 'research' icon_wink.gif

Does your insurance cover for public and product liability. I have been advised to take both. There is so much to think about before actually getting on and doing (mind, I seem to have been thinking about doing for so long that maybe I am thinking myself into circles).

Its great that you are doing so well, it shows that there is a market out there for high quality even with the economy as it is - I just hope that there is a few spare customers for me as well (I am in Yorkshire also -we could be neighbours - who knows?)
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post #51 of 3077
3/28/09 at 11:41pm
Cakechaos (love the name!!) Everything I keep reading, which is mainly US based, says that people are still spending on things like coffee, and cupcakes, because they are relatively small spends that make them happy and take their minds off the doom and gloom!

Eilidh, I'm soooooo obsessed with packaging it's frightening! I spend hours trawling the net for boxes etc, that just don't seem to be available over here, and if they are they cost a small fortune!!!!! I had a rubber stamp made with my logo and name on in the States, and stamp each and every box, bag tag that I use! I found a fab site a couple of weeks ago that sell little clear boxes for the cupcakes at really reasonable prices. Not sure I'm allowed to post or not, but if anyone wants the details let me know!
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post #52 of 3077
3/30/09 at 3:09pm
Hi everyone! im based in belfast in northern ireland and i just set up business at christmas. been doing between 3 and 7 cakes per week and the odd batch of cupcakes but have my first wedding cupcake stand with a little cake on top in september!
im totally with you on the box problem, i bought 100 boxes eventually wholesale (they work out 80p per box and hold 6) but im absolutly gutted as they are for mini fairy cake size buns and not proper cupcakes which i make in muffin wrappers. so i cant use the seperators now i just have to set in my 6 large cupcakes into the box which just about fits but it totally defeats the purpose of having proper boxes!! i never even thought about measuring them icon_redface.gif

cake boxes are also a nightmare. i eventually found RYEPACK who sell 12x12x9 inch boxes which are cardboard and just about fit a 2 tier cake. i cut the top off if i have a figure on top. why oh why are boxes for tiered cakes not widely available? even normal cake boxes for single tiers are too low for a cake with a figure or bow on top - grrrrrr!

rant over!!
if in doubt stick on more stuff

check out my lovely cupcake shop at www.thelittlecupcakecafe.co.uk
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if in doubt stick on more stuff

check out my lovely cupcake shop at www.thelittlecupcakecafe.co.uk
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post #53 of 3077
3/30/09 at 10:41pm
Cathy, I love RYEPACK too!!! I'm keep toying with the idea of getting some of their takeaway boxes to see if they would be good for 6 cakes, and some of their 12x12 window boxes for dozens when they are for a gift.

I did email BRP to see how much it would cost to import the boxes myself, but with the USD/GBP rate as it is, it would still have cost me at least £1.50 a box, which isn't that much cheaper than people are selling them for! I might look again, should the rate ever end up more favourable!
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post #54 of 3077
3/31/09 at 3:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CakeChaos

Hi everyone

Just Darling - thank you for the welcome and I'm beginning to find out about the addictive bit - I just keep telling hubby I'm doing my 'research' icon_wink.gif

Does your insurance cover for public and product liability. I have been advised to take both. There is so much to think about before actually getting on and doing (mind, I seem to have been thinking about doing for so long that maybe I am thinking myself into circles).

Its great that you are doing so well, it shows that there is a market out there for high quality even with the economy as it is - I just hope that there is a few spare customers for me as well (I am in Yorkshire also -we could be neighbours - who knows?)



Hi Cake Chaos

Yes I've got both insurances, it's peace of mind on one hand but on the other if you mess up someones wedding day I don't hink insurance will make a whole lot of difference... it scares the life out of me.

Where are you? It would be lovely to know a cake decorator near by and I'm sure there's enough business for us both... we could dominate Yorkshire icon_smile.gif I'm in Bailiff Bridge, between Halifax and Huddersfield.

I was amazed that the orders started coming once I published my prices. I have kept them slightly lower than average as I'm still very much learning but still at £50 for a fairly basic 9" it's not cheap. I find it really helps having my prices on my website as then people know what to expect I get really shy talking about prices. The only problems are the 'favours' friends ask ... but hey ho.

Hope to hear from you soon.
Claire x
www.justdarlingcakes.co.uk
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post #55 of 3077
4/1/09 at 2:03am
Morning all.

[/quote]FairyCakes -
Cakechaos (love the name!!) Everything I keep reading, which is mainly US based, says that people are still spending on things like coffee, and cupcakes, because they are relatively small spends that make them happy and take their minds off the doom and gloom!

Hi Fairycakes - love that too. CakeChaos is pretty much how I feel at the moment, but it is happy and almost organised chaos.
I would be happy with the small spends to begin with but hoping to get some bigger spends in the not too distant future - maybe we can all keep the economy going between us. Imagine the headlines 'Cakes and CupCakes save the world'. icon_biggrin.gifthumbs_up.gif


Quote:
Quote:

Just Darling

Hi Cake Chaos

Yes I've got both insurances, it's peace of mind on one hand but on the other if you mess up someones wedding day I don't hink insurance will make a whole lot of difference... it scares the life out of me.

Where are you? It would be lovely to know a cake decorator near by and I'm sure there's enough business for us both... we could dominate Yorkshire I'm in Bailiff Bridge, between Halifax and Huddersfield.

I was amazed that the orders started coming once I published my prices. I have kept them slightly lower than average as I'm still very much learning but still at £50 for a fairly basic 9" it's not cheap. I find it really helps having my prices on my website as then people know what to expect I get really shy talking about prices. The only problems are the 'favours' friends ask ... but hey ho.



Hi Just Darling
I have checked out some insurance and think I am gonna go with BSG which offers a good package - for now anyway. I haven't really done many weddings but I know what you mean - I wonder if it ever gets any easier?

Prices arrrghhhhhhhhhhhhh. thats all I have to say on that!!!!!! I almost feel like I have to apologise for asking for any money at the moment but I fully intend to 'harden up' a bit.

Where am I?
I wonder that most days myself along with who am I and what am I doing? icon_confused.gif
I am sort of mid way between Wakefield, Barnsley and Pontefract, so am not that far away - as for dominating Yorkshire yayyy I am all for that - just need to get all my necessities in place first and off we go........ icon_biggrin.gif
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post #56 of 3077
4/1/09 at 7:45pm
Hello everyone!

I am from Canada but I will be travelling to the UK for a wedding this summer and I have been asked to do the cake. I am wondering if I can get rolled fondant and pre made gum paste somewhere over there. I will be in Dover. Can anyone let me know. Thank you.
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post #57 of 3077
4/2/09 at 5:03am
Hi J-Fo

Yes you can easily get fondant from supermarkets and cake decorating shops and the gumpaste for either modelling or flower making can be bought from cake decorating shops. Good luck I hope the cake goes well!

Can anyone help me? I need some lilac coloured marshmallows, do these exist?

Thanks
Claire
www.justdarlingcakes.co.uk
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post #58 of 3077
4/2/09 at 5:16am
Hi Claire, I haven't seen lilac coloured marshmellows. Only pink and white.

J_FO, here are some great online shops where you can buy fondant and gumpaste.

http://www.apieceofcakethame.co.uk/view_products.aspx?cid=11

http://www.makeawishcakeshop.co.uk/onlineshop/default.asp

http://www.almondart.com/acatalog/index.html

I always use COVA PASTE, but lot of decorators use RENSHAWS REGALICE. I don't like it because its very soft.

HTH.
If you put your heart and soul, there's nothing you cannot do!
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If you put your heart and soul, there's nothing you cannot do!
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post #59 of 3077
4/2/09 at 5:59am
Yaay! More UKers! Thanks for starting this thread! I'm definitely going to try out some of the recipes on here.
Do you guys prefer ready bought fondant, Marshmallow Fondant, or Michelle Foster's Delicious Fondant.
At the moment I use ready-bought, but my family aren't too keen on it so I'm not sure anymore.

Cakes,Cookies and Crafts shop does cupcake boxes, you guys might want to check that website. I do most of my shopping from there. Have Your Cake and Eat It have good stuff too.
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post #60 of 3077
4/2/09 at 6:06am
Oh and Hailinguk, your cupcakes look fantastic! I just wanna grab one out of the screen!
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