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Is there an article bashing home bakeries or something??????  

post #1 of 220
11/20/09 at 12:32pm
Thread Starter 
I don't know what is going on lately with brides. I have had my licensed home bakery for 2 years now. No one has ever had a problem with my establishment, and they are usually quite pleased when they see my set up. I have pretty much booked every consultation that I have had. I know that is not realistic, but in the past two months things have changed. I have had two no shows after they found out I was a a licensed home baker. Have had people show up and tell me that they had to be honest, but they were leary about coming to someone's home. They all end up saying they were impressed with my work, and felt better about it though. Only to go home and not book. Then send an email saying they are going with another vendor, but will refer me to their friends who are getting married. Why say something like that? Your friends aren't going to order from the person you didn't order from. Then I have customers email me, ask for a quote, and request a consultation, only to ignore me after I tell them it's in my home. I don't get it. Is there an article in a bride magazine saying not to order from us, or are big bakeries bashing us with the economy? Or....maybe people are just going with the cheapest decorator. I do a thorough cleaning everytime I have consultations, so I know it's not that. I am just getting really agravated. icon_mad.gif
post #2 of 220
11/20/09 at 12:45pm
one of the "Ten Questions to ask your (any weddingvendor)", is "are you licensed and insured?" Then usually a short discussion on legal home bakers vs. storefront bakers.

Do you have an FAQ page where you can list that you are licensed and inspected? When they ask for an appointment, do you nip it in the bud with, "Consultations are in my home as I am a legal, licensed home bakery ... just as clean, legal and licensed as any storefront bakery only without the higher overhead! If needed, I can provide copies of my license and insurance to your venue, as I know that some require that before they let just any cake come in. Now, I have Tuesday and Thursday open ... which works best for you?"

It sounds like they don't understand the difference so you just need to spend a little time educating them. thumbs_up.gif
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post #3 of 220
11/20/09 at 12:57pm
Indy, You always give the best advice. thumbs_up.gif
post #4 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
I usually tell them in the email that I am insured and licensed/inspected by the Va. Dept. of Agriculture. I figured letting them know that I get inspections, they would feel better about it. I like how you have worded it, and may use that if you are ok with it. icon_smile.gif I have a FAQ page that I give them as well. I also have a portfolio where the first two pages are my business license and my inspection certificate. I just don't know.... Not going to give up though. I am still getting orders, just not as many as I would like. Thanks Indydebi.
post #5 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:04pm
Soooooo, which bakery/storefront did ya' piss off? Your story sounds like it is the result of some doing much more closer and personal than some random magazine articles.
post #6 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:12pm
Thread Starter 
Jamie, what do you mean by that? I don't even talk about storefront bakeries, other home bakeries, or any other competition. That has always been my number 1 rule when talking to customers. If you need to trash talk another bakery, you obviously aren't confident enough in your own. That is not the way to make a sale. I don't know if that is what you mean, (not saying this in a hostile tone.) icon_smile.gif Please explain.
post #7 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michele01

Jamie, what do you mean by that? I don't even talk about storefront bakeries, other home bakeries, or any other competition. That has always been my number 1 rule when talking to customers. If you need to trash talk another bakery, you obviously aren't confident enough in your own. That is not the way to make a sale. I don't know if that is what you mean, (not saying this in a hostile tone.) icon_smile.gif Please explain.



I don't know what you do and don't say about your competition, I have no clue. My impression, by what you said, is that this is the result of someone local to you. Sorry, that's my impression. Suggesting that this is not the result of magazines, or anything else. It's a possibility.
post #8 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:19pm
It's possible to get the attention of another bakery by being good at what you do and being a real competitor to them. Puts them in the "uh-oh!" mentality. A small minded person would/could make "little comments" to potential customers such as "Oh yeah! She does good work. She's a home baker though ..... never know about some of those!" icon_rolleyes.gif Seemingly innocent but a jab is a jab and it plants the negative thought.

Not saying this is what's being done, but you don't hvae to flat out say anything bad about someone to tick 'em off.
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post #9 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:20pm
But you say you never mention other bakeries, so I guess that's not it. It was a thought though, because something or someone gave them second thoughts. It's just odd to hear that people are truly freaked out by something like that, especially after having visited. I think people give those magazine articles a little too much credit. I have never encountered anyone spouting that garbage at one of my consults.
post #10 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydebi

It's possible to get the attention of another bakery by being good at what you do and being a real competitor to them. Puts them in the "uh-oh!" mentality. A small minded person would/could make "little comments" to potential customers such as "Oh yeah! She does good work. She's a home baker though ..... never know about some of those!" icon_rolleyes.gif Seemingly innocent but a jab is a jab and it plants the negative thought.

Not saying this is what's being done, but you don't hvae to flat out say anything bad about someone to tick 'em off.



Yes! Thank you, this too!
post #11 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:30pm
Thread Starter 
I don't know if storefront bakeries are bashing the home bakeries or what. I guess my only thought is that there is a bakery that just opened up down the street from me. We don't really have that many store front bakeries around here. It seems to be a chain bakery from the website. Maybe people see them and they are taking the brides. They have more money to advertise with, so maybe that is the case. Don't know, just needed to vent.
post #12 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:32pm
Michele, I'm in your neck of the woods! Its interesting the customers are leary of going into someone's house--I'm leary of having the clients come to mine icon_smile.gif I hold my consults off-site; I think this takes the focus off "home-business" and onto the cakes. Sometimes I don't hear back when I'm scheduling a consult and tell them I am licensed out of my home, but I've never actually been told they are uncomfortable with me working out of my home.
post #13 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:36pm
I was in a coffee shop in St Helena California just North of Napa, muy uber upscale area, and would you believe a florist was conducting a wedding consult at the big round table right next to mine--it was fascinating.
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

post #14 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:41pm
I'm with Jaime & Indy. You are possing a threat to some store-front, and they may be making slight of hand comments. I'm located in Central VA and the most popular baker here is at home-based.

Or I could be wrong.
post #15 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:46pm
You must be wrong, because sleight of hand means prestidigitation. icon_razz.gif


*just to be a know-it-all*
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Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating Business › Is there an article bashing home bakeries or something??????