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Is there an article bashing home bakeries or something?????? - Page 2  

post #16 of 220
11/20/09 at 1:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LaBellaFlor

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.



I agree with those who suspect that a local storefront is probably saying things like that to your brides - especially since it has just started happening.

My DH worked at a golf course with a large clubhouse / catering facility. A friend told their Event Rep that another facility was telling everyone that the golf course was going bankrupt and wouldn't be in business by the time their wedding came around. Meanwhile they were flourishing and nothing could have been further from the truth.

If brides are interviewing others, someone else may be planting these ideas.
post #17 of 220
11/20/09 at 2:03pm
Man, I just can't imagine dissing the competition publicly (what I say to DH at home is another thing....).
post #18 of 220
11/20/09 at 2:05pm
Like life isn't hard enough as it is huh--this makes me tired.

But it's only conjecture--nobody knows for sure--so the good news is--do a little creative marketing/education like Indy suggested and maybe just consider also offering the idea of meeting at a cool coffee shop.

It might just be that they know someone in another state that got a bad deal from a home baker.

I'd try & forget the possible sabotage and be grateful for the heads up that ultimately can strengthen your business. Yes?
 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

post #19 of 220
11/20/09 at 2:09pm
Yeah, as many can contest to in here, those that dis publicly and try to sabotage usually end up being the ones that lose. You have the license, you have the past experience and satisfied people....fugghedabout it. That new bakery might go broke soon....and back to business as usual. If that has anything to do with anything.
post #20 of 220
11/20/09 at 2:10pm
Thread Starter 
I get leary with customers in my house as well, but I feel that holding my consultations offsite may give them the feeling that I am hiding something. When a customer goes into a bakery, they get to see where their cake is being made, to check for cleanliness, etc. I by no means at all think your way is wrong. icon_smile.gif I actually thought of doing that when I first started, but I don't think I want to try something new at this time.
post #21 of 220
11/20/09 at 2:26pm
You've got to do what works best for you. I know most of the home bakers in our area hold consults at their home, but with 2 young children its a safety issue for me (paranoid, I know!), and the customers don't seem to mind. PM me with your info, I'd love to have someone else to refer customers to!
post #22 of 220
11/20/09 at 2:31pm
I own a storefront. When we meet with brides who announce they are going to " shop around" or some such phrase, we ABSOLUTELY do remind them that -

1- We are the only baker in the area with an A rating from both the health department and Better Business Bureau

2- That we have a a staff of 5 full time pastry chefs and that most home bakers are 1 peson operations. We remind them that they should ask what happens if they get sick on the Thursday or Friday before their Saturday wedding. ( I them show them the print out we have of the CC pages pointing out that bakers and their kids get sick all the time, and they cancel cakes on short notice when they do, or worse yet, they actually make the cake when they are contageous)

There ARE benefits to buying your cake from a commercial bakery, just like their are benefits from buying from a home baker ( no overhead, usually more fexibility, knowing exactly who is going to make your cake etc.) It would be foolish of a storefront baker not to point out the upside of doing business with her. It sounds to me like you need to work on your sales pitch.
Scratch bakers of the world UNITE !!
Inrideo ergo sum ~ I snark therefore I am.
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Scratch bakers of the world UNITE !!
Inrideo ergo sum ~ I snark therefore I am.
Cake or Death?......Cake Please!
post #23 of 220
11/20/09 at 3:14pm
I don't hold consults in my home because, frankly, I don't feel like putting my house on show when it's not my house I'm selling. I have 2 kids with TONS of toys and I don't feel like having to rush around cleaning my house spic-and-span before clients come over.

I meet them at Starbucks LOL

Or Panera Bread.

And I STILL don't have Brides booking with me. I don't care too much, though. Since i am a home baker, I don't NEED the business. I take business as it comes, as I feel comfortable in allotting time for.

My point is, don't take it personally. You win some, you lose some. thumbs_up.gif
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post #24 of 220
11/20/09 at 3:57pm
I work out of my home and I specifically tell people that I'm licensed, but I also add "the Health inspector comes and inspects my kitchen." For some reason, people always say "REALLY?" to that. I don't know what they think I mean when I say I'm inspected, but for some reason pointing out that the health inspector actually walks through the door and look inside my house seems to be a novel idea.

This does sound like someone is bashing home businesses in general, or your business specifically. It's not unheard of, even though it's totally unprofessional.
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post #25 of 220
11/20/09 at 4:09pm
My kitchen is licensed and insured but still I do feel like it turns people off. I have four boys and sometimes my kids are out playing when people come and pick up a cake and stuff...and other little things I wish could be more professional but I can only work with what I have...but anyway yeah I do think it turns some people off...maybe especially brides.

Honestly I don't know if I'd have ordered a cake from a home baker myself when I got married (for full price)! The people who do order seem like they are shocked (and happy) that their cake that they pick up actually looks professional (like the ones on my website, some say...well REALLY? haha) because I'm doing it from home.
post #26 of 220
11/20/09 at 4:33pm
I work from home also, not licensed just for friends and their friends and so on.... I work a full time job with a wonderful company good pay, excellent benefits. As much as I'd love to have that full time dream it's not likely to happen. When I have a referral that I don't know I usually meet them at Books-a Million coffee shop. I bring samples and and buy their coffee, I've never left without a commitment (deposit). I only have time to make 3-4 cakes a month so I guess I'm not a threat to anyone LOL
post #27 of 220
11/20/09 at 4:37pm
Thread Starter 
[quote="snarkybaker"]I own a storefront. When we meet with brides who announce they are going to " shop around" or some such phrase, we ABSOLUTELY do remind them that -.[/qu

Not trying to bash storefront owners, or get into a home versus store front wars lol , just replying to her post:

Just out of curiousity, how do you know that you are the only
baker in your area with an A rating from the health inspector and BBB?

As far as people working while they are sick......I have a back up plan and would never, ever, ever cancel on someone at the last minute.Store fronts could very well do the same thing. Lets say you book enough cakes for the amount of employees that you have. 2 are sick that week. Do you have a backup plan to fulfill their orders?? Also, if my kids are sick, they are NOT allowed into my seperate bakery room. You also have sick people coming in and out of your bakery.

Not to be rude, but I don't think that I need to work on my sales pitch. I don't feel it's necesary to waste my time telling people why they need to book with a home bakery versus a store front. The one thing I do tell them is that I only do 2-3 cakes a week, so that I can focus on their cake and make it the best quality they deserve. I don't even mention storefront bakery in that sentence. I simply show them my portfolio, tell them about my experience, draw up some ideas for them, let them try samples, and give them the price. I don't push them into purchasing from me, and let them think about it. It sounds to me that you are focusing on keeping brides away from home bakers versus yourself.I really can't believe you have printed things off of CC to help yourself get a sale. If your work is good, you'll get the cake. I guess everyone has their own method though. If that is what works for you....go for it.
post #28 of 220
11/20/09 at 6:47pm
Michele - I am betting it is the economy right now. You know what you do works most of the time. I wouldn't sweat it. I am with you, I do not put down any of the bakers in my area. Why try to make someone else look bad - I know what I think of folks that do that.
Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
post #29 of 220
11/20/09 at 7:04pm
I guess I look at it as if I am not dead, the cake will be there. I got up less than 10 days after surgery because I had a wedding to do. I am a one person operation and there is no shame in that.

I did have 1 person that didn't book with me because of it and I say more power to her!

I don't think there is a need to mention the competition either. The bride is there to see what you can do. I am really amazed by some of the comments here.
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post #30 of 220
11/20/09 at 7:18pm
[quote="Loucinda" I am with you, I do not put down any of the bakers in my area. Why try to make someone else look bad - I know what I think of folks that do that.[/quote]

thumbs_up.gif

I couldn't agree more and as an owner of 2 businesses I wouldn't stoop to that level.

As a consumer, NOTHING turns me off more then a salesperson that bashes his/her competition....NOTHING.

As a licensed home baker myself I think we need to "advertise" to our clients the fact that we are licensed, inspected and insured. I know my clients appreciate the fact that it's just me making their entire cake in a controlled atmosphere.

Hey, BW doesn't happen to live in your town does she? I know she's NOT a fan of home bakers....... icon_rolleyes.gif Know what I'd say to her....tough! lol
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