Being Accused Of Stealing Fondant Flowers (Sorry Long)
Decorating By momma28 Updated 24 Sep 2010 , 9:38pm by Redsoxbaker
I am boiling! I got a call today from a vendor that I work with alot at one of my venues. She said that one of the other area cake people sent a letter to the venue accusing me of using the fondant flowers off of her dummy (on display at venue) for one of my brides cakes!!! This bride asked me for a design similar to one she had made. I tried to direct her to that cake decorator but she insisted she didnt like the way her cakes tasted and she didnt want her to do her cake. I did the cake a few months ago. It was larger and covered in a mass more flowers all of which were more dimensional than those on her cake. I made every single one of them, all 150 of them. Plus honestly, you cant think you have the market on white cakes with white flowers, THEY ARE WEDDING CAKES.
She is now taking the flowers off of her dummies (how im not sure since mine are always attached with RI) and marking her initals in sharpie on the back of them. I DO NOT NEED TO STEAL HER OLD FONDANT FLOWERS. I am more than capable of making my own that look nicer anyway! This woman has never liked me and looks at me with much less than kindness when we are at the same event.
We are polar opposites, she uses boxed, i make from scratch, she makes crisco cream, I use smbc, she uses alot of non sugar items on her cakes (ribbons, laces, flowers) I like for everything on my cakes to be sugar. I am more expensive than her but have a lower profit margin because of my ingredients. I only take 1 MAYBE 2 cakes in a week and she will take a mass at once. I am not a threat, there are only so many weddings I am willing to do. I know she doesnt like me (I really dont know why, I have neverbeen anything but nice to her, honestly) but accuse me of stealing her flowers, REALLY,?!?!?!?! It is obvious I wasnt supposed to know about this, I really want to say something to the management since I feel like she is badmouthing my busniness and professionalism. FURIOUS
I can tell you are pretty upset about this. I would be as well. To be honest I don't know if her letter even dignifies a response from you. I don't know if the venue would even believe such a silly thing or even care to be in the middle of a cat fight. I think you should just keep doing what you are doing and keep your distance from her. I think if you feel you need to respond, to take a few days to calm down first. Good luck!
The nutball sent the letter to the venue, and another vendor heard about it, telling you...right? Has the VENUE said anything to you? If not, don't worry about it. Laugh it off. As long as the venue hasn't said anything, there's no need for concern. They may think she's just a nutball and ignore her rant.
Sounds like the woman feels insecure and feels threatened by you, maybe a little desperate. I would not waste my time worrying about it. If your work is that much more superior than hers, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Just keep doing your best and keep your head up. You know the real truth about what happened. Maybe send a letter back to venue stating how you hate that someone had accused you of a thing such as this and it is not in character for you to conduct business in this dishonest manner plus how you are saddened that someone had wasted their time with such a false accusation.
Obviously the venue took it seriously if they mentioned it to the vendor. You need to take it seriously too. A rumor like that could hurt your reputation.
Personally, I would send her a certified letter telling her you're aware that she is slandering you to the venue, that her accusations are completely unfounded and incorrect, and that if you hear of any more instances of her slandering the good name of your business, your lawyer will be in touch with her.
Or better yet, if you have a lawyer, have them send a letter.
i have looked at your work and its amazing! i can see why she is threatened by you
dont worry i think people who work with u or order from you already know your reputation and ur work..
and wat was she thinking!! who would steel flowers off of a dummy cake!
i know its totally upsetting to be accused of something as silly as that! but forget about it.. dont even dignify it with an answer
i think she just wants to start a fight..
Sounds like the woman feels insecure and feels threatened by you, maybe a little desperate. I would not waste my time worrying about it. If your work is that much more superior than hers, it does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Just keep doing your best and keep your head up. You know the real truth about what happened. Maybe send a letter back to venue stating how you hate that someone had accused you of a thing such as this and it is not in character for you to conduct business in this dishonest manner plus how you are saddened that someone had wasted their time with such a false accusation.
I am very close with the people who own and run the venue and have not been approached by them. When I delivered the cake in question the owners daughter in law (manager of the venue) watched me putting MY flowers on the cake and commented on how beautiful they were. Everyone there knows me and knows my work. I would hope they wouldnt even listen to such nonsense. I have a delivery there tomorrow and I will talk to the manager then.
The horrible thing is that when I first started I thought it would be great to have a cake friend and went out of my way to be nice to her anytime we were at the same event. But this woman wants nothing to do with me 
While I do think that my style of decorating is more precise and artistic, the work she does is nice and her clientele will obviously be different than mine. I dont so much think of myself as better than her, just a different market. Not every bride wants artistic and scratch made (because it comes with a price) and for those that like mix cakes and inedible items (ribbons and real or silk flowers) on their cake she is a really good option. I am just at a loss for why she has it in for me.
Sounds like you have a close working relationship with the vendor. If you truely do, then there is no need to respond to the accusation. They know you and your work.
Or better yet, if you have a lawyer, have them send a letter.
I agree, I think the situation needs to be taken seriously because you are fortunate enough to have heard about the lies she has been concocting in this instance and my guess would be that more than likely there are other people and places who she is also spreading lies to. A letter from your lawyer might be just enough of a wake up call to make her realise that you won't put up with her slander. She sounds like a real piece of work!
i think that you should just keep on with your art and let her burn in her own fire!! she will soon find out that she is not a profesional and you are because you never responded to her accusations! and she is going around running her mouth do you know what the people is going to think of her? that she is allways talking about the way the order their cakes with her ans so u get my point, anyway just live it to god and she will come around and maybe realize that she was wrong!! and maybe just maybe apologize one day! god bless you !! jesus rocks!!!¢¾
Another thought, all this stuff is "hearsay." You know how things get twisted and even in good intentions the details may not be exact. The complaint could have been something like she stole my flower idea from one of my displays. By the time it is passed around several times, it could have come down to you stole the flowers off one of her displays. That's how rumors get started anyway.
You are obviously hurt by it and somewhat concerned about the letter. If you have been offended by this woman, cool off, pray about it, and call the woman with a calm attitude. You can even tell the woman your bride really liked her flowers, compliment her on them and tell her that is what the bride requested you to do. If she gets hostile toward you, that's not your fault. You will have done what you should have done. You are not responsible for her actions just yours.
as Texas_Rose and theonlynameleft I also think you better send a letter from your lawyer (professional not personal) letting her know you're aware of the defamation. A letter today could prevent her from more wrongdoing tomorrow. Better safe than sorry 
Your work is absolutely wonderful!!!!! As for your feelings, just remember that some people act aggressive when feel threatened. Obviously is not your fault and for your own sake... let it go without giving it more thoughts 
I see a green-eyed monster has left some destruction in it's path. I have dealt with far too many highly inflated egos within this realm to want more than one. She's probably PO'd because someone came to you and asked you to do her design.
I would discuss this with the manager, reminding her that she watched you put the flowers on the cake.
Theresa
The complaint could have been something like she stole my flower idea from one of my displays. By the time it is passed around several times, it could have come down to you stole the flowers off one of her displays. That's how rumors get started anyway.
I would say that was possible if not for the fact that she is now insisting on writing her initials with a sharpie (which must look wonderful ) on all of her flowers from her displays so no one can take them again.
I am going to talk with the managment tomorrow when I deliver this next cake but I am concerned that she may ride this lie for a while and tell potential customers that I steal her work. I work very hard at what I do, take great pride in it and dont want my good name ruined by this woman whether motivated by jealousy or not
momma28, I have to agree with grandmomof1. I work for an attorney and you really should make sure that she really said what you were told before sending off a letter from an attorney and to be honest, your work is fantastic so don't let it bother you. Appreciate the fact that you are very talented and don't let something like this get you down. If she did say it then she's got her own issues. It's to bad people just can't get along without being worried that other people will take away their business. You are obviously a very nice person so I'm sure you have more friends than enemies!!! 
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