There is a new cake lady in my town & my frustrations are already on the rise. I shouldn't let it bother me. She is advertising now (one of which I located through Facebook) and she has cakes that are made from pans that as we all know are a big no-no since they are for home-based purpose only yet she is calling them shaped cakes. I work out of my home with a license and I also get the customers who just don't understand why I won't create a cake with a licensed/copyrighted character on it. She is working out of her home (not sure if she has a license or not but we do have a cottage food law here in ohio) yet her advertising also has licensed characters on it. I really shouldn't let this bother me but I do worry about other/new competition...I just feel better saying it on here so thanks for reading i guess there are those that will get away with things & I just have to worry about keeping my customers happy, right??

There's always going to be competition. As long as you are doing what is legal and ethical don't worry about anyone else. If star tipped character cakes are her thing she wont be that much competition.

I truly believe that the ability to be open and honest about everything I am doing is the benefit sometimes. I don't have to be shady and wonder if I make someone angry, will they turn me in. I was looking at a local "designer's" website and she had a bunch of character cakes. I will only do them for my family and make sure people know they aren't for sale.

You have the ability to hold your head up and know that you are doing the right thing. You never know. People might look to you more for cakes because you focus on original designs.

I have heard (and maybe she has as well) that character shaped pans do not fall under the copyright laws. I don't think this is true, but she may just be uninformed. Competition is everywhere and in this economy cakers are turning up everywhere. You have the upper hand by being in business first. It sure keeps ya on your toes though!

THank you for the support & kind words! makes me feel better already! I know about the rise of cakers (I think in part to all of those cake shows it seems or at least I think it makes people think that it can easily be done! ha!). Thanks for your insight! I will keep on caking & be proud of my originality that goes into each cake (plus not breaking my hand over squeezing a star tip over an entire cake! ha!) Thanks again

Actually the character pans do fall under the copyright laws. If you look it will say "for home use only" on the paper that comes with the pan.

some times I get frustrated with competition, but you have to remember we all have different things to offer and the customers will go to whoever offers what they are looking for. For instance, there is a new cupcake shop I was worried about, but she doesn't offer nearly as many options as I do. Therefor, more simplistic people will go to her and more complex designs will come my way.
It's hard to relax about competition some times, but it's always going to be there so we should try to relax...wine does the trick some times-or chocolate LOL