Hi guys i havent been doing cakes long and advertise local, ive had no wedding cake orders as yet mainly birthday novelty cakes.

I had an e-mail from a potential customer asking if i do egg free cakes, which i replied that i did, she then asked me if she cust taste 1 cupcake before deciding as to wether to order from me.

I understand if a customer wants a wedding cake to do testers but for the sake of a novelty cake which i would charage around £35, i would have to make a full batch just for her to taste one cake.

Should i do the tester as she is a potential customer? or explain it would not be cost effective for me to do this.

I am really busy at the moment, i only have one small oven and the testers would cost me ingredients, cake papers, electric & gas etc.

Helen

If you happen to be doing a cake the same flavor that she is looking for, I would scoop out a bit of batter and make her a cupcake, but it sounds like that is quite unlikely in this situation. So I would explain that you are unable to do just one cupcake, but that you'd be happy to set up a tasting/consultation with her, then charge the same way that you would for a wedding cake tasting.

Dear Customer,

We are a small batch bakery and bake everything made to order. Unfortunately I am unable to bake just one cupcake. I have cupcakes available to purchase by the dozen or half dozen at xyz price.

Regards,

evans000

Yeah, um no. lol

I only offer tastings for orders of 100 servings or more, and my minimum cake order is $100.

If I had a storefront bakery than that would be different, but I'm a home baker.

If you are only charging £35 for a novelty cake then you need to put your prices up. My local cake supply shop charges £40 for a plain 8'' iced sponge. There is a lot of hours let alone supplies in novelty cakes.
I personaly wouldn't do 1 cupcake. I would charge to make a batch. A lot of work and money if she doesn't oreder and still not a lot of profit if she does.

I don't see the problem there. Make a quarter of your recipe, bake as many cupcakes as you can get out of it, preferably when you are already baking something else, give one cupcake to your potential customer (she has to pick it up of course) and freeze the rest for the next request. This does not cost you much at all and is great customer service.

Dear Customer,

We are a small batch bakery and bake everything made to order. Unfortunately I am unable to bake just one cupcake. I have cupcakes available to purchase by the dozen or half dozen at xyz price.

Regards,


I messaged the customer that and she replied and offer to pay for the tester, i'm going to reduce the batch as much as i can. Thank you for your advice x

Glad that it worked out for you. I would freeze some for the future, but that was a great suggestion.