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to use ready made flowers or not? that is the question. - Page 2

post #16 of 27
1/6/12 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jgifford

I do my flowers watching tv with my dh at night. That way, I get a lot made at one time and he doesn't feel that I'm not spending any time with him.



Same here! Sit at the table cranking them out! thumbs_up.gif
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post #17 of 27
1/6/12 at 1:18pm
"The really good gumapste flowers you can order are not cheap." That's my point, the really good looking ones aren't cheap.
LNW, I'm not being touchy, I just thought the OP was asking if she should give a choice and I gave my opinion. This is exactly why I rarely post on this site any more. Have a nice day everyone.
A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands!
Glenda
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A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands!
Glenda
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post #18 of 27
1/6/12 at 1:51pm
Tiggy:

Please don't get upset when you post a question that gets answered. I'd be disappointed if I posted a question that wasn't answered! Your opinion wasn't bashedyou should continue to offer it without bashing other opinions.

OP:

My opinion is whichever you chose, there's nothing wrong with either choice. Do what works for you and your business. Good luck!
HOW TO:
Make tip #127D (giant rose tip) Ruffle cake,
Write with icing,
Make buttercream roses on a stick:
http://s984.photobucket.com/albums/ae322/Unlimited1cakes/
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HOW TO:
Make tip #127D (giant rose tip) Ruffle cake,
Write with icing,
Make buttercream roses on a stick:
http://s984.photobucket.com/albums/ae322/Unlimited1cakes/
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post #19 of 27
1/6/12 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiggy2

And the way I view it if given a choice some people will choose quality over price. While they can be purchased cheaper you will not get the same quality of hand made. OP asked asked if a choice should be given so silly me thought it was an option.



I agree with this...If the flowers that you make are nicer, then offer a choice and let the customer decide. I make all of my flowers, I kind of enjoy the "flower making nonsense," actually. They look a heck of a lot better than premade ones anyway. I even sell them to other poeple who do appreciate the difference between handmade ones and the assembly-line ones that you get from a catalog. Give the client a choice, it doesn't hurt.
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #20 of 27
1/6/12 at 8:35pm
But like you said, you sell yours, so there is nice gumpaste flowers to purchase out there. I wasn't talking about the ones you get from that wholesale flower site or the massed produced ones, but the ones you cam find on etsy. Why does there need to be a choice given? I think decide the way you want to go. If choose to offer quality, you won't save on price, just time.
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post #21 of 27
1/7/12 at 5:45am
I think that when most people think of buying flowers to save time and money, they're buying them from a catalog website, not from etsy, though. The prices on etsy for nice flowers (and I'll repeat, for NICE flowers) aren't that cheap, so the money savings aren't really going to be there.

I see nothing wrong with giving people a choice for anything, it's no big deal. some people will say "oh, I don't care, the cheap ones are fine" and then other people will want a really nicely done custom flower that looks better. Let them choose, no skin off my nose (not that I give them a choice, hahaha!)

I was on etsy the other day checking prices for gumpaste on other people's shops, and the notes that I have written down are like this:

"$2 per calla for ones that look like crap" "$6 per call for a nice one" "50 cents a blossom for ones that look like crap." etc etc.

The variation on etsy is HUGE, but maybe someone else will think the calla is fine even though I think it looks like crap. That's up to them.
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #22 of 27
1/7/12 at 6:18am
I bought my gp flowers from www. avalon deco .com. I think they are lovely, and by the time I get dome airbrushing and using dusts to shade them they're really pretty.
Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #23 of 27
1/7/12 at 6:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by leah_s

I bought my gp flowers from www. avalon deco .com. I think they are lovely, and by the time I get dome airbrushing and using dusts to shade them they're really pretty.



That's what I'm saying, people will have different opinions. Give the customer a choice if you're worried about the cost. For me, the ones that I make look better than the ones you get online, but some customers aren't as concerned about it.

One of my friends was on twitter yesterday saying that she had gone to the cake supply shop to look at the flowers and see if her gumpaste prices were similar. She came back saying no way, she can't compete with $2 for a rose, but on the other hand, her roses look a heck of a lot better than the ones at the supply store.
http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #24 of 27
1/7/12 at 8:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by leah_s

I bought my gp flowers from www. avalon deco .com. I think they are lovely, and by the time I get dome airbrushing and using dusts to shade them they're really pretty.



Nothing to add to this thread except I'm loving all your trade secrets you've been posting lately!!! icon_lol.gificon_lol.gif

<click, bookmark> Thank you!
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post #25 of 27
1/20/12 at 1:58pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone for all you guidance. I now feel comfortable to offer the choice. this also allows me to simply sell the ready made flowers for profit to people wishing to do their own cake or sell them the ready made flowers and charge for airbrushing to their requirements. so many more options for the customer. thanks heaps everyone.
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post #26 of 27
1/20/12 at 2:21pm
Thread Starter 
I just checked out an Australian supplier & I can buy Phalaenopsis Orchids 3" for $2.95 ea. they are every bit as good as I can do and when I consider the time cost there is no way I could make one for that price. Much better I spend my time making delicious cakes and fillings that cant be mass produced. I had a look at the sites other suggested too. they have some really nice flowers too.
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post #27 of 27
1/20/12 at 7:44pm
I'm a 2 year hobby baker, and really enjoy the challenge of trying new techniques. About 2 months ago I made my first gum paste flowers for a 100th birthday party for a family member. I spent so much time and effort and love creating those hibiscus and filler flowers. Everyone loved them and it was worth every minute! Those GP flowers were made with love and care for someone I love and respect. I ended up creating a "bouquet" with flowers removed from the cake which I placed in a vase and sent home with the birthday lady.

It was fascinating to objectively observe that the flowers took a LONG time to make, were displayed for a few hours (at most), then were basically discarded. Even though they are technically edible, no one will ever eat them. Although I will enjoy the hobby of perfecting my skills at various GP flowers, if I were doing this for a profit, I'd buy them wholesale in a heartbeat.
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