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When you know...You Really Know!

post #1 of 36
1/21/12 at 5:17am
Thread Starter 
Well, the Lord has really been good to me for the past 6 years as my cake business has grown. He blessed me with enough talent to turn a small hobby into a business successful enough to keep my family afloat during tough economic times and while getting a Master's degree. He blessed me to find this amazing web site and learn many different things about marketing and business that I probably would not have picked up anywhere else.

However, I now am certain that it is time to move on. I have a few more consultations for a few weddings sprinkled throughout the year. But seriously, I'm just not moved by cakes anymore. I almost feel guilty about it, but the feeling is gone.

Anyone else been down this road?
Despite difficult economic times, I'm determined to be rich!
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Despite difficult economic times, I'm determined to be rich!
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post #2 of 36
1/21/12 at 6:07am
I am feeling that way myself right now. I will still take orders if they come because I'm a single mom who needs to take them, but I'm not feeling it so much anymore. I live in a small town where people don't want to pay what it's worth. I work two other jobs plus clean our church for kids school tuition...I'm tired and cakes and cookies are losing their appeal. I don't really push my business anymore. God provides what we need when we need it. It sounds like He has blessed you with this talent to provide for your family when it was needed. It may be time to move on, and He will once again give you what you need for your next venture. Best of luck.
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post #3 of 36
1/21/12 at 6:45am
Wow, I LOVE this topic!! Sweetlayers, I'd love to hear as much of your story as you're willing to share!

Last year I started getting cake orders out of nowhere. In fact, I didn't want ANY orders. Nonetheless, I sheepishly accepted the orders, and I accepted that it must have been God's work, since it truly was the last thing I wanted to do and it was not a result of my own efforts.

Now it's 2012, and up until this weekend, I hadn't TOUCHED a cake since Thanksgiving, nor have I had any new orders, and like you guys, I haven't missed it. So now I'm trying to listen and be obedient.

I'd love to hear how God has worked in your life!
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post #4 of 36
1/21/12 at 10:15am
I so understand feeling this way. I make cakes but also supply coffee shops in my area with morning baked goods. I have been blessed with having a successfull business but I am so tired. I no longer have that giddy feeling when I get a cake order. So mornings ,nights for me , its all I can do to drag myself out of bed. My husband stands behind any decision I make but I want to be sure of my decision. Do any of the long term business owners that have gone through this have any words of advice of how to get over this?
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post #5 of 36
1/21/12 at 10:40am
I hear ya. I started decorating cakes back in 2003 when my oldest was a baby. I got my Wilton certs and got fairly decent at decorating. I loved it. But now, I dread making cakes. I really enjoy doing cupcakes, cookies and little desserts like that but I detest cakes anymore. I made my nieces 10th birthday cake for a party today and it looks awful. Im embarrassed to even take a picture of it to add to my portfolio. I just wasnt feeling it when I made that cake. And for my sons 3rd birthday in November, I bought him a grocery store cake ::gasp:: I just didnt care. Cakes dont float my boat anymore. Cake burn-out has set in.
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post #6 of 36
1/21/12 at 11:04am
Been there. I came home one day last year, looked at my DH and said, "I don't want to do this any more." He answered with "Thank God."

He was tired of wedding cakes every weekend. I was tired. I was tired of being tired.

I hung up the apron and haven't looked back. And I don't miss it at all. I have four more wedding cakes to do that were already under contract and that's it.

However, I did open a food truck, but I work when I want to and doing festivals is fun. Well, it's work too, but it's fun. And right now, I'm recipe testing for a chef friend who's publishing a cookbook. That's been a blast!
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 #7 of 36
1/21/12 at 11:07am
Can you guys trace your cake burnout to something specific? For me, I am thrilled to do just dessert cakes, like the one in my profile pic. They are still a joy to me. But custom cakes? It's always such a hassle to deal with customers who don't understand the work they require. Personally, if I felt like people were truly willing to pay good prices for cakes, I might be more motivated to do them, and I'm not even one to do cheap cakes - I think I charge reasonably.

The other thing I've found over the past week that really drains me is the amount of time cakes occupy my thoughts. Over the past couple of months, I felt much more focused on home life since I didn't have any orders. I was more on top of housework, I was cooking better meals for my family, and my head was "in the game" for my kids. Now that cakes are back on the radar, I can't pull my thoughts away from them. Just the other day I was at a Bible study and I couldn't stay focused on the speaker because I had cake thoughts running through my head. thumbsdown.gif It feels to me like the custom work just requires a lot more of me than I should be giving.

Sweetlayers, how do you know that it's time to move on? Is it because other doors have opened for you?
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post #8 of 36
1/21/12 at 12:01pm
We made a similar decision last year -- after opening our custom order bakery in 2008 and enjoying quite a bit of success we decided to sell the business for several reasons. Part of it was burnout for both me and my wife (business manager and pastry chef, respectively), and part of it was that our first child was born in March 2011. A god didn't really enter into the decision-making process for us, we are both atheists. We moved from northern CA to southern CA (OC) to look for a house a few months ago so that was a natural exit point.

There were also financial considerations involved -- I've recently become involved in some independent contracting work related to my day job in IT that is considerably more profitable than running the bakery. I just didn't have the time to do my day job, do the contracting work, and run the business. The experience of running the business was great though, it involved hands-on applications of concepts I learned from my MBA and also provided insights that help me in my day job and contracting work.
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The Bakery Business Perspective
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #9 of 36
1/21/12 at 12:10pm
Jason, I'm happy to hear about your new path. But does this mean you won't be joining us anymore?
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website www.BakingFix.com
blog www.BakingFix.com/thefix
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MimiFix
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post #10 of 36
1/21/12 at 1:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MimiFix

Jason, I'm happy to hear about your new path. But does this mean you won't be joining us anymore?


I'll still be around. Just like everyone else here I'm addicted to this site, and I'm constantly learning something new (not to mention the entertainment value of some threads).
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #11 of 36
1/21/12 at 1:46pm
I have worked in the food industry since I was 16, I am now 35. I took me forever to gather the courage to leave my job of 8 years to open my own business but now I am scared to leave my business to go back to a regular job. My husband and I have 5 kids and we can make it on his income alone but I have no idea what I would with myself. Which is terrifing to me because I have ALWAYS worked. But I know that I am not giving my business my all, which isnt really fair to my customers. I have tried to figure out what was the turning point for me so maybe then I can get back to enjoying it but so far it hasn't been that simple to figure out.
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post #12 of 36
1/21/12 at 2:52pm
LNW - I felt the same way. I loved cupcakes and cookies, but cakes were stressing me out BIG TIME! So now I only advertise that I do cupcakes and cookies and do the occasional cake for close friends. My stress level is way down and I'm really enjoying it again.

Remember, you are in control of what you decide to do with your business. You can decided to do something else or refocus your business on what you truly enjoy, like Leah_S did.
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post #13 of 36
1/21/12 at 3:00pm
I've just been doing this as a hobby for a couple of years now and quite honestly I do not know how any one does this as a profession!! I get all excited designing the cake and thinking about it and then the reality sets in....Shopping, baking, cleaning up, making frosting, cleaning up, making decorations, cleaning up, icing the cake, cleaning up, putting the decorations on the cake, did I mention cleaning up, transporting it!! It is the most energy sucking, time consuming thing I have ever done. I'm a graphic designer by trade, so I love designing and I even love making some decorations...until the simplist thing takes me hours and I'm aking myself "what the hell am I doing?"
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. Joseph Cambell
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We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. Joseph Cambell
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post #14 of 36
1/21/12 at 3:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Serena4016

cleaning up


That's why part of the duties of a professional bakery's first outside employee usually involve cleaning up. icon_wink.gif
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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The Bakery Business Perspective
An experimental blog with new content every Tuesday!

Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #15 of 36
1/21/12 at 4:23pm
I'm starting small and staying small. I turn down orders, but it's for sanity's sake. Jason, congratulations on your baby!
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