I do very part time cake decorating for sale and I have this repeat customer who keeps ordering blank, fondant covered cakes and asking for fondant/gumpaste figures/toppers to be left off the cake, or sold completely seperately.
I don't have a problem making and selling either, but some of her explanations for why she needs a blank cake this week and a topper a few days later, are a little weird and I'm starting to wonder if I should be worried that she's selling this stuff on the side as her own work, or even just taking credit for my work. It's a little odd to me.

You could always put your business information on the bottom of the cake board or on the top under some clear wrapping that you use to cover the board. Or, just don't sell to her anymore.

You can look at it 2 ways:

1) You are in business, you are filling an order, and what she does with it doesn't matter.
2) If you get a funny feeling about an order, it's usually wise to pay attention to it and you can always refuse future orders from her.

You could come right out and ask her, but there's no guarantee she'll be honest with you. Is there a mutual acquaintance who could tell you what she's doing with them?

Depending on how much it bothers you, you can either continue to take orders from her or not.

How often do they request "blanks" and figures?

Your customer is probably selling the cake like you said. This means your cake is good and you may need to raise your prices. Nine times out of ten they are reselling it for more, enough for them to make a profit.

Remember, Sam's club and others sells unfrosted cakes too, but this is not their core business. It's up to you how you want to do business.

Maybe she's very good at doing final decoration, but not so hot at providing her own "blank canvas" (or too lazy to do so)?

(oops, typo!)

I will say that the thread title had me expecting something a bit stranger. Like maybe something out of this rather infamous sketch from when Patrick Stewart hosted Saturday Night Live:

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/93/93lsexycakes.phtml

Although if that were the case, then maybe the whole thread might have belonged in the "Naughty Cake Discussion Area."

She is so selling your cakes. Heck, sometimes I see some of the most wonderful cakes on here and when I hear how much they charge, I wish I could buy their cakes to resell them!

you can just tell her you've decided you are no longer selling your cakes unassembled or without any decoration. It's really up to you as the business owner.

my opinion: As long as you are making good money on it and your name isn't anywhere near the final product (she may not handle it properly or botch the decorations), who cares?

Let me play devils advocate. I think she is reselling your cakes as her own and she's not licensed. If something goes south with one of your cakes, does she take the hit or blame it on you. If there's a portion of the topper or figurine you're not suppose to eat or that might harm someone's teeth you can alert her but will she tell the person she's selling it to and how long is she keeping your cakes before reselling them and is she keeping them refrigerated. It's just too risky.

Most everybody has a Facebook page these days, maybe she does too. Check it out and see if she has cakes that looks something you sold her. Just a thought.

I really do not see this as a problem as long as she pays you. When we buy food at the restaurant or store, I don't think the business cares what you do with it Whether we eat it or resell it, it belongs to us as long as it is paid. I think it is just your curiousity. I agree it is a strange customer. Just be glad you have a customer that keeps coming back to you for business. Try asking her and see what she tells you.

It is really suspicious about that lady. She may sell your cakes on the other side with her own icing decorations. It seems odd. Let her confirm and if it is true, make a business with her or cease selling cakes for her.

Maybe she isn't licensed, and thinks by buying the cake, then decorating it herself, she would be ok to do it out of her home. If that's the case, you must be selling your cakes too cheaply and they must be pretty good!

Yep, she's reselling them and your cakes are tasty.
Time to raise your prices and put your name under the cakes from now on.

I know that what she's doing is legal, but it's creepy.
It's like going to a restaurant for dinner and finding out they get take-out from next door and re-plate it and charge you higher prices.

mommachris