How do you buy your supplies?

Do most of you buy your supplies online or from a storefront retailer in your area? Some of both? Stuff like pans, bags, tips, boxes, colors, cutters etc...

I tend to buy most all my supplies from my local cake supply shop. But on occasion when they are out or it's something they don't carry, I order online. I hate ordering a $13 item and paying $10 in shipping, it gripes me.

I have rolled the idea around in my head for several years of opening my own supply shop. Not baking out of it, just sell supplies and maybe teach some classes. I'd like to continue baking from my commercial kitchen.

Does it sound feasible or have I lost my mind?

There is one cake decorating supply store about 40 minutes away from me. They have been in business for about 40 years or more. They have always done a thriving business. I even took some classes there in 1990. The one thing I've noticed is they aren't staying current with the trends. Not many gumpaste cutters, books, tools etc...They are slow to order colors and flavorings when they are running low. They teach classes and sell cakes as well.

As for Michael's, Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby goes they carry Wilton products, of which I am not a fan.

Sometimes you have something come up last minute that you can't get shipped to you in time.

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The mainstream stores within a 100 mile radius of me, like Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby and Michael's carry only Wilton supplies. And everybody who has ever picked up a icing bag knows there is much better out there to be had.

As far restaurant supply stores nearby, there are none. There is a cash and carry wholesaler that carries baking supplies but not bags, tips, boxes, pans and the like you would need to actually decorate a cake, cupcakes or cookies.

I'm betting there aren't many hobby or home bakers that order everything off the internet. Sometimes if you see an item in person and get a good look at it, you can decide if you have a use for it. Or perhaps see something you never knew existed and now must have it.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about....I buy Magic Line butter vanilla flavoring emulsion by the gallon at my local supply store (not mainstream) for $75.00 but online the cheapest I can get it is $100.00 PLUS shipping. And I'd like to add it is always out of stock online.

Sorry Jason that link took me to 16 ounce bottles of butter vanilla. The only gallon of anything from Magic Line was for 1 gallon of white icing for $50.00

scp1127...you're not a black cloud on the subject. I have rolled this idea around and keep chewing but I'm not ready to spit it out just yet. I'm still in the research process so your advise is very welcome.

When I go into a store I pay close attention to others in there, what they are buying and their ages. I was surprised to see so many younger people (way under 45) buying what I would consider to be dated and not the current trend items. I'm not sure if that is all they think exist or if it what they like or if it's more affordable. But in the internet age it seemed odd.

I was in the cake store (not a chain) Saturday picking up a few things when I noticed they were doing some prep work for upcoming classes. They were going to be making stars out of royal icing much to my surprise. That was something I learned in class in 1989. I haven't made a batch of royal icing in over 2 years. Using fondant to cut out things like stars, dot, numbers and everything else is this the easiest, fastest most sensible way to go. So if I were teaching classes I would teach the most modern way of doing things. I would teach things like, how to smooth ice buttercreams, making fondant figurines, bows, gumpaste and flowers flowers, buttercream and royal icing flowers, how to use a cricut cutter. All kinds of stuff.

Very seldom have I found anything online cheaper than I could get it from my local decorating store and without the wait.

I think I'm looking down the road for some security in case my some of joints can't take standing for hours on end doing cakes any longer. I thought since I know the cake business then retail sale of goods and classes would be a logical choice. But I'm still researching it.

wespam......I'm pretty much smack dab in between Birmingham and Nashville. If Lynelle's (whom I've done business with for years) doesn't have what I need, I have to order online. Sweetwise and Louise's is 100 miles in either direction, I don't usually make a special trip to get something for either one of them but if I'm in their area I always stop by.

The store I have in mind would have Magic Line and Fat Daddios cake pans, agbay's, Ateco turntable, stencils, edible prints, Magic Line and other great brands flavors, Guittard and other quality chocolates, high ratio shortenings, cake bling, unique stands, quality bags and tips, impression mats, fondant & gumpaste tools, pasta rollers, ready made gumpaste flowers, candy molds, Isomelt products, Sugarveil, cute candles, cake toppers, monograms, cake boxes etc. I'm not really wanting to carry things like character pans, plastic cupcake picks, things of that nature.