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Where do you do your cake tastings/consults? - Page 2

post #16 of 22
7/31/12 at 12:13pm
I have been making kits of several cake flavors and about a dozen 1 oz containers of my buttercreams and fillings, I pack it in a pretty gift bag with paper and send it with my B&G to enjoy at their leisure where they choose and with whom-no pressure. It goes over great and they let me know within x number of days what their choices are. thumbs_up.gif
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post #17 of 22
7/31/12 at 1:25pm
I share an office with 4 other wedding businesses, and we have a calendar where we can sign up to use it. I do my consults there.

Some states don't want people to pick up products or do consult with clients at their houses because if they gave you permission to do that there are people who would pave their front lawns and put in a parking lot in a residential zone. When I started my home business I was told specifically that I could NEVER have clients come to my house. That changed later, but it was something they specifically told me not to do.

Coffee shops don't care if you do business there, there are people who park their butts in there all day and work, do meetings, and just use their electricity and wifi connections. They sell food and coffee, so they don't care. I wouldn't take cake out and spread it out all over the table, but if you meet with clients there and then give them a box of cake to take home they don't mind.

I also wouldn't want to have people I don't know come to my house, so I don't like to have clients come here. Creeps me out.
http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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post #18 of 22
7/31/12 at 1:43pm
I have really been racking my brain on this subject, as I have not so far gotten to the stage of consults yet. I agree with you costumeczar. Creepy to have strangers in and out of your house. I would be creeped out as a customer as well! I think a nice local coffee shop sounds like a great place to meet, have a talk about cake over coffee, and hand off a pretty box of samples to be eaten at leisure.
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post #19 of 22
7/31/12 at 3:24pm
I use a Peets Coffee (like a Starbucks, if you've never heard of Peets) around the corner from my condo - legally I can't meet people at my house. Anyway, I've been doing consults there for over 2 years. I bring my own platters, forks/knives etc and I set up in plain view with cake samples, my ipad rotating my portfolio images, and samples of my sugar flowers, a printed menu etc.all on the table. My deal with Peets is I always order a beverage and guarantee each person will order a beverage when they get there. Never had a problem with someone not ordering a coffee or tea because everyone does. Sure, I'd love a more professional setting but I try and class it up as much as I can.

Edited to add: and I always bus my own table after people leave. They've never asked me, but I do anyway just to keep relations happy.
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post #20 of 22
7/31/12 at 3:44pm
if you don't meet at your home for consultations but you bake at home don't the customers collect from your home anyway?
i do consultations at home or at the brides house if they request an evening. Not had a prob yet but have only just started, i do have a conversation with them first either phone or email so they do know my prices.
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post #21 of 22
7/31/12 at 3:54pm
I meet all my clients at Starbucks and have never had an issue . I would feel uneasy having strangers in my home or even going to their home . We drink coffee and talk about cake !
Works perfect for me and my customers icon_smile.gif
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post #22 of 22
7/31/12 at 4:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sharon24

if you don't meet at your home for consultations but you bake at home don't the customers collect from your home anyway?
i do consultations at home or at the brides house if they request an evening. Not had a prob yet but have only just started, i do have a conversation with them first either phone or email so they do know my prices.



They required deliveries only when I started. I do mostly wedding cakes so it isn't really an issue.
http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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http://www.acaketorememberva.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/acaketoremember
http://www.youtube.com/karabuntin
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