I've read so many posts on here about clients who order a mega-cake, then are shocked at the price and cancel the order. Well, it finally happened to me.
A woman wanted a tall waterfall that bottomed out into a 2-foot long river, complete with the riverbank with candy rocks, etc. When I quoted her a price of $160, which I thought was more than reasonable (!!!), she said that she couldn't possibly pay that much.
I have no idea what she was expecting to pay -- I was kind of shocked at her response, especially since my clients write their check to our local food pantry.
Oh, well, I hope she can find a bakery to do it for her!!
You got lucky, that price seems pretty low for what you described. How many hours did you estimate it would take?
Wow!! That is reasonable!! My supplies would probably run half of that! It is a little disheartening when they don't book, but I always say (to myself anyway) "good luck finding it cheaper!
Well, after many weeks of e-mailing back and forth, we finally have a meeting of the minds! I'm going to do a 40-serving river, no waterfall, for $90. So, I think both the customer and I are happy with the outcome.
It's very weird -- I think I've only done 3 carved cakes in my life, and now I have orders for 3 within the next couple of weeks -- a hockey stick this afternoon, this river one, then a dolphin cake. I hope I'm up to the task, as it's not really my forte!
$90 is very low for a 40-serving carved cake...that would even be low for a 40-serving sheet cake.
Yeah, Jason, I know it sounds low. But, I charge $2 per serving, then I tack on a little extra for the carving. I don't think people here would pay more than $2 for a piece of buttercream cake. Plus, not being a real "business", I feel like I can't really charge as much as a true professional would. I just recently had the nerve to raise my decorated cookie prices from $2 to $2.50 apiece. . .
I'm still stuck on the fact that a person getting their groceries from a food pantry would find it reasonable to order these fancy cakes.
Oh, no, no, no!! Please erase that from your mind. I must not have explained myself well.
These are my friends, church members, people who've heard thru the grapevine, etc. who order and I have them write their check payable to my favorite charity -- our local food pantry where I volunteer. It's not the pantry clients themselves who are ordering cakes.
I'm on track this year to make about $5500 dollars toward the charity, which will buy a LOT of food for those in need.
Oh, no, no, no!! Please erase that from your mind. I must not have explained myself well.
These are my friends, church members, people who've heard thru the grapevine, etc. who order and I have them write their check payable to my favorite charity -- our local food pantry where I volunteer. It's not the pantry clients themselves who are ordering cakes.
I'm on track this year to make about $5500 dollars toward the charity, which will buy a LOT of food for those in need.
That is the BEST thing I have ever read on this site! What a wonderful thing to do!
Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I took a cake decorating class, then wanted to make them all the time but had no reason to. One day, I offered to make a 3-tiered cake for the sweet 16 of a girl at church. I was just doing it for fun, but the mom surprised me by giving $200 to the food pantry. That's when a light bulb went on and Cakes for a Cause was born!
So, it's a win-win-win situation in that I get to have so much fun baking (4 orders a week on average), people get the treats they want, and the pantry reaps the benefits. Oh, and my husband and I aren't gaining nearly as much weight as we were when I was doing cakes for fun and we were eating them all ourselves.
OP, that is wonderful. Whst a win-win!
One question, though: How do you recoup the cost of your ingredients? I'm genuinely curious.
OP, that is wonderful. Whst a win-win!
One question, though: How do you recoup the cost of your ingredients? I'm genuinely curious.
Well, I don't. . . but, luckily, my husband and I are both okay with that. I'm not one to buy expensive clothes, purses, shoes, etc. I'm not big on jewelry, I don't go in for massages or manicures, and I don't have any other expensive hobbies or collections. So, we figure that, if buying sugar and flour makes me happy and provides money for the food pantry, that's what we'll do.
The entire check is written to the charity, and the customer can write it off as a charitable donation at tax time.
That is so awesome, I love reading stories of people who do great things..And what a wonderful,great and inspiring thing you are doing!!
I have them write their check payable to my favorite charity -- our local food pantry where I volunteer.
I'm on track this year to make about $5500 dollars toward the charity, which will buy a LOT of food for those in need.
We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give
I sincerely praise you JGMB for giving charity to your local food bank, by your volunteer work there and by offering you cake baking/decorating talents to contributing additional funds for them.
However in my humble opinion I believe that you should value your work and quote your cakes what they are really worth and not undercharge. Otherwise it feels like you are providing charity to the customer who by being interested in fancy cakes probably is not in need of aid.
That being said I will confess that I have been inspired by you!
Good luck and keep it up
Good for you! It is so nice that you get to enjoy your hobby and give to charity at the same time.
Thanks, everyone! I'm actually embarrassed that this turned into a forum about my Cakes for a Cause.
Originally, I had posted just to whine about someone not wanting to pay a fair price for a cake. I guess I'm glad, though, that it ended on a positive note and put everyone in a good mood!
I, too, admire and esteem you for doing something for charity.
I also agree with what SweetTzippy said about your pricing. You could be earning twice as much for your church, and also not be undercutting other bakers in your area by selling cheap cakes to people who can afford the real price of a custom cake. Think of it this way - often people pay more (not less!) if they know that the proceeds are going to a good cause.
Keep up the inspiring work
I, too, admire and esteem you for doing something for charity.
I also agree with what SweetTzippy said about your pricing. You could be earning twice as much for your church, and also not be undercutting other bakers in your area by selling cheap cakes to people who can afford the real price of a custom cake. Think of it this way - often people pay more (not less!) if they know that the proceeds are going to a good cause.
Keep up the inspiring work
Like Like Like! Great points Evoir.
OP, what you do is inspiring. I wish you the best.
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