Need help with cake tasting

Quote:

Originally Posted by smtwngurl 

Hi,

I am a home baker,I just received an order for a 6" cake & 48 cupcakes for a 1 yr olds birthday party (circus theme). I'm only charging her $68 and I'm making gumpaste figures & toppers. After we discussed everything she then asked me to let her know when she could come for a cake tasting. I am not sure how to respond to her on this. The order is only $68 I won't make very much of a profit. I will be spending days on making the toppers. I don't want to spend the little bit of a profit that I will make on making her different combinations of cakes & fillings. Should I just tell her that I can't do the cake? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!!

Dear (customer),

I regret to inform you that I do not offer tastings for orders under $xxx.00.  Should you wish to sample a variety of our product you may purchase a variety pack of xx cupcakes at $xx.00.  Do you still wish to proceed with this order?

Rather than rejecting the order outright, you put the ball in her court as to whether she will proceed with the order. 

Just out of curiosity, How much are you charging for the cake, and how much for each cupcake?  How on earth can you be making anything when you are charging grade school bake sale prices?

Where are you located? I can't begin to imagine where $1 per cupcake is too  much- or $20 per cake. Surely supermarkets charge more than that?

I like what 'cakeyouverymuch' said in how to respond.

I think there will always be people in the world who will say whatever price is too much for them- in any field- no matter how low the price truly is..that's the way the world goes around....but that also means those people are not your customers so you should focus your energy, talent, and marketing towards a different type of customer. 

I think if you continue to make cakes/goodies for below cost (because I don't think you factored in labor, 'overhead' etc in your $68 price)  you will get burned out every easily. JMO.

I only offer tastings for orders of 200+ servings. Lately I have been cutting my cake tops into small squares and freezing them. So far so good , I don't have to put a ton of time and materials into my tastings.

If someone with a small order demands a tasting, to keep the business, I do 3 flavors for $30.00. I 1/4 my recipes and make mini cupcakes,  again , freeze the left overs for the next tasting.

So there is an option, if someone is only willing to pay $20 for a cake, they probably won't want to fork over $30 for a tasting and it's a non-issue.

I am in an area similar to yours. It's VERY difficult to get people to pay for cake. I can't count the number of times I hear " it's just a cake!!" , and " I can get one at Walmart for $20.00".  Walk away, I'd rather lose the order and have the free time to spend with my family than work night and day for no money.

and depending which way you go with this

be aware that you might want to say to yourself, 'hey i would not/could not pay that for cake'

yeah that's why you took the time & effort to learn to diy

and then the next one to try & avoid is, 'that's too much money nobody would pay that'

hey if someone is wanting to celebrate with food for 50 guests it's gonna cost 'em

today's prices are today's prices

are gas prices outrageous

are food prices outrageous

is a tailored suit more than one off the rack

just some thoughts for you

the cake gods have blessed ohioans!!! run w/that ball

or rather price softly wisely and carry a big cake

Every caker should have this hung on the kitchen door.

The Caker's Credo

A cake is NOT just flour and water.

If you mix flour and water you get GLUE.

The miracle of cake is that you take the glue,
add eggs and sugar, and you get cake.

Where did the glue go you ask?

You know very well where it went.

It's what makes the cake stick to your hips.

One should pay at least as much for the cake
as one is going to pay for the gym membership
that will help remove it from one's hips.

Furthermore:

Its not just cake.

Its the making of a memory.

Its the centerpiece of an occasion joyous or sad.

"Remember the birthday party when I turned ten and the cake that mama bought.  Dark chocolate, it was soooo good.."

"Remember the cake we had for Nana's 80th birthday.  She was so happy she almost cried."

"Remember the cake we had when Ed retired. . . looked like a tackle box.  He sure loved fishing, he did."

Remember and remember and remember. . . It's NEVER just cake!