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what to say to a bride when she asks...

post #1 of 11
3/6/13 at 11:07am
Thread Starter 
Just sent a quote off to a bride and she responded with "sounds good. but I meant to ask, what happens ifyou getsick or something bad happens you (God forbid) on my wedding day? do u have a backup plan? "...

What am I supposed to say to that? I'm the only baker. no assistants...

not sure what to say..." keep your fingers crossed I don't die" ?

Haha..ugh

Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

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Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

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post #2 of 11
3/6/13 at 11:19am
It's a legitimate question. If you don't have any other employees who can fill in, you may want to contact other reputable businesses in your area and work out a contingency plan where you can cover for each other in case of an emergency.
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post #3 of 11
3/6/13 at 11:35am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jason_kraft View Post

It's a legitimate question. If you don't have any other employees who can fill in, you may want to contact other reputable businesses in your area and work out a contingency plan where you can cover for each other in case of an emergency.


I know its legitimate..I just hadn't been asked before so it kinda made me laugh. so, does she get to pick the backup bakery? or do I?

Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

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Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

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post #4 of 11
3/6/13 at 11:41am
You'll probably want to set up the relationship with the backup bakeries yourself (make sure you have similar pricing structures), since you'll want to be covered for all your orders, not just this one.
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post #5 of 11
3/6/13 at 11:55am
I have a good relationship with 2 other bakers.

Last year, one of the husbands of a well liked baker died. It was awful. Almost every baker in the area who heard about it offered to help. All the cakes were delivered without a hitch.

Make friends. Establish relationships. Have a clause in your contract. Mine states that if I am unable to deliver, refund will be given based on the difference of what I am able to provide.

Also, my mother died last March. It was awful. It was sudden and horrible. I ha promised 600 cupcakes for a fund raiser. I finished baking, frosting, & decorating through tears. I delivered them to a friend & headed out of state. The friend delivered the day of the event for me.

Life happens. Have a contingency plan.

www.VeryDeliciousDesserts.com

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www.VeryDeliciousDesserts.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delicious-Desserts/207874222593145

 

It's never "just cake!"

 

You may get a cake for $way to little but you won't get this cake!

Groom's Cakes
(1 photos)
Other / Mixed Shaped Wedding Cakes
(3 photos)
Retirement
(1 photos)
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post #6 of 11
3/6/13 at 12:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeliciousDesserts View Post

I have a good relationship with 2 other bakers.

Last year, one of the husbands of a well liked baker died. It was awful. Almost every baker in the area who heard about it offered to help. All the cakes were delivered without a hitch.

Make friends. Establish relationships. Have a clause in your contract. Mine states that if I am unable to deliver, refund will be given based on the difference of what I am able to provide.

Also, my mother died last March. It was awful. It was sudden and horrible. I ha promised 600 cupcakes for a fund raiser. I finished baking, frosting, & decorating through tears. I delivered them to a friend & headed out of state. The friend delivered the day of the event for me.

Life happens. Have a contingency plan.

oh my goodness thats awful :( i'm so sorry. but  i'll definitely chat up some other bakers nearest to me to see if they can help in case anything happens.  good advice everyone. thanks!

Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

Reply

Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

Reply
post #7 of 11
3/6/13 at 12:58pm

DO you have a cake club in your area ? That is a good place to start when looking for back up bakers.  We have a network that when someone is sick the rest of us help finish the baking or decorating.  That way no client is let down.   I have helped out in these situations as well as been the recipient of the help. I am able to tell my brides this at consultation most of them find it really reassuring . 

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post #8 of 11
3/6/13 at 1:24pm

+1 to having backup baker buddies.  I have become very good friends with another bakery owner in my area and we are each other's emergency backups.  It's also nice to have someone to discuss techniques or new products, or just to call at the end of a busy day and vent!  You'd be surprised how many "I had this crazy customer call today wanting..." stories end up with "Yeah, she called me too!".

Jenniffer White - Cup a Dee Cakes LLC
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Jenniffer White - Cup a Dee Cakes LLC
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http://www.youtube.com/user/cupadeecakes/videos
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post #9 of 11
3/6/13 at 1:31pm

What a great idea. I've thought about it, but there are only home bakers around my town, no bakeries. Also, almost none of them are 'legal' businesses, so wouldn't it be a bad idea to use them for emergencies? I would like to, but I AM legal now, and wouldn't want to tarnish a reputation or make waves.

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post #10 of 11
3/6/13 at 1:33pm

My mom got very sick very fast last, and I went home to be with her for 3 months, that was May/June/July, three of my busiest months. Thank God I had a back up plan, I couldn't have handled that extra stress.

Definitely have at least one other baker you can fall back on, I have 3, and they handled my work for me like champs.

I always make sure that part of my contract is very clearly covered with brides, I also cover the difference if they are more expensive. I'm sure that could get controversial, but if I had booked with a baker 6 months before my wedding, and 2 weeks before I find out she can't do it, I wouldn't be too pleased if I had to pay extra for someone else... Wedding budgets get pretty tight.

I was lucky, all the amazing ladies that helped me out honoured the prices on my contracts. We are all very similarly priced anyway.

 

All that to say, get a back up plan :)

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post #11 of 11
3/6/13 at 1:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by IAmPamCakes View Post

What a great idea. I've thought about it, but there are only home bakers around my town, no bakeries. Also, almost none of them are 'legal' businesses, so wouldn't it be a bad idea to use them for emergencies? I would like to, but I AM legal now, and wouldn't want to tarnish a reputation or make waves.
You're right, that would be a bad idea...if you refer someone to an unlicensed baker and something goes wrong you could get dragged into the mess (especially if you knew they were unlicensed).

I'm sure there are some other licensed bakers either in your town or within a reasonable driving distance.
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Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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