I'm Giving The Cake Decorating Up?

Business By dtmc Updated 5 Feb 2007 , 2:45pm by bizcocho

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indydebi Posted 2 Feb 2007 , 7:49pm
post #31 of 51

I took a look at your cakes and the words out of my mouth were "HOLY MOLY!" am I glad you're across the country and not in my competitive market area! thumbs_up.gif Wow, your cakes are great!!!!!!!

Lots of good advice has already been given here, so I'm just piggy-backing onto all of it.

Go to local bakeries websites and print their pics and prices. Next time some moron wants a Duff cake for fifty bucks, or thinks $350 is unreasonable, just pull these out and tell them, "Well, let's see .... Bakery A would charge you $895. Bakery B would charge $785. Bakery C .... oh darn! That bakery doesn't DO fondant so you can't get it from them at any price!" (smile sweetly .... bat eyelashes!)

Hook up with a networking group, be it wedding vendors or women in business .... something. At your next wedding, be sure to do the card exchange with all the other wedding vendors (florist, photog, etc.).

Freebies are ok to get the name out, but as I posted on another thread earlier today, when my daughter kept getting requests for more freebies on the cookies, she took the stance at her office of: "We're the drug dealers of cookies. The freebies are to get you hooked. Then you payyyyyyy!!!!!!'

I told my office that my oven time was at a premium and if they wanted oven time, it would cost them.

Absolutely hang in there..... your work is worth it!!

----------------------

slb1956, I had a similar situation. I had the "contract" for the monthly birthday cakes in my office. One day I get a call from the lady who handles those to check on my pricing. She was honest with me and said they were looking at any and all cost savings. So I reminded her of my pricing and went ahead and told her that yes, she WOULD find it cheaper at Walmart, ".....but let me ask you this: When you were getting Walmart cakes, were the employees hammering you to find out when the birthday cakes were coming in, like they do with me now? How much cake did you have to throw out at the end of the day as opposed to my cake boards being empty before noon? And does Walmart deliver?" I went on to tell her that if she had to drop me because of price, that was of course fine with me, but she better expect a sea of protest from the 200 people in the office.

They didn't order from Walmart and I kept doing the cakes.

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ablksapphire Posted 2 Feb 2007 , 7:53pm
post #32 of 51

I'm so sorry that your extraordinary talent isn't being appreciated. This is the reason so many of us can become frustrated and discouraged, but DON'T GIVE UP!!!! Your cakes are beautiful and at some point you will be blessed to have the right opportunity to create one for someone and it will bring you more orders than you have time for...you'll have to turn people away. I agree with some of the other CCers, step back for a bit and just create when you want to for family or yourself, keep practicing and re-evaluate what you want to do then. Your talent is awesome, don't deprive yourself of that joy.
God bless,
April

Oh, and that bride?? She's the one with the mental deficiency. $350 for 250 servings....hmmm, where's that padded room??

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Janette Posted 2 Feb 2007 , 7:56pm
post #33 of 51

I didn't take time to read all the responses.

I could have written this thread. I've been trying for 2 years and 3 months. I don't think I've gotten 5 paid orders. I've done a lot of free ones.

I just love decorating so I thought I will just keep practiicing and consider it a hobby. Very expensive hobby. But, it relaxes me and I enjoy it.

I did meet with a bride Saturday. I have an order for a shower cake, wedding cake and cookie favors. Finally. She tried to get me to come down on my price but I wouldn't budge. I told her she still had time to look around. She wants me to do it.

I know what it's like to look for bargins because funds are low. But, my time is worth something. And you can't bargain with time.

Something we forget is all the hunting we do for bargins to keep cost down. Sales on cake mixes, butter, crisco, sugar buying supplies with a coupon. All this takes our time too.

Don't budge on your wedding cake price. Let her go somewhere else if she can get a better deal.

Relax and just enjoy it as a hobby for now things will come around when you least expect it.

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MissRobin Posted 2 Feb 2007 , 10:02pm
post #34 of 51

Please don't give up! Your cakes are awesome, and let me tell you, a wedding cake for 250 for $350, what a steal. You need to be proud of your talent and charge what it is worth and if they don't want to pay it, someone else will. The business will come!!

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Janette Posted 2 Feb 2007 , 11:04pm
post #35 of 51

I didn't take the time to look at your pictures before.

Your cakes are beautiful.

You are giving that bride a steal.

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bonnscakesAZ Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 12:12am
post #36 of 51

Your cakes look great! I don't know where you are getting these cheapo's but thats silly. You gave her a good deal.

Do either you or Natalie go to the West Side Cake Club?.. It's in your area! If you want some info let me know. We get together once a month. I am in Scottsdale too.

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yellobutterfly Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 12:24am
post #37 of 51

your cakes are gorgeous and definitely professional quality!! I would've charged that girl $2.00/slice of cake plus set-up/delivery so I think SHE"s the CRAZY one to pass up a deal like that!!! You are awesome, keep up the good work and it'll come around - people are so cheap~!

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AlamoSweets Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 12:37am
post #38 of 51

Please continue sharing your extraordinary talent. Your cakes are wonderful. You need to remember that your cakes are CUSTOM cakes. When people ask me about a price I start by saying their custom designed cake will be $___. I also tell them I have a minimum of $65. Even with that I have lots of repeat customers. I still don't have a shop but hope that I will have one by March. My DH gave me magnetic signs for the sides of my SUV for my birthday. I get lots of call from them. AND PLEASE EVERYONE DON'T START SCOLDING ME FOR HAVING SIGNS ON MY CAR. If you pick your children up at school or take them to school there is lots of opportunity to advertise. With every cake I deliver I leave at least 10 business cards and Mothers take them all. You need to get a website too if you don't already have one. It takes a little while for the biggies like Google, Yahoo and other search engines to pick you up unless you want to pay to have them do it sooner. I finally got picked up after about a year and since my name starts with "A" I get lots and lots of calls from it. There are lots of free listings out there on the internet at wedding sites. Do a search and see how many you can find that offer free vendor listings. Sometimes the leads cost $1.00 a piece and sometimes brides are just browsing the sites and see your name. Some sites even let you post a picture free.

Chin up or should I say stir it up! You are great!!!!

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CakesUnleashed Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 12:44am
post #39 of 51
Quote:
Originally Posted by dtmc

I'm very emotional right now with this whole cake decorating. I have been trying to start a cake business for a year now and only 5 cake orders. I have been giving away freebies like there is no tomorrow. Everytime people ask for a quote I never hear back from them. Even my family still expects free cakes at any occasion. I even had a girl ask me to do a 5 tier cake for her wedding for 250 people and I quoted her $350 plus delivery and she said I was crazy....never heard from her again. I have done free cake tastings for brides and still no orders. I just had a girl ask about one of Duff's cake for her daughters sweet 16 party in July...a whimiscal cake with the crystals hanging from it. She said she would probably pay me $50.00 for it. Duff would charge like $500 for it!!! She thinks $50 was more than enough. I don't know...I give up. I love doing cakes...I love this website it inspires me everyday. But I can't afford to be doing freebies all the time. I won't do anymore free cakes anymore!!!! So I guess I will only decorate form my kids. Sorry to rant....again...I said I was emotional about this.

Thanks for listening!



OMG! Your cakes are GORGEOUS and UTTER PERFECTION! I can't believe ANYONE suggesting $50 for a cake you described. Shoot fire! If I was anywhere near having the talent you have, my minimum price would be $150. Period! I would suggest you show these people Toba Garrett's or Colette Peters' websites, just to name a couple! When you see the prices these people get for cakes...it's unbelievable and you produce quality work, just like theirs!

How sad I am that you are going to give up! You have so much to offer! Please keep trying! You will make it. I just know it!!!!

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mrsright41401 Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 12:52am
post #40 of 51

Are you a member of the Westside Cake Club or the Eastside Cake Club? YOU SO NEED TO JOIN if you aren't. The ladies at both are FABULOUS. Laure'l Silverberg is the hostess for the Westside Cake Club and has SO MUCH VALUABLE information.

Let me know if you need contact information for them.

Rachel

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mkolmar Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 12:52am
post #41 of 51

Some of your cakes are in my favorites! You have such talent but sounds like you are circled by a bunch of cheap people. I can only 2nd what everyone on here is saying. Don't give up just yet. I just learned in class yesterday that the first 1 -2 years a business is horribly hard and if most people would just stick it out past that time their business will grow like crazy. I hope you are feeling better about everything---you work is amazing.

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NikkiDoc Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 4:21am
post #42 of 51

I agree, your cakes are all gorgeous! I agree with AlamoSweets, great advice.

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littlecake Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 5:17am
post #43 of 51

heck with the cheapos...i don't even try to reason with them...."off to wal mart with you!"

you're just fishin in the wrong pond.
i have some customers who don't even ask what the cost will be....i wish they all were that way.

do we really want the bargin basement shoppers for clients?...i don't.

your batman cake is very creative!...you just need the connections to the right people.

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PieceofCakeAZ Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 9:08am
post #44 of 51

You really do have some great work in your profile, hell I'd put you to work for us in a heartbeat. icon_biggrin.gif

Don't get discouraged, believe me I know first hand that it can be tough getting started. It's tough getting a solid flow of consistent orders with any business in any city, but Phoenix seems to get tougher every week.

This market is no picnic with the flood of new cake businesses over the past couple of years (I currently know of 81 companies [27 of them being legal] in our metro area that do custom cakes.) and many of them are lowballing the market in a major way, which of course has some people thinking that everyone should be that cheap. thumbsdown.gif

It's up to many of us to re-train them that if they want quality... they're gonna have to pay for it. icon_biggrin.gif We had one bride email us saying she got a quote on a cake (that we quoted at $575) for $225 and asked if we could match it. icon_rolleyes.gif I really wanted to reply, "Good luck with that, hopefully you don't get what you pay for". icon_wink.gif

I agree with what many have said, take yourself a break for a few weeks and don't even think about cake. When your break is over, start trying to think of a few unique ways that you can generate some business, maybe a niche market?

If running your own business is truly what you want to do for a living, stick with it. Nothing worth having ever comes easy. icon_smile.gif

Best of luck!

-Kevin

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onceuponacake Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 2:02pm
post #45 of 51

i cant believe she asked if you could match it!!!

"No, sorry won't be able to do that. I'm not sure what kind of ingredients they use or what quality they use. My price is set. If you want to save on funds they are the way to go. But remember, all eyes will be on you and the cake."

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CakesUnleashed Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 3:28pm
post #46 of 51
Quote:
Originally Posted by onceuponacake

i cant believe she asked if you could match it!!!

"No, sorry won't be able to do that. I'm not sure what kind of ingredients they use or what quality they use. My price is set. If you want to save on funds they are the way to go. But remember, all eyes will be on you and the cake."



I love that line, "But remember, all eyes will be on you and the cake!" Great statement!

Mind if I use it now and again??

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CarolAnn Posted 3 Feb 2007 , 3:46pm
post #47 of 51

So sorry you're having these difficulties! Many people are just ignorant about things like this. They want what they want and they usually want it cheap. Well if people want cheap and they talk to me I direct them right to Wally World or the grocery store bakery. My ganddaughter and I were in Country Mart grocery store yesterday and they were giving out cake for their 5 yr anniversary and Maddy wanted some. It was half choc and half vanilla (as far as I could tell) and iced with a white something. I thought "okay, I'll try it..free cake" even though it didn't look good. It tasted...not awful just well no taste to the cake, although it wasn't dry (I'll give them that). The icing I wanted to spit out. Had a gooey consistancy that was very unpleasant to me. All this to say THAT'S what these cheap people deserve. I don't know what else to say other than don't give up on your decorating. Set your pricing and stick to it. Stop giving the freebies! I take cake to family gatherings once because I want to but if family wants a special cake for special occassion I'm going to expect them to pay like any other customer, with maybe a little discount. I have to at least cover my materials. I wish there was a way to steer clear of these terribly cheap people but so far I don't know......

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sweeterbug1977 Posted 4 Feb 2007 , 4:35am
post #48 of 51

First of all, you're cakes are very good. I had the same dilemma as you before I got licensed. I wanted more business, but couldn't advertise because I wasn't legal. It will get better when you are able to advertise without always worrying about getting in trouble for not being legal. If you'd like more information about gettting a licensed business in Arizona, feel free to pm or email me. Good luck!

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PieceofCakeAZ Posted 5 Feb 2007 , 8:35am
post #49 of 51

Joanie makes a great point about being licensed. It definitely instills confidence in a bride to know that you are a legit business and she can find you when she needs to.

Obviously one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to get licensed is to find an existing kitchen that you can rent space from for all of your baking and decorating and then apply for your own health department permit for that kitchen.

To help find licensed kitchens in your area, you can use the Maricopa County web site. The link below is a searchable database of every licensed food business in Maricopa County, perhaps there is one close to you that may be open to renting space. (it's even sortable by city).

http://www.maricopa.gov/envsvc/envwebapp/business_search.aspx?as_page_title=Food%20Establishments%20Search&as_type=Food

Best of luck!

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Denise Posted 5 Feb 2007 , 2:26pm
post #50 of 51

I am sorry you are so frustrated. Don't give up! Do join the local cake clubs. I saw that L'aurel Silverberg is involved there - I have taken a class from her in Houston and she is wonderful. Knowing other cake decorators has brought me plenty of business - if you are friendly with them they will send you their overflow - now I am sending overflow to another "new" decorator. I looked at your cakes...they are beautiful. Your fondant was very pretty - smooth as a baby's behind.

I have a working relationship with a wedding decorating business. They asked me to do a cake to place in their booth for a bridal show. Since I am not "legal" I did not have a booth but my cake was still there and they gave out every card I left with them (about 350) and I will be placing the cake in their showroom. If you know a florist/caterer/decorator ask if you could place a dummy cake at their business with their cards. It will enhance their business and perhaps enhance yours!!

Pass out your business card to people you meet - send a cake to work with your hubby - my first "big" wedding for people I didn't "know" came from a lady who worked with hubby. She already knew my cake tasted great - they interviewed 3 decorators and chose mine for looks and taste! They are now great customers. Best of luck and don't give up!

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bizcocho Posted 5 Feb 2007 , 2:45pm
post #51 of 51

Your cakes are just beautiful! Don't underestimate yourself because of some cheap people. You have some talent, do not let it go to waste. Just quote the price of cakes for what they're worth, if people want to pay for them good and if they don't just let it be. If you also get joy out of doing cakes, don't let anyone rob you of that joy.

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