Joined: Aug 12, 2006
Posts: 677
Location: at computer surfing cake central
Birthday: Dec 19
Posted:
Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:03 pm
Ok, I will try to make this short and I am really not sure why I am so annoyed. A few weeks ago I started seeing really cute flyers around town for a person who bakes cupcakes. Of course I snatched on up and as I got a closer look at the pics they weren't even that good in terms of decorating ability. Sorry to sound so snooty, that really isn't like me Anyway it just gave a phone number and 2 first names of girls to ask for when you call. A few days later at my son's preschool I come to find out a mom in his class knows these 2 women and they are not legal, they are just doing it out of their kitchen. I think to myself "well good for them that they have the guts to advertise like that" especially if they are home based and not "legal".
Well today another friend sends me a link to a website and says " cupcake competition?". Now keep in mind I only bake for friends and family and I am even too afraid to have a business card or anything on paper. I look at the website and after a few minutes I find it odd that there is no address for this "premier cupcake shoppe". Well turns out it is the same 2 woman advertising in the fliers all over town. They now have a website too and it only has a home phone number and no address and they keep saying "call us" so it is clear they are NOT a store front. There cupcakes are ridiculous, just a swirl of icing then those ready-made sugar wilton decos (like Diegos face etc) that you can buy in the food store.
OK, sorry this is so long. I guess I am so annoyed because I am SO afraid to advertise or have a business card and these 2 are all over town flaunting their "talent" and they aren't even doing it legally. I can't figure out if they are geniuses or really dumb Thanks for letting me vent
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 13667
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:25 pm
I vote for dumb.
TexasSugar Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Sep 01, 2005
Posts: 4142
Location: East Texas
Birthday: Dec 08
Posted:
Wed Apr 30, 2008 7:47 pm
They could not know you aren't allowed to do it.
How many times do we cover the copyright information on here? And how many times do people say I never thought about that or heard about that?
Being Legal is the same thing. Unless you are on a message board like these with the talks we have, they may really be clueless about it.
Why not jot them a little email and let them know. If they pull the site, they may not have know. If htey do they are either brave or don't care.
PieceofCakeAZ Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 11, 2005
Posts: 340
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 12:16 am
Breaking the law is only genius until you get caught.
mariela_ms Regular Member
Joined: Oct 24, 2007
Posts: 171
Location: Arizona
Birthday: Jan 21
Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 12:25 am
I agree with TexasSugar...
maybe they just dont know. I know that I didnt know before I got to cakecentral.....
I think they would appreciate it if you let them know whats up!
TheButterWench Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 12, 2007
Posts: 687
Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 6:47 am
PieceofCakeAZ wrote:
Breaking the law is only genius until you get caught.
So true.
I have the same problem with these 2 girls making cupcakes. Their advantage? They are young and they go to all these clubs and do their networking that way.
They also are advertising SEX IN THE CITY cupcake packages, calling them cutesy SIC names and using the movie images to advertise them.
I'm livid.
I sent them an email asking them if they didn't have a legal kitchen that I was willing to rent out the mornings in mine.
I didn't get any response, not even a thanks but no thanks.
It's just like this other little chick, she used famous song titles to name all her cupcakes and when I sent her an email letting her know not to get caught I was also ignored.
These other 2 girls are now using my idea of using liquor in the cuptails when I announced that I would be doing so on my website and was trying out recipes and some of the recipes were not that good. I'm trying to work my way down the list to offer the best, yummy ones and now POOF they have them on their menu.
I'm so mad I just don't know what to do and I know that here in Florida they won't inspect a home so what's the point in reporting them?
I figure that they didn't know either. Now they do, or at least should check into it after recieving your email.
MegWinn Junior Member
Joined: Jun 01, 2007
Posts: 54
Location: Northern California
Birthday: Jun 27
Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 7:37 am
What's the Beatles song?..."Live and Let Die." Well, I say those people who have the audacity to advertise with paper and website without being legal are ASKING for trouble. I say don't waste your energy getting angry/jealous over what other people are doing. Put your energy into what you CAN control, like your own work, recipes, decorating abilities etc...These people are eventually going to get their "come-up-in's" in one way or another. Life is just too short to waste it worrying about what you can't control! If you have a superior product people aren't going to waste their money on substandard cupcakes!
I've been doing cakes out of my home (not legally) for about a year now, only having one or two cakes a month. I've gotten really busy within the past couple of months (five this week) and I feel that it's time for me to get legal. Many people have asked me for my website or a business card, which I have neither, and I just don't want to say "um...well...I'm not really legal, soooo.....". I'm waiting for my health dept. to give me a call back so I can get all the information. I don't want to risk any fines or anything but I'm about to bust to get my name out there besides just by word of mouth.
So maybe they just don't know. Thanks to this site I've learned tons of stuff I would have not thought of otherwise.
shellzey Regular Member
Joined: Aug 19, 2007
Posts: 151
Location: oklahoma
call asking about their products and then tell them that you are from the health department or who ever it is that would handle that stuff. tell them that you have tracked down their address and will soon be sending them a fine for working without a license. recommend they get a lawyer.
could be fun LOL
shellzey Regular Member
Joined: Aug 19, 2007
Posts: 151
Location: oklahoma
oh ya...remember to hit * (i forget the number) before you call so that your number doesn't show LOL
cakesbyamym Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 22, 2006
Posts: 534
Location: Newton, NC
Birthday: Nov 11
Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 7:44 am
Ditto for me. I'd love to see the web site!
If they are aware of operating "under the radar", to advertise is just plain ignorant and they deserve to get nabbed for it!
Amy
Babarooskie Frequent Member
Joined: Jun 22, 2007
Posts: 442
Location: Miami, FL
Birthday: Dec 24
Posted:
Thu May 01, 2008 7:47 am
Well, first things firt.
I make cakes out of my kitchen and I am not legal. I do have a website and a card with just my name & number on it. I've asked several people and they all tell me the same thing; only difference is, is that not everyone will fess up to it.
You can have a website, but it must be like a "blog". That's how mine is. I separate it with tabs to categorize it into cakes, cupcakes, etc. DO NOT INCLUDE PRICING. I network solely on word of mouth and Myspace. Even then, my myspace profile is just pictures of my cakes with flavors I have done/can do. If someone confronts me about it, I say they only pay me for the ingrediants that I SHOP for them. Then I tell my "clients" that I am not legal, but they never seem to mind since the "charge of ingredients" is cheaper than other cake designers. Again, I network solely through word of mouth and myspace.
I don't see anything wrong with that...just my .2 cents.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
Anyway it just gave a phone number and 2 first names of girls to ask for when you call. A few days later at my son's preschool I come to find out a mom in his class knows these 2 women and they are not legal, they are just doing it out of their kitchen. I think to myself "well good for them that they have the guts to advertise like that" especially if they are home based and not "legal".
and it only has a home phone number and no address and they keep saying "call us" so it is clear they are NOT a store front. There cupcakes are ridiculous, just a swirl of icing then those ready-made sugar wilton decos (like Diegos face etc) that you can buy in the food store.
Thanks for letting me vent 
