I love Nordstrom's clothes, but since I'm in college full time, Fashion Bug fits my budget better. I don't go pester Nordie's to see if they'll sell me clothes for MY budget.
I grew up in Milwaukee and we had a Paul Mitchell beauty school in the area. We could go there for the almost-finished students to work their skills and get practice. We paid a bit less than a full-scale salon, but got great haircuts, colors, etc. The students got pictures for their portfolio if we allowed them to do before/after shots.
The same thing happens in fashion - if you need a dress for x, y or z, call a fashion design school in your area and see if there is a student who will work with you. You still pay money, but less than buying a Dior gown and you get your needs met while the student gets the experience and the pictures for a portfolio.
In both of those situations, you still pay for a quality product, but you pay less than you would have if you worked with someone with a reputation that is already established.
If the original poster had been pestering someone with huge prices and a fabulous client list that's one thing. But she didn't. She wanted to find a local baker in her area and make it mutually beneficial.
I don't know the OP's intention, so I'm not commenting on that (moot point anyway, since I'm in AL ) but I understand the people that are suspicious. It's called being jaded from being screwed one too many times. Being cautious is not a bad thing, because unfortunately there ARE a lot of people out there that want to rip you off. More than want to play fair, I think...
Sugar_Plum_Fairy Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 2404
Location: Somerset County, NJ
Birthday: Jun 03 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:08 am
angi1972 wrote:
I am originally from NJ, grew up and lived there for 32 years. I moved to FL in 2004 and I know there is not any "awesome" places to get cakes. All you really have to choose from is the local yokel supermarket or someone that does it on the side for fun. I do not think that it was meant to be a rude cheapy post. I think she just wants something special for her childs party and cannot find that at the supermarket. My SIL just did a baby shower for her sister and could not get a "cool" cake from anywhere! She ended up with a sheet cake in pink with some booties on it and they went all out witha tea party theme at a tea house for the shower. So GUESS what?? My SIL started doing her own cakes and makes all the cakes for friends and family there. Many people watch Ace of Cakes and it made them "get into" the special art of cake decorating more than ever. My twins cake that I did was for someone that has a daughter that LOVES Duff but they just cannot afford that right now, so she approached me through a friend of my husbands and asked me if I could create her daughters design. And I did I got paid $215 for that cake and it was featured on Fox 4 Floridas Wild Bill show (you tube search oshea birthday party) It was very exciting.
I just feel bad so much negativity came from this post, she obviously just wanted something special for her childs party
Guess nobody is looking in the right places in NJ.
and there's also that guy from NJ who's been on a couple of Food Network Challenges (Eddie Valasco or something like that) who has a bakery in Edison or Bayonne or someplace like that. I'm sure there are more, but I believe this gets the point across effectively.
I just find it interesting that NJ is a semi-large state and this poster didn't mention WHERE in NJ. That is the only thing that raises a red flag to me. Most people would write, "Is there a local bakery in Trenton that won't break my budget?" or something like that. The only thing a person can do is respond to this lady and see what she would like. If she doesn't have the money, then you don't do that cake, plain and simple.
With that being said, she does deserve the benefit of the doubt and I am not sure why some people are being so defensive. The only reason to be defensive is if she asked YOU personally to do a 100 person cake for $20 - then you can be turned off.
So while we are on the topic - can anyone in CA do a cake for me??
So while we are on the topic - can anyone in CA do a cake for me??
I'm about 1,000 miles away from you, but I'll do it and ship it to you. With our reliable shipping services, it should arrive safely and in one piece, don't you think??!! OR as reasonable as gas prices are these days, why don't I just drive it out there, been wanting to see that part of the country anyway.
Beckalita Frequent Member
Joined: Mar 13, 2006
Posts: 386
Location: North Miami, FL
Birthday: Oct 03
Posted:
Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:50 am
Sorry, I still stick by my response ~ and I didn't even think of the fact that it could be a Health Dept fishing expedition. If you are making cakes for less than grocery store or Walmart bakery prices JUST to get experience and a photo in your portfolio, then DON'T come crying to us when you are burnt out and your bargain-hunting customers don't want to pay higher prices.
Sorry if that's too NEGATIVE for you all, but there have been a million threads on this site about cheapskate customers and decorators who don't charge enough. Most of us work VERY hard to create a quality product and are barely making minimum wage at it, so when I hear requests like this ~ it does upset me!
Last edited by Beckalita on Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:01 am; edited 1 time in total
So while we are on the topic - can anyone in CA do a cake for me??
I'm about 1,000 miles away from you, but I'll do it and ship it to you. With our reliable shipping services, it should arrive safely and in one piece, don't you think??!! OR as reasonable as gas prices are these days, why don't I just drive it out there, been wanting to see that part of the country anyway.
I was hoping to have it for tomorrow morning. Thanks for being soooo flexible and accommodating! Maybe use your private jet?
Last edited by KeltoKel on Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:53 am; edited 1 time in total
Jasmine33 Frequent Member
Joined: Jul 23, 2008
Posts: 249
Posted:
Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:52 am
KeltoKel wrote:
So while we are on the topic - can anyone in CA do a cake for me??
I am still working on getting better at decorating cakes. I could whip up some awesome cupcakes for you though. LOL
On second thought, I think I am just the person for the job. What kind of cake would you like? Blues Clues? Strawberry SHortcake? My Little Pony?
ROFL
I like your princess cake. I was at the party supply store the other week and found some stuff on clearance. I found a tiara and was thinking of making a princess cake up for my daughter. That is similiar to what I had in mind. But now I have seen all the princess castle cakes around and am thinking of doing that instead. Maybe I should do both.
So while we are on the topic - can anyone in CA do a cake for me??
I am still working on getting better at decorating cakes. I could whip up some awesome cupcakes for you though. LOL
On second thought, I think I am just the person for the job. What kind of cake would you like? Blues Clues? Strawberry SHortcake? My Little Pony?
ROFL
I like your princess cake. I was at the party supply store the other week and found some stuff on clearance. I found a tiara and was thinking of making a princess cake up for my daughter. That is similiar to what I had in mind. But now I have seen all the princess castle cakes around and am thinking of doing that instead. Maybe I should do both.
Thank you! Princess cakes are A LOT of fun!
Jasmine33 Frequent Member
Joined: Jul 23, 2008
Posts: 249
Posted:
Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:56 am
Quote:
I was hoping to have it for tomorrow morning. Thanks for being soooo flexible and accommodating!
Oh no, no, no. Don't go with her. It will never get there in time. I can start baking right now and have it ready and at your house by tonight!
(You do live just down the street , right?)
pignolia Newbie
Joined: Jul 29, 2008
Posts: 5
Posted:
Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:01 am
Well, I can say that I was very excited to see so many posts to my original post, until I read them. Wow! It is very sad to see how many of you (although incredibly talented) are so jaded, suspicious, and mean.
I am looking for a cake for close to 100 people, but cannot afford $1000-$1200 for a cake! I am not sure how many of you can.... but I cannot. There should be a happy medium between Collette Peters and Costco. That is why I came to this board to find someone who would be interested in doing so. SugarPlumFairy made a smug posting, but does not realize that those are the prices that these lesser-known but established bakeries are charging. At that point, I would just go to Collette- she is not that much more.
You have to understand that when you are a baker who has never, or rarely done a large cake for an event, there is a certain level of risk that the buyer assumes. That assumption of risk is compensated by a lower price. It is a win-win situation if things work out. There is nothing to get huffy an puffy about. I have great respect for the talent and work that goes into these cakes, and am prepared to pay a good amount for the cake.
I had been approached by someone who was trying to build her portfolio, and offered to do the cake for a very reasonable price. Unfortunately, I discovered ( after I gave her a deposit of $100) that she showed me photos of cakes that were someone elses. I would have used her based on her own merits... but the deception was hard to get over. I am not painting all start-up businesses with the same brush stroke.... nor should the bitter posters here bring along their past baggage.
I thank those you defended my post, especially CranberryClo . You took my posting in the right spirit. It really was a compliment... many people here are doing fabulous work. Again, I came to this specific forum because someone had suggested it to me, and I though it would be a good idea. Where else than a business startup site where someone may be launching and looking for clientele.
I have not posted here before, but it is silly to make assumptions about me, my level of intelligence, my character and ethics.
I think I should take your advice adven68, and RUN from this board.
Sorry, I still stick by my response ~ and I didn't even think of the fact that it could be a Health Dept fishing expedition. If you are making cakes for less than grocery store or Walmart bakery prices JUST to get experience and a photo in your portfolio, then DON'T come crying to us when you are burnt out and your bargain-hunting customers don't want to pay higher prices.
I should really just stop, but I can't seem to because I'm wondering where everyone is getting their information and why I am not seeing it too? When/where did the original poster say she wanted a cake for less than grocery store or Walmart prices? I think my monitor must have dead spots becaues I missed that entirely.
What I got from her post is that she is not in the market for a masterpiece, but she wants a nice cake. There is nothing wrong with that. And there is nothing wrong with asking a question. Except, it seems, it is wrong at CakeCentral because lots of people will assume the worst about your character.
Pignolia, you are soooo right and I thank you for your very tactful, yet, eloquent statement. There are so many wonerful people on CC so don't let a few bad posts get you down. If I were near you, I would certainly do a cake for you.
In my town, there are two store-front bakeries. The one is upper scale with a long history. They do fondant and buttercream work, and are known as being really good. I have never had any of their cakes but they are pricey. You want a bold cake that makes a statement, you go there.
Also in my town, there s a small bakery that isn't as fancy. It has been there for a few years. The owner, however, also has a little supply shop and I have been in there several times. She has let me taste her buttercream icing and it was yummy. She is very nice and helpful. Her cakes will not break your budget and she does not work with fondant, however, she has very nice cakes. She runs a fine business and is always busy.
I think pignolia is looking for bakery #2 here. AND, I think it is fair of her to ask for something like this.
Only suggestion, you might want to say where you are located. Best of luck in searching for a cake! You were not in the wrong when you posted on this site.
SweetResults Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 13, 2006
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) but I understand the people that are suspicious. It's called being jaded from being screwed one too many times. Being cautious is not a bad thing, because unfortunately there ARE a lot of people out there that want to rip you off. More than want to play fair, I think... 
I just feel bad so much negativity came from this post, she obviously just wanted something special for her childs party
