Joined: Sep 18, 2006
Posts: 2253
Location: the fine line between genuis and insanity
Birthday: Nov 21
Posted:
Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:23 pm
let us know how it turns out..........
K8memphis- Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 5158
Location: Memphis 10 C
Posted:
Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:58 pm
You are all welcome to think I am an old crabby lady. You would be close. I'm really an old impatient crabby lady.
But this is not even close to a random act of kindness. It is a deliberate request for a huge freebie so some people will be in the mood to donate to a charity at a big gala event.
It's cool to donate but for me it's my idea to donate, not theirs. I got my own favorite charities. Getting people caked up & happy so they can give is not on my list.
I hope I'm wrong and I hope you have more referrals than you can handle and have to hire more people and ultimately get taxed out the whazoo in the newly created 'patriotic tax bracket'--hahaha--just kidding about the tax part--there's been too much political stuff flying lately. I was just reaching for superlatives & got carried away.
Yes I do have a licensed shop, and the time etc. etc. and No this is not about feel good stuff for charity. I do that well enough on my own. I agree, charity comes form the heart, THIS is a tax deduction and a business arrangement.
I guess I'll see how this one goes. I've spent a LOT more money on bridal fairs and diden't really come out that far ahead. I still get more from random searches on the internet. If I get 5 orders from it I'd be happy.
I'll let you know and post pictures in about a month.
Thanks everyone!
jammjenks Forum Fanatic
Joined: Aug 22, 2007
Posts: 1996
Location: western NC
Birthday: Jul 21
Posted:
Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:37 pm
282513 wrote:
In a heartbeat too! Why wouldn't you? Even if you don't get a single call from it what a great portfolio builder!! Make some great brochures up and feel good about donating to a great charity! You are very talented, I am sure you will do awesome!!!
ditto
kbak37 Regular Member
Joined: Oct 22, 2008
Posts: 198
Location: Wasilla, Alaska
Birthday: Jan 16
Posted:
Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:59 pm
jammjenks wrote:
282513 wrote:
In a heartbeat too! Why wouldn't you? Even if you don't get a single call from it what a great portfolio builder!! Make some great brochures up and feel good about donating to a great charity! You are very talented, I am sure you will do awesome!!!
ditto
Ditto again...whats the worse case scenario..no calls? Someone will remember the cake and word of mouth....
I dont see how you can lose really. Think of it as an investment.
dailey Forum Addict
Joined: May 22, 2005
Posts: 719
Posted:
Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:07 pm
why aren't they just ordering the cake from you?? i would not donate because its obvious they can pay for it ( i hate beggers) AND it usually never pans out as far as getting more business...
all4cake Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 02, 2006
Posts: 3961
Location: NC
Posted:
Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:31 pm
If you can afford the donation and want to do it, by all means, do it. If you can afford the time to make it but not the financial outlay, tell them you would be able to do it for cost of supplies and the work will be donated. Even if they pay for it fully, the business will more than likely be mentioned. "What an incredible cake! Who did it???" I would also ask or make it part of the "deal" whichever way you go, to be able to rest business card holders(filled, of course) on the table beside the cake. If you're donating it, in part or in full, make sure it is in your favor! When I offer a donation, it's just that....a donation. When I'm approached, I make sure I get something more than a tax deduction for my efforts and my help in making THEM look good....if you know what I mean.
CakeForte Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 21, 2004
Posts: 478
Location: Internet
Posted:
Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:47 pm
I think they should pay for the cake. First, they can afford it, second, how is your free cake helping the charity? It sounds like they're eating it and not auctioning it to raise funds. Lastly, a custom cake for 300-400 is a HUGE order. I think in the end, you will not have the satisfaction you think you will because its not really helping the charity, its helping them have a good time while they help the charity.
I've donated gift certificates for a charity to auction off, but I didn't give them any free cake to go with it. They offered me a booth and what not to hand out fliers...but it just didn't work with my schedule so I didn't do it. I think there is a difference with what they are asking.
On the the Housewives of Atlanta, one of them planned this big fundraiser to raise a million...Well it was a bust and at the end she was all upset because they didn't raise anything and said we spent $30k on this party. Or something along those lines.
Mike1394 Forum Fanatic
Joined: Feb 20, 2008
Posts: 1835
Location: Michigan
Posted:
Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:35 am
Like you said it's a write off. So eventually your donating a free cake. One thing I would do, if I had the talent to get asked to do it LOLOL, make sure your going to get the exposure your after. Something that is going to make you stand out from all of the other items donated. I would make this a bargaining chip going in. I would also check with the Chiefs would it be ok to use thier logo. How about a stadium cake, is it still Arrowhead?
Mike
costumeczar Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 18, 2007
Posts: 2576
Location: Henrico VA
Posted:
Fri Nov 07, 2008 7:05 am
I wouldn't do it, I've done things for free in the past for large "upscale" events like this, and it got me zero in return. If you WANT to do it, do it, but I agree with the previously mentioned thought that they should be able to pay you for at least the materials. Nobody really pays attention to who made the cake at events like this, and even if you get one order from it, you have to decide if it's worth your investment, which this is...An investment in your advertising budget. It's up to you, but don't expect a big upswing in your bookings from it.
AsburyArt Junior Member
Joined: Aug 09, 2008
Posts: 33
Posted:
Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:15 am
Donate to every possible, legitimate, charity you can find. Donate donate donate. You cannot guage how it will come back to you. The key is: all in or all out. Don't donate to a single function and expect your business to increase. The other key is: it doesn't have to be a large donation for every occasion. But keep your name out there and in front of people's faces and on their lips.
Always donate something that represents your business and be fearless about asking for advertising... leave cards or brochures with your donation.
There are some nay-sayers on this thread, but you CANNOT GAUGE how it will come back to you. Forget the cost, plan for the marathon and not the sprint. Donations to worthy causes will always come back to you.
Some say "I got nothing in return". I find that hard to believe, but mostly I ask how do you know? Do you track where every bit of your business originates? The cost is minimal compared to other forms of advertising, and I cannot stress this more, do not drop off a donation without cards or brochures or some form of printed acknowledgement for the donation.
julzs71 Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 18, 2006
Posts: 723
Posted:
Fri Nov 07, 2008 8:50 am
indydebi wrote:
I say go for it, babe!! I'd do it in a heartbeat. As a matter of fact, I AM doing something like that on Valentine's Day. The Indiana Ice (prof hockey team) is giving a couple the chance to win a "Wedding on the Ice". I'm making three 2-tier wedding cakes and the couple will pick one of them. I will have 3 of my cakes in front of 8000 ice hockey fans, plus radio time during the week before the game.
At the very least, you are contributing a lot to a charity without it costing you very much.
That is awesome. The only difference between the two of you is that your name is being plugged. At the benefit they don't really do that. They may run off a list of Thank You's, but it doesn't single you out and say it the same way your free cake is. Which by the way, would be awsome.
Last thing. I have known people who run benefit dinner type things like this. They get alot of money and not all of it goes out. They pay coordinators, food, alcohol, and many other things.
Look up on the charity reports and see how much of the money donated will actually go to the charity.
some donate 75% and some donate 15%.
Don't donate to donate. Take some free cake up to the hospital for sick kids. My friends son has leukemia and is actually in the hospital today. I'm sure they and other children there would love something like that. If you feel you need to get your name out, nurses and doctors are there all the time.
AsburyArt Junior Member
Joined: Aug 09, 2008
Posts: 33
Posted:
Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:00 am
I have never had a request to leave brochures or cards with the donation refused. Even at black tie charity functions. I guess it could happen, but I make my intentions clear as soon as I am asked to donate.
The take home message from me is: be smart about how you donate. You are in control and can always refuse to participate. You should get something out of it. You cannot gauge how it will come back to you.
cecerika Junior Member
Joined: Apr 04, 2007
Posts: 44
Posted:
Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:13 am
Well, I did 23 beautiful Moulin Rouge themed cakes for a big charity fundraising event last year. I submitted my cost, which was about$1100. I put in about 100 hours of labor. (Making gumpaste flowers, bows, etc.). The mayor, chief of police, and other important people were there. My contact info with logo etc. was in all the printed materials. I thought it was a great opportunity with the upper class community. Well, guess what???..... not one call for a cake. I've been very bummed.
Honestly, I'm in the club of the "Been burned enough on donations" at the same time you have to do what you think is the right thing to do.
First, it's going to cost you FAR more than the $150 you think it's going to for that many servings of cake, especially a custom cake... It costs me $143 in ingredients alone to feed 120-175...
Here's what I would negotiate and get in writing (and I really do mean GET IT IN WRITING!!!!)... O.k. negotiate for the cost of ingredients not to exceed $400 (that's $1/slice tops is what they'll pay), your business time value is $20/hr. for approximately 30-50 hours for a custom designed cake which will be donated in exchange for a minimum of a 4x5 to full page full color advertisement in the event flyer plus at least one name drop during the event. Your time is a HUGE donation is what you're trying to get across and time has value.
You've got to decide what is the best thing for you. Realize that you aren't likely to get much if anything from this event because a lot of these charity events are just so the organizer can get a writeoff and look "good" in the eyes of the IRS... They don't mention the people behind the scenes doing the real work. They may show your cake on a TV clip but they aren't going to say who did the work.
It's one thing to have a thing like Debi is talking about where you're going to have 8000 fans watching a bride and groom pick out their Hockey cake design in front of a building full of oogley eyed hockey fans (aka do you KNOW how much CHA CHING it costs to be in hockey???? - yea, for most super fans, to know Debi does Check/Hook/Skate/etc. that'll bring business)...
The key is make sure it's clearly stated what you will get in return for your donation even if it's only the hours portion of the cake...
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