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I have a new location! This might be a cool idea for U      CakeCentral.com Forum Index » Cake Decorating Business Author Message alicegop Forum Addict Joined: May 03, 2006 Posts: 996 Location: Fresno, CA Birthday: Oct 06 Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:38 am  I am so excited, I was able to move my cake decorating supply business to cargo bay (www.cargo-bay.com). I was able to rent virtual office space so I can use conference rooms, fax machine, meeting areas, they have high speed wireless internet and work stations, free coffee and water for myself and clients... a more professional place to work out of. I then have a storage locker to house all my inventory. The best part though is they have a shipping center in house, so I box up the items and then put a sticky note with the address on it, they will tape it up and mail it off for me so I don't have to weigh it anymore or look up the shipping costs. Their computer will calculate the cheapest way to ship (USPS, UPS or FedEx) and they will put the shipping label on and send it off and then just bill the costs to my account AND I get 10% off their shipping quote so what use to cost me $9.50 ended up costing me only $8.82. I'm thinking I could use the conference rooms to give cake decorating lessons or finally have the cake club meetings there. If any of you are looking for a place to meet with clients to discuss cake and contracts, do a tasting that isn't your house, the virtual office space could be a good idea. It is professional, inexpensive and super cool! I now need to figure out how I am going to handle pick ups. All of my orders are done online (www.selfservebaker.com) and most are out of state, so mostly I will use the shipping center (yea!), but for local customers that pick up from me, I am thinking of having a few days a week that I'll just hang out at the virtual office so they can pick up. But the hours wouldn't be able to be same so I am posting the hours on my website... I'm nervous that customers won't like that, but I run the business as a hobby. I have a calendar that shows when I am there, so I am still pondering how to make that part work. I'm also trying to figure out how I can get the cake classes going, anyone have any ideas on how to find people who would want to do that? I'm soooo excited!!! mommicakes Forum Addict Joined: Feb 07, 2007 Posts: 1348 Birthday: Jun 08 Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:44 am  How cool for you!!! Sounds like you have a good thing. Good luck, and let us know how things keep going!!! liapsim Frequent Member Joined: Jul 06, 2007 Posts: 391 Location: GA Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:52 am  Neat idea! TheDomesticDiva Forum Addict Joined: Jul 30, 2007 Posts: 510 Location: D.C. Metro Area Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:22 am  I know I'm missing something--been a long day already, forgive me!! How do you do a tasting out of a virtual office?? Doesnt that mean "online" office? As in virtual reality, like its not an ACTUAL place, just exists online? Like I said--I know I have to be missing something! alicegop Forum Addict Joined: May 03, 2006 Posts: 996 Location: Fresno, CA Birthday: Oct 06 Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:42 pm  It isn't virtual as in online virtual, but as in not really my office Basically it is an office that a bunch of people use and you share resources. It is really cool! I can use one of many conference rooms anytime. It is really nice. My costs are exactly the same each month and I don't have to pay taxes or electric bill and have a professional place to run my business out of. It is really awesome. Check out the website: www.cargo-bay.com I know they don't have very many locations, but I think it will take off! mw902 Frequent Member Joined: May 07, 2008 Posts: 252 Location: Westland, MI Birthday: Sep 02 Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:00 pm  Awesome! I was just looking for a place to order some stuff from, I will sure check you out when I get ready! Love to throw some business to a fellow CC'er! tabby235 Newbie Joined: Nov 29, 2006 Posts: 17 Location: texas Birthday: Jun 01 Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 6:58 pm  Hi there are alot of ways to get students. I have been teaching for a long time. there are great times and bad times . The first thing is to limit you size of classes . I find more than 15 is to much for me. I send letters to churches and lady groups. then always tie your business cards to cupcakes put into a pretty basket take them with you to run erronds passout to everyone you come into contact with. soon you will have word of mouth and you won't have to work so hard. good luck alicegop Forum Addict Joined: May 03, 2006 Posts: 996 Location: Fresno, CA Birthday: Oct 06 Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:41 pm  tabby235 wrote: Hi there are alot of ways to get students. I have been teaching for a long time. there are great times and bad times . The first thing is to limit you size of classes . I find more than 15 is to much for me. I send letters to churches and lady groups. then always tie your business cards to cupcakes put into a pretty basket take them with you to run erronds passout to everyone you come into contact with. soon you will have word of mouth and you won't have to work so hard. good luck Tabby, that is great advice, THANKS! I was thinking 3 - 6 people tops. I don't want to overwhelm myself. I sell cake supplies so (a) I can have access to cake supplies besides the craft store and (b) so I can meet nice people. I love to meet new people and hang out with cake people. So I think doing some small classes would be fun. I certainly don't make money selling cake supplies, just something to feed my addiction Sweet_Guys Forum Addict Joined: Aug 26, 2008 Posts: 503 Location: Winter Garden, FL Birthday: Feb 20 Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:53 am  The link isn't working right now. I went to google to search for it and sure enough it came up. I guess they must be maintaining their site this morning. Paul CookieMeister Frequent Member Joined: Dec 22, 2008 Posts: 301 Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:34 am  There's a service like that in my town I've seen advertisements for. What a great idea! summernoelle Forum Fanatic Joined: Mar 08, 2007 Posts: 2444 Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:49 am  Cool! Too bad they don't have one in my area... Wing-Ding Regular Member Joined: Jun 13, 2008 Posts: 112 Location: Tempe, AZ Birthday: Mar 14 Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:08 am  This sounds like such a great idea! HeavenLeeCakes Regular Member Joined: Oct 25, 2007 Posts: 117 Location: Maryland Birthday: Feb 08 Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:08 am  This is only an idea that may muddled brain popped out. You know how people do video conferences. Can't you do video classes too? I mean it wouldn't be for people who need hands on intructions like me but visual learners could do it. Just a thought. Now I know some cake genius on CC will find a way to do this (if it hasn't been done already). I only request a discount on the first class. Sweet_Guys Forum Addict Joined: Aug 26, 2008 Posts: 503 Location: Winter Garden, FL Birthday: Feb 20 Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:45 am  Is anyone else still having trouble getting this website to work? I've tried four different days now. 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