| Author |
Message |
crlovescakes
Regular Member
Joined: Oct 01, 2007
Posts: 151
Location: WI
|
 Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 7:55 am |
  |
wow, I am not sure what i am doing wrong here. I see some posts where people are making like 15-20 cakes a week, I do not get nearly that many cakes! The only advertising i do is in the phone book. Most of my clients are word of mouth. should i be doing something different? the last couple months were so busy with weddings i didn’t want to take any more orders some weeks because i work all my myself and am not sure how much I can handle really. Now this week for instance I had 1 tiny cheap party cake (nothing to brag about (did even bother with a picture), I am pretty much making nothing this week).
i will say i have a lot of people call and then when they hear a price they will not pay it. i do not even charge that much! compared to those on here i would say i am a very affordable for what you get! i try to work with someone’s budget if possible, but i have to tell you i probably still go overboard. bad i know cause they will get used to that. i can help it i guess. Like a recent post people see all those cake shows, want those cakes, but want to pay like $20 or want the cake to feed just 10 people.
i have not posted cakes on here for a long time since i already post them on two other places, but here is my website... www.happytierscustomcakes.com (take a look if you would like)
I think my cakes are great and am not sure what i should be doing to get more orders??? any suggestions?? |
|
|
     |
 |
|
|
|
CrazyCatLady
Newbie
Joined: Mar 06, 2007
Posts: 13
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:14 am |
|
I don't sell cakes and therefore don't have any advice on that topic, but I just wanted to tell you that I LOVE your business name! Seriously cute. And your website and cakes look great.
Most people are cheap and will balk at what are really reasonable cake prices considering that it is artwork. With cakes like yours, I'm sure your business will pick back up. |
|
|
| |
|
|
Memie
Regular Member
Joined: Nov 28, 2006
Posts: 155
Birthday: Dec 02
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:30 am |
|
I don't sell cakes either, so no advice from me. You have some awesome cakes on your web site. Definitely would add them to my favorites if they were posted on CC So I 'favorited' (?) your web site.  |
|
|
| |
|
|
hilly
Regular Member
Joined: Feb 24, 2008
Posts: 176
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:34 am |
|
I favorited your website too  Awesome cakes!
Have you tried adding your bakery to event sites, yahoo pages, etc.? Maybe getting in good with a couple of caterers in your area might be an option too. Good luck! You definitely should have people knocking down your door with your portfolio, I think it's just getting the word out there that you are... well, out there |
|
|
| |
|
|
tanyascakes
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 03, 2005
Posts: 964
Location: ...lost in space!!!
Birthday: Jan 07
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:36 am |
|
Wow, I think that your website is great! I loved looking through your gallery!! You do amazing work. Sometimes, it just goes with the flow of the economy. It may depend on the area you live in, too. I am like you, sometimes, I m up to my butt in it, sometimes nothing. Lately I have spent my time practicing something new when I have nothing going on. Just keep your head up and stay positive. Enjoy the break, because you may be wishing for it soon!! Take care! |
|
|
 |
|
|
Rendee
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 23, 2007
Posts: 81
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:41 am |
|
Your cakes are absolutely awesome and can speak for themselves!!! The sad part is that people just really don't understand the time and skill that goes into making and decorating cakes! People see it as "well it's just cake what is so hard about making and decorating a cake?". If they had to do just one cake, then they would have a true understanding of what all goes into making and decorating a cake!!! Keep your chin up and keep doing what you are doing, the business will come to you!  |
|
|
| |
|
|
majka_ze
Frequent Member
Joined: Aug 21, 2008
Posts: 463
Location: Czech rep.
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:41 am |
|
What I would change on your website won't really help to get more customers but helps to weed out those crazy callers wanting cake from show designed to feed 200 and wanting it for next to nothing and feed only 10.
You have neither a real pricing info on your site nor any info about sizes of the cakes. I know, the people are crazy and still cannot connect the dots, but a simple pricing info going - all buttercream cake starts at xx per serving, for complicated design can go up to xx per serving, fondant cake... - is still usefull. If you have order minimum, write it there. For the sizes - either add a chart (round 8" cake feeds ... etc.), or perhaps prepare some examples of your cakes with approx. servings. The people are sometimes naive. I had to explain it to my mom that a 3D cake for under 10 servings is unrealistic, under 20 servings will strongly restrict the design choice and I am going to make it only for the family when I decide to make it (not when somebody asks for it for free).
As for how to get more orders - I would try to contact other vendors who are connected to wedding industry - leave a leaflet and business cards with wedding planners, bridal shops etc. You want to get the "big orders" - weddings, christenings etc. You need to do more advertising.
Another possibility could be the "cheap cakes", meaning simple designs for better tasting cakes. I don't really mean the very cheap cake, but think about an alternative for the people who would like your cakes but cannot afford prices for the elaborate ones. I know some decorators say they don't do sheetcakes - but 2 layer sheetcake is nothing else than one tier rectangle cake. It could be the money maker for you.
I wish you luck! |
|
|
| |
|
|
just_for_fun
Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 16, 2006
Posts: 770
Location: Brooklyn, New York
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:43 am |
|
I don't sell cakes, so I can't really help you with that. But I loved the explanation about fake cakes/kitchen cakes on your website! (beautiful cakes btw) |
|
|
| |
|
|
Rosa2745
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 03, 2009
Posts: 76
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 8:50 am |
|
Wow you are very talented! Don't feel bad about not getting so many orders, your better off having a few well paid orders then a bunch of cheap cakes. Word of mouth goes a very long way. Soon you'll have to turn down business. Best of luck! |
|
|
| |
|
|
DanaG21
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 10, 2008
Posts: 37
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:06 am |
|
I agree with Majak_z - your website is great as are your cakes - I'm in love with the rubber duck - but you need pricing. It saves you from coming up with it on the spot at least a starting point like $xxx per slice and add that certain fillings and decorations will cause an increase in the price. Your cakes are great do not undervalue what you do - it you do it so will others. It is also helpful to have sizing on there an how many servings per that size. A lot of people don't understand that part and it will help them calculate cost based on your per serving size. Great cakes! |
|
|
| |
|
|
costumeczar
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Oct 18, 2007
Posts: 3425
Location: Henrico VA
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 10:02 am |
|
I work out of my home too, and I do primarily wedding cakes. For that market, you need to reach the brides, so see if there's a local wedding guide that's published and given out at wedding shows. You might want to do one or two shows to get your name out there, too. I don't do them much anymore but I did when I frist started.
Do you do twitter? That's free advertising, so if you sign up for that you can post pictures and link to other wedding professionals who have accounts and who are in your area. You can post a link to follow you on your website.
See if there are any wedding networking groups in your area, that way you'll meet other business owners who can refer brides to you. |
|
|
| |
|
|
littlecake
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 18, 2006
Posts: 2315
Location: the fine line between genius and insanity
Birthday: Nov 21
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 11:50 am |
|
this is the week after halloween...people are sick of sweets...i hear crickets chirping too.
your cake are really cute.
have you taken cakes around and dropped them off with a price list?
works like a miracle...they gotta taste them. |
|
|
 |
|
|
KristyCakes
Frequent Member
Joined: Mar 04, 2009
Posts: 224
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:40 pm |
|
Your cakes are amazing! I just love the "ruffles" cake!!! Set your pricing and stick to it. You are well worth it. Rosa2745 is right, enjoy this breather and use it as a moment to catch up (paperwork, organization, research!). I sell between 3 & 6 cakes per weekend, but haven't started weddings yet - just because I don't feel I have the set-up yet for tastings. I agree that you need better advertising. I say dump the phone book. It's so expensive and people don't really use it any more. List on vendor websites (Gathering Guide, PartyPop etc.), send your info to wedding planners like others suggested, set up a Yelp page, get onto the bridal review websites, get big VistaPrint magnets for your cars, donate cakes to charity auctions, network with other decorators in your area to set up your referrals when you're booked and vice versa, and get a space at the bridal shows. Good luck! |
|
|
| |
|
|
TNTFundraiser
Forum Addict
Joined: May 14, 2009
Posts: 839
Location: Virginia Beach - On the Boardwalk!
Birthday: Mar 21
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:46 pm |
|
Your cakes are gorgeous! You just need to do more advertising. With your talent and with good advertising, you could quit your day job and do this full time. |
|
|
| |
|
|
KHalstead
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Dec 03, 2005
Posts: 7614
Location: Northeastern Ohio
Birthday: Dec 05
|
| Posted:
Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:42 pm |
|
I don't pay for ANY advertising and I have to turn down orders all the time. I sign up for Google alerts and it tells me anytime someone types in "Wedding Cakes in Conneaut, OH" which is where I live, I do the same for birthday cakes, custom cakes, etc. and I get 1 email each day that lists where all these people are searching for these things and I go to those websites and 9 out of 10 have a free vendor listing and I put my info on there! I get a TON of orders that way, probably half of my orders come from online searches and the other half from word of mouth. I'm not in the phone book or anything and I work out of my home so no store front to draw them in. Works like a charm! Instead of trying to figure out where the people will look for a cake, I see where they're looking and then make sure in the future that I'm THERE!!
Some of the sites I've never even heard of before, but you can bet I'm listed on them now lol |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
