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!!!

How cool for you!!! Sounds like you have a good thing. Good luck, and let us know how things keep going!!!

Neat idea!

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!

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!

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!

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

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

There's a service like that in my town I've seen advertisements for. What a great idea!

Cool! Too bad they don't have one in my area...

This sounds like such a great idea!

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.

Is anyone else still having trouble getting this website to work? I've tried four different days now.

Paul