Originally Posted by tonimarie

WOW! How many decorators do you have??? I'm speechless....don't think I've ever seen that many cakes!

I have 4 full-time and 4 part-time decorators, plus myself. I decorate some, but spend more time running the show!

If you look at the photos, you will see labels on the cart...like on the cupcake tray and on the sides of the sheet cake pans. The sheet cakes that are labeled are for sculpted cakes, so they have not been turned out onto a board. The decorator decides what size board to use. The cakes on the shelving are all labeled on the bottom of the board or plate with the last name of the person ordering and the size and flavor/and or filling. The cakes on the carts all have tags on them with flavor, filling, and price for the walk-in business.

The non-iced cakes are placed in a certain order, all round cakes front left, all square cakes back left, and all large layers on the right.

In the finished cooler, we also have a system...all wedding cakes on the right, next to top shelf, room for a couple 5 and 6 tiers on the left, all party cakes that need a finishing touch of gumpaste on the lower right back, iced cakes ready to be decorated for the walk-in business on the bottom right, and all party orders in alphabetical order on the left back shelves. Every finished cake is boxed and there is a label on the box with name and whether the cake is paid for, or what the remaining balance is.

There is one wedding cake in the photo boxed because it is being picked up.

I have had the store for 15 years and we have a very systematic process to everything and we have good flow.

Have you ever thought about writing a book on your processes and systems? Many of us would LOVE to learn from you rather than from our own mistakes. I know there is so much to employee relations/organization/inventory levels/managing cash flow. Like a tutorial on the business side of having a bakery.... Your 15 years of knowledge gathering is worth so much here on these boards. Thank you for all that you share!

Originally Posted by grammynan

This may not be proper to ask, but I'll ask anyway! What is the average wage/salary for someone who would work with you? I've often wondered what a cake decorator would get. I know when I make a wedding cake, I make an awful lot of money. Would it be worth it to work in an established bakery?

Thank you for letting me be nosy!!

No problem...$10.00 to $16.50 per hour.

The decorators walk in and walk out.....owner keeps equipment running, vans running, supplies in , help in, bills paid, business decisions, and on and on....so, do you want less hassle or more money?

Most certainly. I remember telling a caterer how delighted I would be if I could get three weddings a weekend. We all start at the bottom and work our way up!

It take hard work, perseverance, honesty, and most importantly...quality work and SUPER customer service.

I started playing with decorating in High School.... read the Wilton instructions in the center of the yearbook. I made several wedding cakes for friends in college. Then I just did it as a hobby for friends and I taught school. Then my boys were born and I quit teaching for awhile. Eventually this grabbed me more than teaching, so I worked at two shops for 4 -5 years, then when my boys were teenagers, I opened my own. I started with just "me!"

I already had a following by that time, and I started by sharing a building with a caterer, so I did not have to invest in the large equipment at first. I saved every penny and two years later moved into my own space and paid cash for used equipment. Then six years ago, expanded into the store next door and then purchased some new and used equipment. I had shelving, storage, cabinetry built for the space. Now we are out of room again, but I am not moving and the shops on either side of me seem pretty settled in for the long haul!!

I hate to tell you this, but I have broken many business "rules." I have never had a business plan, never taken a business course, never had a business loan, and never had decorating lessons! But I do have a creative eye, commom sense, I listen, observe, and learn from others, and I have a hard work ethic.

Originally Posted by classiccake

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlin28

Thanks for sharing classiccake. Did you start off owning a bakery right away or did you start off small decorating on your own and then expanding from there because of demand?

Would love to know how you started as one day I'd love to have a business with half your volume!

You do give us who have grander plans some hope yet!

I started playing with decorating in High School.... read the Wilton instructions in the center of the yearbook. I made several wedding cakes for friends in college. Then I just did it as a hobby for friends and I taught school. Then my boys were born and I quit teaching for awhile. Eventually this grabbed me more than teaching, so I worked at two shops for 4 -5 years, then when my boys were teenagers, I opened my own. I started with just "me!"

I already had a following by that time, and I started by sharing a building with a caterer, so I did not have to invest in the large equipment at first. I saved every penny and two years later moved into my own space and paid cash for used equipment. Then six years ago, expanded into the store next door and then purchased some new and used equipment. I had shelving, storage, cabinetry built for the space. Now we are out of room again, but I am not moving and the shops on either side of me seem pretty settled in for the long haul!!

I hate to tell you this, but I have broken many business "rules." I have never had a business plan, never taken a business course, never had a business loan, and never had decorating lessons! But I do have a creative eye, commom sense, I listen, observe, and learn from others, and I have a hard work ethic.

Wow!

Thanks for all the info and I must say, you are truly inspiring me right now! It looks like you are one smart cookie and obviously have an inate business sense. I'm gonna save this post for future reference. Thanks again!