Uk Bakers

Decorating By June_m Updated 12 Apr 2011 , 8:48am by Arabus

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June_m Posted 19 Mar 2011 , 1:12am
post #1 of 71

Was just reading a post about pricing but I know alot of people on here are American so I thought about maybe having one for the uk?
I've only been decorating since November but registered my business last month. Just wondering how people in the uk price their cakes. I know Americans generally do it by slice an mostly the uk it's per cake. Anyone fancy sharing some pics an prices? Will have to go on comp for mine i can't post pics using my phone.

70 replies
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napa Posted 19 Mar 2011 , 11:00am
post #2 of 71

Will be watching with interest, I am sending off registration forms this weekend and have already been asked about cakes for the next few months - have no idea what to charge, and looking at some websites their cakes are so expensive, I can't imagine ever charging that much, even though I live in London!

Sorry not to help! Maybe look at what some of your local cake shops charge?

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Dollydoo2000 Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 8:32am
post #3 of 71

Hi,

I started my cake business last October and spent quite afew months researching ingredient prices and other peoples websites to get a rough idea what others were charging.

I specialise in novelty cakes mostly but will turn my hand to most requests. The thing to remember is that when you first start out you need to price accordingly to your experience. My prices are slightly lower than some but I am self taught and as my confidence and experience grows then so will my prices.

At the moment as long as my costs are covered with alittle extra I am happy. At the moment this is not my sole job.

I will try and put some prices up with the cake pics I have already on here.

Feel free to look at my photos or website
www.noveltycakesbysarah.webs.com

June where abouts in the uk are you?

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Caths_Cakes Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 10:06am
post #4 of 71

specalist cake shops in my area are quiet expensive, My own wedding cake (Two tiers) cost almost 500 quid!!!!

Where as, bakers (mullers,peters) etc, charge much more accordingly ( i say that, but chances are these guys get everything in bulk so can afford to change a cheaper price ) , for a 7 inch iced sponge its something like 17 quid, and the price goes up from there. I knew a lady who charged a fiver per 'inch', So an 8 inch cake cost 40.

Your prices, Regardless of how much it actually costs you to make the cake, Will also depend on your area. For instance, i live in the north east, unemployement rates are through the ROOF!! people are just not willing to pay good money for a cake, when they know they can go to asda, and buy one for 6 quid that will do the job. so its good to take that into account. Do a little shopping around, Local bakers, inquire for quotes, size vs price etc

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 11:34am
post #5 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caths_Cakes

people are just not willing to pay good money for a cake, when they know they can go to asda, and buy one for 6 quid that will do the job. so its good to take that into account. Do a little shopping around, Local bakers, inquire for quotes, size vs price etc




No, no, no!!! I'm sorry, but when I see people compare a bespoke handmade cake to some mass-produced cake from Asda, I want to kick them up the bum (said with love)! You cannot, nor should you, compete with those cakes. It's going to cost you more than that in supplies alone!

This is my 6th year doing this now, and the thing I learnt the hard way is not to compare what I do with anyone else. I price my cakes according to what I spend and what MY time & talent is worth to ME. If it's not worth it to a customer, then they can gladly go to Asda, no skin off my nose! I charge quite a bit more than my 'competitors' and I have never been so busy (and have just raised my prices and instigated a serving minimum). I won't touch a cake for less than £65, regardless of style or size. My wedding cakes run an average of £5-£7 per serving (yes, I charge by the serving amount). I have no problem getting business, in fact I frequently have to turn people away!

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miss_sweetstory Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 11:49am
post #6 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeRowesHunny

I won't touch a cake for less than £65, regardless of style or size. My wedding cakes run an average of £5-£7 per serving (yes, I charge by the serving amount). I have no problem getting business, in fact I frequently have to turn people away!




How big is your serving size? Do you use a different size for fruit cake compared to a sponge?

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 11:52am
post #7 of 71

"No, no, no!!! I'm sorry, but when I see people compare a bespoke handmade cake to some mass-produced cake from Asda, I want to kick them up the bum (said with love)! You cannot, nor should you, compete with those cakes. It's going to cost you more than that in supplies alone!

This is my 6th year doing this now, and the thing I learnt the hard way is not to compare what I do with anyone else. I price my cakes according to what I spend and what MY time & talent is worth to ME. If it's not worth it to a customer, then they can gladly go to Asda, no skin off my nose! I charge quite a bit more than my 'competitors' and I have never been so busy (and have just raised my prices and instigated a serving minimum). I won't touch a cake for less than �65, regardless of style or size. My wedding cakes run an average of �5-�7 per serving (yes, I charge by the serving amount). I have no problem getting business, in fact I frequently have to turn people away![/quote]

I am so glad to see this post. here here! it really is about what YOUR cake is worth and YOUR time is worth on a cake. When I started out I was a beginner, I was happy to do cakes here and there but when I look back now I so under charged but I'd just finished training and was doing the set up. If people don't want to pay then that is fine but I'm not prepared to produce a quality cake that I know will be excellent quality at Asda/Tesco prices. I don't mind doing a basic celebration cake but invariably people don't go for that. The want to add some sugar flowers, or a model and then they can't understand why the price shoots up!

I always struggled with prices. I did a spread sheet and on that I put the costs of the cake basics - in other words on there is cost of the cake ingredients itself for each size, board, box, icing, filling, dowels, everything basically and then I price it up from there. obviously this is just the cost of the cake and ingredients. Then I price for my time and the difficulty of the design and all extras. For example a girl wanted a plain cake but then said i want each tier to have diamante trim... price went up but she couldn't understand that it's just trim after all? wrong! Diamante trim on discounted price in bulk costs me £6.80 per metre! it's all these little things you need to take into account. its easy to forget the time you have taken, and little things like filling or 5 dowels but it all adds up!

I'd suggest doing the spread sheet. Sit down and work out say for 12", 10", 8" round/square how much it costs for you to bake, fill, ice, ice the board, ribbon, supply the board, supply the box and then the time it took you to do it. You'll be really surprised at how it adds up then you'll know your prices.

I don't price per portion but I think its a good idea

HTH

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 6:12pm
post #8 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by miss_sweetstory

Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeRowesHunny

I won't touch a cake for less than £65, regardless of style or size. My wedding cakes run an average of £5-£7 per serving (yes, I charge by the serving amount). I have no problem getting business, in fact I frequently have to turn people away!



How big is your serving size? Do you use a different size for fruit cake compared to a sponge?




I make 'American' style cakes, so my standard cakes are approx 5-6in tall, 4 layers of cake and 3 of filling. I also use ganache under my fondant, not buttercream, because I feel it gives a superior finish & taste to my cakes. I also offer a whole range of flavours, not just your standard 3 or 4 that most UK bakers seem to. My serving sizes are 1x2xheight of cake whatever the flavour (being asked for fruit is a rare occurence for me - even though I make a stunning fruit cake).

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June_m Posted 20 Mar 2011 , 7:46pm
post #9 of 71

I'm in Glasgow, I've only been doing this since november an was doing it as a hObby but then lots of people kept asking me to make one so I had to register with environmental health. I do think I undercharge sometime. This week I have a 4 tier square wedding cake for this week with royal icing pearls an calla lilys, I have only charged £150 for it but its my first one so they know they are my guinea pigs lol. There arnt many home bakers near me or cake shops so I have been getting alot of business.
My website is www.cakes-n-crafts.co.uk to have a look at pics, I am still learning an have done a few classes now at my local cake shop icon_smile.gif I love them June

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 8:59am
post #10 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by June_m

I'm in Glasgow, I've only been doing this since november an was doing it as a hObby but then lots of people kept asking me to make one so I had to register with environmental health. I do think I undercharge sometime. This week I have a 4 tier square wedding cake for this week with royal icing pearls an calla lilys, I have only charged £150 for it but its my first one so they know they are my guinea pigs lol. There arnt many home bakers near me or cake shops so I have been getting alot of business.
My website is www.cakes-n-crafts.co.uk to have a look at pics, I am still learning an have done a few classes now at my local cake shop icon_smile.gif I love them June




The standard of your work is really coming along - your Gruffalo cake is adorable and the modelling very good! £150 for a 4 tier cake is a steal, I'm guessing when you factor in your ingredients, utility usage & supplies, you just about broke even - wow icon_eek.gif

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June_m Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 10:18am
post #11 of 71

Thank you icon_smile.gif as it's my first I was happy to break even it's only a learning steP but hopefully it will come together nicely. Had a look at local cake shops an wow! So expensive, we used to use one frequently an never questioned the price.

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 10:46am
post #12 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by June_m

So expensive, we used to use one frequently an never questioned the price.




Really? Do you expect them to work for free? How do you think they pay the rent on their premises, wages for the staff, utility bills? I think too many people don't think about that when they see the price of a custom made cake. It truly is the equivalent of having something bespoke made for you by Prada, as opposed to picking something off the peg in George - no comparision!

It's all very well if you (a general 'you', not you specifically!), do this for kicks & giggles, but if this is how you make your living, then people who woefully undercharge devalue the time & talent of the rest of us, and it really p's me off. Sorry, off my soapbox now! Off to work on the 2 large weddings I have this weekend!

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June_m Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 11:09am
post #13 of 71

I understand about utility bills etc, I used to pay those prices an now I can do it on my own I realise I can save money an learn at the same time. People clearly pay the prices for their work, I'm lucky enough people pay my prices for my work which for now is cheaper. Always start from the bottom an work your way up!

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LisaPeps Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 11:34am
post #14 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by allaboutcakeuk



I always struggled with prices. I did a spread sheet and on that I put the costs of the cake basics - in other words on there is cost of the cake ingredients itself for each size, board, box, icing, filling, dowels, everything basically and then I price it up from there. obviously this is just the cost of the cake and ingredients. Then I price for my time and the difficulty of the design and all extras. For example a girl wanted a plain cake but then said i want each tier to have diamante trim... price went up but she couldn't understand that it's just trim after all? wrong! Diamante trim on discounted price in bulk costs me £6.80 per metre! it's all these little things you need to take into account. its easy to forget the time you have taken, and little things like filling or 5 dowels but it all adds up!

I'd suggest doing the spread sheet. Sit down and work out say for 12", 10", 8" round/square how much it costs for you to bake, fill, ice, ice the board, ribbon, supply the board, supply the box and then the time it took you to do it. You'll be really surprised at how it adds up then you'll know your prices.

I don't price per portion but I think its a good idea

HTH




Do you do a speadsheet per flavour cake? My chocolate cake is completely different to my vanilla cake, with completely different ingredients. It's not one of those chuck some cocoa in and there you go...

Do you have an example of your spreadsheet I could see?

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 11:45am
post #15 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by June_m

I understand about utility bills etc, I used to pay those prices an now I can do it on my own I realise I can save money an learn at the same time. People clearly pay the prices for their work, I'm lucky enough people pay my prices for my work which for now is cheaper. Always start from the bottom an work your way up!




Just don't undervalue yourself, June - as L'Oreal say - you're worth it thumbs_up.gif !

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 12:42pm
post #16 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by LisaPeps

Quote:
Originally Posted by allaboutcakeuk



I always struggled with prices. I did a spread sheet and on that I put the costs of the cake basics - in other words on there is cost of the cake ingredients itself for each size, board, box, icing, filling, dowels, everything basically and then I price it up from there. obviously this is just the cost of the cake and ingredients. Then I price for my time and the difficulty of the design and all extras. For example a girl wanted a plain cake but then said i want each tier to have diamante trim... price went up but she couldn't understand that it's just trim after all? wrong! Diamante trim on discounted price in bulk costs me £6.80 per metre! it's all these little things you need to take into account. its easy to forget the time you have taken, and little things like filling or 5 dowels but it all adds up!

I'd suggest doing the spread sheet. Sit down and work out say for 12", 10", 8" round/square how much it costs for you to bake, fill, ice, ice the board, ribbon, supply the board, supply the box and then the time it took you to do it. You'll be really surprised at how it adds up then you'll know your prices.

I don't price per portion but I think its a good idea

HTH



Do you do a speadsheet per flavour cake? My chocolate cake is completely different to my vanilla cake, with completely different ingredients. It's not one of those chuck some cocoa in and there you go...

Do you have an example of your spreadsheet I could see?




Hi Lisa

Yeah i have prices for each flavour as they differ a lot. Only one I don't have one for at the moment is fruit as I can count on one hand the amount of people who seem to like fruit cake icon_sad.gif Mine is all set out according to the current prices I pay for bulk renshaw and bulk boards etc. I basically worked it out per gram! It really helped me realise the value of adding everything up. Like i used to forget things like a metre of ribbon or a filling of vanilla! I seriously used to undercharge once I'd put my time on top

Sure I'll send you a PM and see if I can attach my excel spreadsheet then you can get an idea of how I do it all.

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sillyoldpoohbear Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 1:09pm
post #17 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by June_m

I understand about utility bills etc, I used to pay those prices an now I can do it on my own I realise I can save money an learn at the same time. People clearly pay the prices for their work, I'm lucky enough people pay my prices for my work which for now is cheaper. Always start from the bottom an work your way up!




I agree don't under sell yourself, beleive me I've been there. When I started off I just used to make the odd cakes for people at work & I totally under sold myself. I used to get lots of people say you should charge more they're so good. The thing was when I did realise my worth & put my prices up these were the people who still expected to get a 10" sponge for £15. They soon stopped calling when they realised that I wasn't going to be a mug any longer. Their kind of business I can do without.

I agree about the size thing too, I won't do a celebration cake under a 10" any more it's just not worth the effort.

I think you've also got to think about how much the cost of ingredients have one up in the past few years. The cost of butter alone has doubled never mind gas, electric etc.

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 1:54pm
post #18 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by sillyoldpoohbear

Quote:
Originally Posted by June_m

I understand about utility bills etc, I used to pay those prices an now I can do it on my own I realise I can save money an learn at the same time. People clearly pay the prices for their work, I'm lucky enough people pay my prices for my work which for now is cheaper. Always start from the bottom an work your way up!



I agree don't under sell yourself, beleive me I've been there. When I started off I just used to make the odd cakes for people at work & I totally under sold myself. I used to get lots of people say you should charge more they're so good. The thing was when I did realise my worth & put my prices up these were the people who still expected to get a 10" sponge for �15. They soon stopped calling when they realised that I wasn't going to be a mug any longer. Their kind of business I can do without.

I agree about the size thing too, I won't do a celebration cake under a 10" any more it's just not worth the effort.

I think you've also got to think about how much the cost of ingredients have one up in the past few years. The cost of butter alone has doubled never mind gas, electric etc.




Definitely butter is so expensive but I won't use cheaper stuff its just not the same. Also people balk at delivery charges - do they not realise how much petrol costs? I have to deliver sometimes a 2 hour 120 mile round trip and people are astonished when it may cost nearly as much as the cake!

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Sam_paggers Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 4:06pm
post #19 of 71

hi guys, i am based in milton keynes and only do this as a hobby.

Allaboutcake can you please also pm me with a spreadsheet, i am not selling currently but i would love to know how much my cakes are worth on ingredients alone!

Thank you so much if you are able to do this
sam
xxx

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wizzywig Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 4:49pm
post #20 of 71

hi sam_paggers, you are practically my neighbour. im in toddington, love your cakes x

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 6:06pm
post #21 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam_paggers

hi guys, i am based in milton keynes and only do this as a hobby.

Allaboutcake can you please also pm me with a spreadsheet, i am not selling currently but i would love to know how much my cakes are worth on ingredients alone!

Thank you so much if you are able to do this
sam
xxx




Hi there no problems please pm me your email address as it won't seem to attach on pm on here icon_smile.gif

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Sam_paggers Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 6:23pm
post #22 of 71

hi allaboutcake I got your email!!! Many thanks, will have a play with it later icon_smile.gif

Wizzywig- always good to know there's other local cakers icon_wink.gif

sam
xxx

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sillyoldpoohbear Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 8:10pm
post #23 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by allaboutcakeuk

Also people balk at delivery charges - do they not realise how much petrol costs? I have to deliver sometimes a 2 hour 120 mile round trip and people are astonished when it may cost nearly as much as the cake!




I think some people think that it's all included in the price of the cake & you some how get your petrol cheap just like they think you get the cake ingredients cheap. I bet they wouldn't do it for nothing.

I don't deliver any more, only wedding cakes & that may have to stop this year for cakes that don't need setting up. I used to deliver the majority of my cakes & there are still people that expect me to. Funnily enough it's the people who still want a cake for £15 lol I'm so glad she doesn't call me about cakes any more icon_biggrin.gif

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Dollydoo2000 Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 9:31pm
post #24 of 71

I agree, its not worth selling yourself down the river, my prices are not cheep but they are affordable for what people are getting (probably should be slightly more). At the moment I am delivering very locally, but only if the cake price is right. I try to encourage collection.

This is an art that we are doing and customers need to realise this.

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June_m Posted 21 Mar 2011 , 9:53pm
post #25 of 71

With the increase in fuel prices I have started to charge for delivery, luckily most people understand, collections can be iffy tho I had a woman recently who called me after midnight some nights to discuss her cake that wasn't due for weeks, she drove me insane an people like her I wasn't willing to let her know where I lived, very locally to her but it made me think it wasn't worth the hassle lol

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 22 Mar 2011 , 11:38am
post #26 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by June_m

With the increase in fuel prices I have started to charge for delivery, luckily most people understand, collections can be iffy tho I had a woman recently who called me after midnight some nights to discuss her cake that wasn't due for weeks, she drove me insane an people like her I wasn't willing to let her know where I lived, very locally to her but it made me think it wasn't worth the hassle lol




LOL I know that one! I have had the same like people think you are their only customer - you are their personal cake maker. That's the difficult bit working from home I find. people will ring late as they assume you are a business and an answerphone will pick up. Or emails really late at night. I'm my own worst enemy as I try to get back to people within a reasonable time to keep building the business though when I should say to myself "that will wait till opening tomorrow at 9!" I'd love to have a separate premises but the cost woo hoo toooooo much right now icon_biggrin.gif

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 22 Mar 2011 , 8:53pm
post #27 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by sillyoldpoohbear

Quote:
Originally Posted by June_m

I understand about utility bills etc, I used to pay those prices an now I can do it on my own I realise I can save money an learn at the same time. People clearly pay the prices for their work, I'm lucky enough people pay my prices for my work which for now is cheaper. Always start from the bottom an work your way up!



I agree don't under sell yourself, beleive me I've been there. When I started off I just used to make the odd cakes for people at work & I totally under sold myself. I used to get lots of people say you should charge more they're so good. The thing was when I did realise my worth & put my prices up these were the people who still expected to get a 10" sponge for £15. They soon stopped calling when they realised that I wasn't going to be a mug any longer. Their kind of business I can do without.

I agree about the size thing too, I won't do a celebration cake under a 10" any more it's just not worth the effort.

I think you've also got to think about how much the cost of ingredients have one up in the past few years. The cost of butter alone has doubled never mind gas, electric etc.




I wished my other half would understand this sometimes! I keep telling him i can't compete with tescos on cheap cakes and I don't want to its not my style. I do basic cakes but at a good price but for a 100% better cake! he says surely you can do a really basic range that is better but cost effective. yeah if i want to work for nothing and throw rubbish cakes out which i refuse to compromise on quality lol!

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June_m Posted 22 Mar 2011 , 11:04pm
post #28 of 71

I am learning not to undercharge, I used to use tescos own sugarpaste till I discovered renshaw covapaste it's amazing. My basic cake is £20. I have an order for tomorrow an the woman has just messaged to see when she can pick it up tonight, told her she said 23rd an she said well I'm working tomorrow! Not my problem woman you told me 23rd! Sometimes I ain't worth the hassle!

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allaboutcakeuk Posted 22 Mar 2011 , 11:20pm
post #29 of 71
Quote:
Originally Posted by June_m

I am learning not to undercharge, I used to use tescos own sugarpaste till I discovered renshaw covapaste it's amazing. My basic cake is £20. I have an order for tomorrow an the woman has just messaged to see when she can pick it up tonight, told her she said 23rd an she said well I'm working tomorrow! Not my problem woman you told me 23rd! Sometimes I ain't worth the hassle!



Lol I know that one I can't believe same thing has happened today!! It's a four tier cake starting with a 14" rang this afternoon saying any chance Thursday instead of Friday!!! I'm just praying they can pick it up as I can't even lift the first 2 tiers that are stacked. If u don't mind me asking how much do u get the covapaste for? icon_smile.gif

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Moondance Posted 22 Mar 2011 , 11:21pm
post #30 of 71

Hi ladies and gents - really enjoyed reading this thread - it's an age old question about pricing - I worked out my price list and have it printed out and with me, so I don't get caught on the hop and quote a cheaper price! I also offer a 10% discount for friends and family.....but friends doesn't extend to everyone's friends! I tell them this is a price for you, ifanyone asks, this is the actual price...folk don't realise just how long it t akes to make a cake from start to finish, including the running around getting the materials!

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