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Original message sent by cazza1
Cake decorating shops in Australia sell mixes for mud cakes, red velvet cakes etc that you just add water to, unless they have changed in the last few years. Recently at a conference we were given free samples of a red velvet cake. There was no way known I was wasting good calories eating it all at home so I made it up and took it to my knitting group. I thought it was absolutely gross and had a real chemical flavour but they all loved it. Does that mean I'm a professional now?
Yep! 100% pro.
Original message sent by costumeczar
What, because you made a mix with water, or because you can tell the difference between good cake and chemical goo? ;-D
Are you being facetious? Of course it's the water!
ellavanilla,
For some reason every time I read your posts, I read like the witty Russian nanny from Nanny Diaries is talking to me. I can only see a thumbnail of a pic but you look a lot like her LOL.
Ok...it has taken me an entire week to read this awesome thread! I love you guys!
So I have one...a few years ago I attempted to start my cake business. I was working at the local grocery store making cakes (I know people get mad at that but it really is a hard job. No, I don't get to make my own cakes or frosting, but I was able to experiement with design and decorations. I value that time because I was able to learn a lot.) Anyway, I wanted to start to venture out on my own. There was a locally owned resturant down the street that wanted to help me out and said I could make cakes and sell them there to get my name out.
So, I started making some cakes from home, (when I asked the owner what types of cakes her patrons liked, she said just make whatever I like.) So I did. I think the first thing I made was chess bars. Not cakes but it was easy and homemade and they are big in the area where I was working. She contacted me and said that I can't make those again. I said ok, what should I make? She said anything but that. Well, ok...so I started to make a round cake. Just a simple round cake with buttercream frosting. She calls me again...no you need to make something else. I finally got her to tell me what she was looking for...which was a bundt cake. Ok, so I made a couple, they sold. I decided to get a bit experiementy with it and made a vanilla one with strawberry glaze. After that she decided that we can no longer do business. :-/
Don't tell me that you don't care what I make if you really do. I got frustrated and quit. (That and a whole bunch of other things started as well that put my business on the back burner.)
Now, I'm back and really looking to start this business. This time, I'm going to be doing a LOT of research and developing new recipies. It's going to be a lot of work, but I appreciate this thread because I have things now that I know to put into a contract!
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Original message sent by PTDixieGal
I have to ask...did you? LOL
I think I told her to have the bride call me if she needed backup.
I love this thread, I've just spent ages reading them all and having a nice laugh. It's good to know everyone else experiences these kind of things...
I had a woman email me today asking how much it would cost for a birthday cake to serve 150 people. As I am only eighteen and doing this part time for experience as of yet, my prices aren't that high. I told her it would be $175. She replied and said "wow. $1.17 for a slice is way out of my budget. Sorry." I don't know how dessert for a dollar is expensive... If you're looking to feed 150 people dessert, you have to expect to spend a little.
I love this thread, I've just spent ages reading them all and having a nice laugh. It's good to know everyone else experiences these kind of things...
I had a woman email me today asking how much it would cost for a birthday cake to serve 150 people. As I am only eighteen and doing this part time for experience as of yet, my prices aren't that high. I told her it would be $175. She replied and said "wow. $1.17 for a slice is way out of my budget. Sorry." I don't know how dessert for a dollar is expensive... If you're looking to feed 150 people dessert, you have to expect to spend a little.
She should go buy twinkies for everyone.
I made a cake for free, for a friend's kid first birthday. Couple of days later she call me to thank you me one more time and tell me that was great and than she ask me to teach her how to make, so next time she doesn't bother me. LOL.
Tonight I got a call asking if I could do a child's birthday the 22nd of June.......the only weekend I happen to not be booked this month. She sends me a photo, it's a 6" & 8", fondant, zebra on bottom, hot pink on top with her name, age on top, loopy bow, things on wires....and asks for a price....I quote her $130, $4 a serving plus alittle extra for the extras and she says...." as good as I'm sure your cakes are the price is a little steep, but I know you put a lot of work in it so I will consult with my husband....." So, just out of curiosity I look up the original baker and see that her minimum order is $200. So many things running through my mind on this one...I had actually thought, I could knock off ten bucks and the clients could decorate. Sadly, it would devalue all the time, skill and materials of the decorating process.
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Original message sent by nikki4199
Mine is
You do this all day you have time..!
I can't stand that. Hey I would like a life you know.
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Original message sent by MissMona
Tonight I got a call asking if I could do a child's birthday the 22nd of June.......the only weekend I happen to not be booked this month. She sends me a photo, it's a 6" & 8", fondant, zebra on bottom, hot pink on top with her name, age on top, loopy bow, things on wires....and asks for a price....I quote her $130, $4 a serving plus alittle extra for the extras and she says...." as good as I'm sure your cakes are the price is a little steep, but I know you put a lot of work in it so I will consult with my husband....." So, just out of curiosity I look up the original baker and see that her minimum order is $200. So many things running through my mind on this one...I had actually thought, I could knock off ten bucks and the clients could decorate. Sadly, it would devalue all the time, skill and materials of the decorating process. :ouch:
Oh, that's a good one. I have brides bring me picturees of cakes from wedding magazines with the part that has the price on it ripped off, like I won't know how much the original costs. It helps to have an idea of what the original baker charges so that you can mention it, even if you're not going to charge that much. That way the customer at least knows you're not letting them put one over on you.
Had a good one today, a mother wanting a confirmation cake she only needed 20 pieces but wanted a 40 slice cake so it would look more impressive to her family. She told me it had cost so much to pay to have the invitations printed, pay for the caterer etc, was there any way I could give her a discount on the cake. Umm NO.
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Original message sent by 810whitechoc
Had a good one today, a mother wanting a confirmation cake she only needed 20 pieces but wanted a 40 slice cake so it would look more impressive to her family. She told me it had cost so much to pay to have the invitations printed, pay for the caterer etc, was there any way I could give her a discount on the cake. Umm NO.
Oh dear. Sounds a lot like the numpties calling me lately. Typically they send a photo of a three tier, gussied up monstrosity and when I ask them how many guests they need to serve with it, it's along the lines of 'ummmm, four adults and three kids'.
I have been >this close< to putting a minimum order value on cake orders of $150, to weed this sort of thing out.
Nice to see another Aussie on the boards!
AMy bugbear is the how much is a cake.......erm size, what kind of cake, all effect the price. ...but it's just a cake.......hmmmm some days I would happily tell them where to put their " just a cake"........some place moist perhaps ;)
My bugbear is the how much is a cake.......erm size, what kind of cake, all effect the price. ...but it's just a cake.......hmmmm some days I would happily tell them where to put their " just a cake"........some place moist perhaps
The answer is "$2,000 - since you gave me so little information, I gave a number that would cover all the bases".
Oh dear. Sounds a lot like the numpties calling me lately. Typically they send a photo of a three tier, gussied up monstrosity and when I ask them how many guests they need to serve with it, it's along the lines of 'ummmm, four adults and three kids'.
I have been >this close< to putting a minimum order value on cake orders of $150, to weed this sort of thing out.
Nice to see another Aussie on the boards!
Nice to see an Aussie too, and yes, life is waaaay to short to make cake pops!
Just thought of another one:
Customer wants to order a basic cake with only border. No special colors, not special decorations. When she comes in to pick up the cake, she says that she wants to have roses added to her cake. I advise her that there will be an additional charge for a decorated cake.
"But...this IS a decorated cake! It has icing on it. AND a border!"
-_-
Just thought of another one:
Customer wants to order a basic cake with only border. No special colors, not special decorations. When she comes in to pick up the cake, she says that she wants to have roses added to her cake. I advise her that there will be an additional charge for a decorated cake.
"But...this IS a decorated cake! It has icing on it. AND a border!"
-_-
Hmmm. it took me a minute to figure out what she was saying. I think she assumed you were the same as her grocery store bakery where she walks in, asks for writing and a couple of roses put on while she waits. That is usually included in the grocery store cake price.
My bugbear is the how much is a cake.......erm size, what kind of cake, all effect the price. ...but it's just a cake.......hmmmm some days I would happily tell them where to put their " just a cake"........some place moist perhaps
y'all have RUINED me now! I was in a consultation and the bride asks, "but is your cake good and moist???" I thought my head would explode!!!! I wanted to laugh out loud!!!!! I'm completely ruined. I'll never hear that word again and keep a straight face.
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Original message sent by kimmisue2009
Here's one, from a co-worker. "Hey, I know you buy a lot of ingredients and stuff and I was wondering if you wanted to just make two or three dozen cupcakes for my neice's/niece's (hate that word) little girl. She didn't really ask me, but I know she could use them because they don't have a lot of money. Doesn't have to be any particular flavor - just whatever you already have - don't spend any money. That way, everybody wins - you get to make cupcakes, because you love to so much, and no one will be out any money."
What a pal to do me such a favor.
Yes I had this. My newly sister in law wanted cakes for her daughter's party and wanted them to look really pretty with flowers and sparkles on them but then said "of course I don't have much money so just make whatever you think and don't buy anything just use up what you already have. Oh and also can you come and chaperone at the kids party too?!" NO!!!
Here's one, from a co-worker. "Hey, I know you buy a lot of ingredients and stuff and I was wondering if you wanted to just make two or three dozen cupcakes for my neice's/niece's (hate that word) little girl. She didn't really ask me, but I know she could use them because they don't have a lot of money. Doesn't have to be any particular flavor - just whatever you already have - don't spend any money. That way, everybody wins - you get to make cupcakes, because you love to so much, and no one will be out any money."
What a pal to do me such a favor.
Yes I had this. My newly sister in law wanted cakes for her daughter's party and wanted them to look really pretty with flowers and sparkles on them but then said "of course I don't have much money so just make whatever you think and don't buy anything just use up what you already have. Oh and also can you come and chaperone at the kids party too?!" NO!!!
Are you kidding me? Like the ingredients in the bottom of the box or bag are free and it takes no time to do the cake? What a dummy.
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