I have a VERY SMALL cake/sweets company, just barely started really.  I still work full time at another job selling furniture.

I recently spent a lot of time working on a candy bar.  It's a clove caramel bar filled with chunks of sponge toffee and partially dipped/drizzled in chocolate.

I posted a picture on my company's Facebook page with caption, "Six for $18.00, message me if interested."  My boss' wife commented saying that she'd like six for a Halloween Dinner Party that she's throwing for all the staff but she never sent me a message.

The party is this Sunday and I don't know if I should make them or not.  I'm already bringing 48 mini cupcakes (that I'm not being paid for) but I just don't know if I should make and bring the candy bars.  Frankly I'm annoyed that she never messaged me.  I'm trying to take my business seriously and I would have liked to fill out an order form and get paid in full before making the candy bars.  I also don't know if my personal annoyances with her in the workplace are what's getting in the way of me wanting to make the bars.

So do I suck it up and make the bars?

OR

I don't make the bars and tell her that she never messaged me?

OR

Should I message her asking if she were still interested in getting the bars and that I'd do a one time exception for not getting paid in full before the date?

Haaaalp!

Send her an invoice - let her know that if you receive payment in time, you'll be able to fill her order.

Liz

AMaybe commenting is the same as messaging to her. Either way, she requested some. I agree with Liz that you should give her the invoice for them. Maybe call her to confirm.

A

Doing business on Facebook is always unprofessional.

The fact that she has a different manner set and lets herself become easily offended is more than likely NOT due to her being French Canadian.

A

Personally I think it's unprofessional to conduct business via FB messages. If I were you I would send her an email with the invoice, then send her a quick FB message letting her know that the invoice has been sent and the balance is due on X date.

A

That's a wonderful idea. Thank you!

A

AShe left a note on my desk double checking that I was going to do the order so I'm definitely going to do it. Thanks for all the advice, guys!

AWhat a mess.... This is why I avoid doing business with friends, family etc. Just give them to her for free or tell her you don't have time because you're so slammed with other orders

AI'll bet you don't see any money at all.

AI think it's a little unprofessional for someone to express interest in your product and you fail to follow up on it. I think she took the first step and it was up to you to take the next.

Money is due prior to delivery...even if it's my Momma placing the order! LOL...j/k I don't charge family.

I would not do anything free for my boss. He is running a business to be profitable, he needs to understand that she is trying to do the same thing. Plus it sounds like he is supportive of her business and no one asked for anything for free or even discounted. Just from what the OP said I am betting she will be paid.

I have some great customers in both my cake stand business and with my cakes that even when I offered discounts they said no. They understood that I needed to get my business off the ground and were very supportive. To date they are still my best customers and appreciate my talents.

It would help to know what the boss "letting me jump in on our store's booth at the next bridal show in town" means. I am speaking partly from experience...I got a lady disgusted with me and lost out on a tit for tat situation when one of my cakes was on national tv - they wound up not giving me credit for the cake. I'd been doing cakes for  that sports network for several years and I have a feeling I'm now on the blacklist of who not to call when they're in town. But I thought I was being businesslike.

A

I'm chipping in a small portion of the bridal show booth rental free and providing mini cupcakes. I get to hand out business cards/coupons. So it's win-win for both of us. My boss is a great guy and I was never really worried about them not paying.

I am also bringing cupcakes to the staff event originally referenced. Those I'm definitely not charging for. The candy bars are just a little more complicated and take some more time.

A

Fee*

I'm a little confused by this and maybe I'm misunderstanding, but I read it as your boss' wife placed an order with your business to supply the chocolate bars you advertised on your facebook page. The fact of who she is has nothing to do with this business transaction, I read it to mean she was trying to help you get your business going by placing an order. As you said your boss and his wife have been helpful and supportive in trying to get your business off the ground.

I'm with Jason on this, we get a lot of contacts via fb and have a strict policy of not supplying quotes or taking orders via fb.  We contact the person making the enquiry and then have a verbal conversation or email follow up.  Depending on how complex or simple the order is, this may involve a face to face meeting for a wedding cake or in the case of an order like yours, a phone conversation or email confirming the order would be enough. It is an $18 order, we would not require pre payment for something so small, but I understand starting out this maybe a lot of money to lose out on.

If you are genuine about running a business treat this order in a business like manner.  A simple, polite and friendly conversation would clarify this situation and would be what a business owner would do, not tying yourself up in knots.  You may find this next sentence a little offensive, but I promise you I'm not intending it to be - shoulders back, chin up, suck it up and contact your customer to clarify and confirm this order

A

Thanks for being honest! I'm still new to this, and pretty young, so I do appreciate the bluntness of your reply. I did end up making the candy bars and contacting the customer. :)

i think our op is 18 or 19 and i love this thread--she needs us. ;)

i would just like to mention that all your clients, op, can find these threads too and they might not be especially understanding of all of our 'forthright' sometimes no holds barred commentary at times if you kwim. so consider asking your questions generically or something ;)

Good Luck with your situation, if you can handle this in a professional manner, dealing with total strangers will be a piece of cake (gulp... sorry)

A

I sell furniture full time and I actually find strangers MUCH easier to deal with.

This is off topic to the OP - your website looks great for just starting out!  And I love your flavor combinations - very sophisticated!  You are going to do great!

Liz