Hi,
You guys have been so helpful to me when it comes to cake decorating and I really needed some opinions and suggested. Who better to ask than ya'll(arkansas accent)
I want to host a cake tasting party to promote my cake business...Need ideas on what to do. I do all kinds of cakes but I don't want to bake them all(too costly). I mainly want to show what I can do and allow people to taste my cakes. I don't really know where to began..Should I charge...do I do simple or hard etc...Any ideas would be appreciated especially if you have hosted one before.
Thanks in advance,
Tilisha
This is what I would do...
Make a list of the types of cakes you want to make, Yellow, White, Chocolate, etc... As well as flavorings, etc. you dont' have to bake tons of cakes and they are tasting, so you can give smaller pieces so it will go further/farther.
Then figure out WHO you will invite. Don't charge, that's kind of defeating the purpose, as the saying goes... You have to spend money to make money. And most people won't probably pay to taste the cake(s). Not these days anyway.
Go from there, just something to get you started.
yeah I figure I shouldn't charge...Wondering should I do the basic flavors or go more like german chocolate etc...and what about decorations???
My opinion is that German Chocolate is a cake that anyone can make, not intending to belittle people that make it, but it's more a cake that "everyday people" bake for themselves. I just don't feel there's much you can do to make a german chocolate cake look "fancy". I might be wrong though, and often am.
I'd focus on "fancy stuff", you are trying to sell your products/services as a decorator, not just a baker of everyday cakes.
Are there special flavors that you do? If so do them. I experiment with flavor, not just basic cake flavors.
(My distaste for German Chocolate cake isn't making me biased here, so let's just forget about the fact that i'm not wild about it, ok?)
I mainly want to show what I can do and allow people to taste my cakes.
At a bridal expo that I went to, they had tiny squares of tasting cakes. They also had lots of cake dummies for viewing, so that we could see their work. They also had a portfolio of photos from previous weddings for us to look at.
I thought it worked really well because we got to taste AND we got to see the quality of their work too.
I agree - do some of the basic ones, and then do some of the ones that you would like to be your specialty....those will get their attention.
What about having different fillings and/or icings seperately from the cakes, so that they can mix and match the ones that they would like to try.
Ooooohh - Quadcrew! That's a neat idea! Kind of like an 'Ice-cream-bar' but a 'Cake-bar'...lol. You could set up small (2 or 4 inch) cake rounds in different flavors with bowls of different fillings and frostings and let them make their own. You could come up with all different types of combinations based on what people eat the most....people like so many different things. It just might help you develop a few 'signature' flavor combos that you haven't thought of before!
Personally, I would pay to attend something like this....I have heard about dessert fundraisers, and I know you are doing this to promote your business, but it sounds similar.
If charging, you could charge whatever, and say that if they order with X months, that tasting charge gets applied to their order.
My 2 cents anyway.
I thought about charging and I'm not talking $25 dollars or so but just maybe $5...I am really planning to do this so I am thankful for you guys input. I like the idea of making your own cake and I like the idea of the dummy cake to maybe show of my decorating talent and making the cakes for tasting. Saving all ideas.
Thanks
Good luck!! Make sure you fill us in on what you make for it.....can't wait to hear all about it.
I think you really have a good idea, and everybody's ideas are also very helpful, but I must say, and I don't know who you are inviting or how the guest list works, I don't really think people would want to get an invitation to something and then have to pay to go. Just a thought.
I really like the idea of mix-n-match, and having pics and dummies so everyone can see your skill. Good Luck.
I am doing this very soon! I want to thank you guys for the info. I am deciding not to charge for the event. And i am going with my signature flavors for tasting and two or three cake dummies.
Hi Tilisha:
I like the ideas all of you suggested. I appreciate if you can share your experience with the cake party.
I am planning to do it and your experience could be really helpful.
Regards,
Ana
Update!
The Cake tasting party was a hit. Not only did i get more cake business but i also got wedding referrals from people who actually attended the party. I invited wedding planners that i knew and photographers as well. I past out my cards and everything.
I made 4 cake dummies: 1 tier, two tier, 3 tier, and 4 tier. I also set up a cupcake tree with cupcake ideas and a cake pop area. I baked my signatures in sheet cake style with buttercream icing on top and cut them in squares to serve. It was enough cake to feed an army but didn't cost me anything to make.
I have recently moved to Houston and am planning a Cake Tasting party for the Houston area. I am currently looking for a location which will probably be downtown Houston. I hope to connect with other Houston cake decorators, photographers, and wedding/event planners.
Thank you guys for all of your advice and suggestions! I will let you know how the Houston event goes.
AI'm thinking of doing the same thing and am so happy that you shared your experiences here. What would you have done differently or not done at all?
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