I have not sold many cakes. Mostly just do them for a hobby and for friends. I have agreed to do a cake for a 50th anniversary, but have a question. If the customer wants a nice cake stand - who pays for it? The cake I am making is square. Any suggestions on unique stands? I have seen the ones on wine glasses and the glass blocks. Also, where is everyone buying the gorgeous silver square stands?

I was a local discount store here called BIG LOTS! They has a silver tone cake stand... just huge for $20. I saw wiltons start at $40

Hello.

I seen the stands on the internet, just do a google search and type in wedding cake plateaus.
I have several opinions on the cake stands-

If you will do more cakes such as wedding or anniversaries then buy a nice cake stand and rent that out when you make a big cake. I think that would be an investment. I seen a thread here about that, but can't remember which one.

Hopefully the experts here can help with that.

Thanks - we have a Big Lots here. I will check. I think the items they get in are random. Good idea about renting the cake stand.

Our party rental stores here rent cake plateaus. They have a few sizes. I have told them that if someone wants to rent one and theirs are unavailable to give them my name and card. I have several 10", 12" 18" round and 18" square. Got them all from Ebay.

Here's a link that sells plateaus. I'm not sure if these are good prices, though...
http://www.cakesbysam.com/store/cart.php?target=category&category_id=248

If you are going to get them back you pay if they are going to keep them first ask them if they want to pick out their own stands since they are going to keep and if not then you pick them but if they are going to keep them then they pay for them. you could buy them and then add it to the price of the cake.

if you buy and you are going to get them back have them put a deposit on them so that you do get them back.

And make sure the deposit is for the full replacement cost (plus tax/shipping) so if they don't return it, you're not out anything!

I went to Big Lots today and they had the cake stands! Really pretty, but it was only 12". I wish they had bigger ones.

Anyway, it was round with a mirrored bottom and silverplated sides. AND - it was only $12.99!!

Thanks for the tip!

Try Crate and Barrel. They have some great stuff. I also like to get interesting platters too.

I really like the glass blocks. I got them at Lowe's for 3 dollars and some change. They are 8 x 6 and I can use as many or as few as I like to change the diameter of the square. I don't need different size cake stands just about 8 of the blocks will suit all of my needs. I used them for a wedding last month and will be using them again this month. I just form a square with them and fill it with christmas lights and material.

NEWTODECORATING--
That is such a cool idea with the glass blocks--never would have thought about that. BTW--your cakes are AWESOME!!!

Mac thank you soooo much that means alot. The glass block idea wasn't mine by the way. It was the answer I got to a post I made because I couldn't find a square cake stand to rent.

There are some great cakes on this post with the glass block idea. Check it out.

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-14522.html

This is why I LOVE this site. What a creative idea to use glass blocks. I checked out the pictures from the other thread and they are amazing. I love the idea of using a glass circle that you can find at any home improvement store and putting it on top of the blocks...that's awesome!!! AND I can't wait to go to Big Lots and see if they have any stands!!

Great idea!!!
Angie