Do you think it kosher to work at a bakery and also try to establish yourself slowly on the side? Would you talk to your boss about your efforts just so she doesn't find out when stumbling upon a flyer? Should you just quit the bakery job altogether? Wait get all the experience then leave and establish yourself?


Thanks!
Sus

You were so proud of that job and now you want to quit??

I'd say that you shouldn't be advertising for yourself on the side. Either talk to your boss or don't do it.

Hey Susecita, Is this new boss still really nice?
I would keep it quiet for a while and if you trust her after that mention it so that she doesn't find out and get hurt by it, but you don't owe it to her to tell her. Remember you were doing it before you met her and got the job.. They are 2 different entities.. your bakery job and your own business.
If she is really nice, then you can tell her that you love this job but in the future are hoping that you can work around your family from home.. I am sure most people would understand that desire.

3rd option

endear and ingratiate yourself w/ boss to point you can become a partner in the business.

if you are really good...she may see the "need" to keep you working w/ her and not against her.

that opens up possibility of buying into the business -- which could be done in stages even. so that your investment grows to point that 50/50

then depending upon age difference....if she is older than you when she wants to retire or take it easier, you buy more an more interest in business until you buy her out.

this allows you to establish self without all the hassels of creating own business from scratch.

Hey guys thanks for the opinions. I ADORE my job still....with a passion. So So So much. I do NOT want to quit the job. This is why I'm posting the question in the first place. I owe so much to her. She is a wonderful woman who has taken me under her wing and I do not want to go behind her back. However, the reality is that I do not get as much creative range working with her because things are done a particular way. In an ideal world I would work with her and bake on the side establish myself slowly until I can have my own bus. but I am not sure how this option would work. Buying the bakery does not seem like an option for many reasons: 1. it's not her business but her husband's family business (she just runs it and is the head decorator) 2. This is an old mom and pop business that gets passed from generation to generation fully owned by them. 3. I also want to do my own cakes in my own style (use fondant, make my own designs) and this would not necesarilly happen at the bakery.

Doug,

I like that. Hmmmm really like that idea...but what happened to being your own boss? Working from home? Establishing yourself as a sole decorator? I dunno. As I said, I am very confused on this one p

at guest artist status...they're counting on you being the "rain maker" i.e. bringing in even more business than usual (sort of the tail wagging the dog to mix metaphors)...so you end up your own boss and you will be known as "the custom decorator"

as for working from home: you really want the inspections, the cleaning, the mess, the hassel, the disruption, the "I can't ever get AWAY from THIS!!!!!!", etc.

something to be said for them have to worry about the insurance, the utilities, the liscences, inspections, etc.

Sometimes being your own boss isn't a s fun as it sounds. Now the working from home part ..I'd like to give that a try. But seriously, sometimes peoples' dreams change.. just give it time & think on it more.

I have a neat situation, I got hired part time at a fairly large caterers and they hired me for my decorating skills because they know I work from home. They actually checked out my website before they hired me. They do not even care if I am learning more at work to use at home, they let me have recipes, and even said I can take pix for my portfolio if I want to. I've only been there a couple months and I'm really happy so far with how its working out.

I'd love to become my own business but I'm well aware that starting a business means ALOT of long hours to make sure it gets off the ground, and gets off right. With three young children at home it would be impossible for me to even think about attempting it. So for now, I have my part time (two day a week) pastry chef job, and then I just make a cake or two on the weekend, whenever someone calls me.

I think it might even be good to be open about what you are doing in certain situations, because your experience can help you land a job at a bakery. But it will just depend, I guess, on if the bakery feels you are a threat to their business. Since the caterer I work for is a self contained catering service in a mansion, I am not even slightly competition to them because their customers use their food and cakes. So its neat. I'm sure there are more jobs out there like it to think about for some of you other decorators!

Yah. I guess my main concern is not competing with the bakery (hahaha as if I can do that at this stage---the bakery I work for is pretty established and wonderful). As I said, I cant emphasize how much I love my job but my dream is to sometime have my own business and I would like to start doing wedding cakes and things here and there while holding my job. I do not want to go into full fledge business yet. From home, I want to find a good in between between a hobby and training for when I actually start it as a business (I guess I just want to get paid for my cakes for now ;op) I want to make 1-5 cakes a week for my own creative endeavors from home, not have an actual full fledge business. Im not sure if this changes things or not? I doubt this amount of cakes would pose much competition to this bakery. Have I said thanks for lending me your ears and expertise? THANKS!

Well, my approach is to always be upfront from the beginning. My youngest did this with a bakery she was working at, they knew she and I did cakes from home right from the start. Personally I just think it is always best to be open and honest with people that you do business with or work for and that establishes a good trusting relationship. You don't have to worry about things coming out in the open if you have always been honest because there is nothing to hide or get in trouble for.
Knowing this, she might be interested in having you incorporate some of the designs you use too, then it becomes a sharing experience for both of you. Like Doug said, down the road this could work to your mutual benefit.
Otherwise she might get the impression that you are using her to learn skills.
Hugs Squirrelly