Bridal Festifal--Ok, Walk Me Through It Please...

Business By Chef_Stef Updated 25 Jul 2007 , 4:41pm by hsmomma

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mypastrychef Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 5:23am
post #31 of 59

I have made the mistake of trying something new. I will always take my best seller, white almond, chocolate truffle or chocolate rum. For me these flavors get plenty of attention and so many people come back and say, "you have the best cakes here".
I don't try something new anymore. I only want to serve my BEST!

Lora

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cakeartbypam Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 5:59am
post #32 of 59

Tracy, I tried to send the notes, but they came back to me. Please re-send your e-mail address. I think it should end in .net rather than .com?

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PieceofCakeAZ Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 8:05am
post #33 of 59
Quote:
Originally Posted by mypastrychef


Do you print anything with your price estimates? if so do you think it is wise. I have never done that and have always stressed that they set an appointment after the show. What percentage of brides do you normally get booked from the bridal show?
Piece Of Cake website has "wow" cakes on it!

Lora




Thanks Lora! Your site has some amazing work too! We don't usually give out price estimates at shows, just base prices and we encourage them to call us after the show to schedule a consultation and tasting. I really wouldn't be able to even estimate was percentage of brides we book from bridal shows. I'm sure it's really low due to the sheer number of brides that we see at any given show.

We decided to stop doing shows for a while due to the fact that we are fortunate enough to be in a position where we will get booked for as many weddings as we want to take, every weekend of the year even without doing shows, so spending $4000 a year on shows was just throwing money away. I swear we turn down more business at from bridal shows that we accept, but once we get staffed up a bit more, I am definitely heading back... I really do enjoy it. icon_biggrin.gif

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PieceofCakeAZ Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 8:22am
post #34 of 59
Quote:
Originally Posted by homecook

Piece of Cake--More great advice THANKS!! I am simply LOVING all the tips from you guys!!

I wondered the same about what if I take all the sheets and use them all, then I'm going to be up for an all-nighter that night baking 10 more!! agh (could happen...)

What do you think of *not* running out by just setting a limit on samples and "when they're gone, they're gone"...?

Or would that be counterproductive?




We considered that also (actually it was Saturday night of a 2 day show and I was trying to get out of baking another 10 sheets icon_smile.gif ) but I ultimately decided against it, just in case the first person that walked up when we ran out of cake would have been the bride looking for the $3000 wedding cake. icon_biggrin.gif

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Chef_Stef Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 4:35pm
post #35 of 59

Two more questions:

1. So, no filling in the samples? (that would save me a ton of time!) and where'd you find the lidded cups?

2. No pricing on display cakes? or just "this style starting at $X per serving?"

I wanted to have a card by each display cake with the price per serving for that particular cake, because I always end up with those brides who look at a picture or display and say, "But, if I want that exact cake, how much would it actually cost??" and I'm the type to not step around a direct question like that...what do you do?

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melodyscakes Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 4:58pm
post #36 of 59

I got the souffle (sp?) at sams club. the cups were $19.99 and the lids were 19.99 but you get 2000 of each. they are small, so no room for cake, filling, and icing. just a small piece of cake and frosting. because the pieces were so small, I made way too much cake...so you don't need as much cake. man, it was sooo much less stress then cutting cake and making sure area was clean....that would be too much for a one woman company like mine. you can put your name and info. on a sticker and put on each cup.
alot of the brides that I have talk too months later, remember taking my cake home. yeah!!

to be honest, they get so much information, and taste so many cakes that day...they really do forget after awhile...so make sure you have a good follow-up plan.

good luck,
and keep us posted!

melody

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mpitrelli Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 6:19pm
post #37 of 59

could you also please send me the inforamtion [email protected]

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Chef_Stef Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 7:40pm
post #38 of 59

Well I searched and searched and, since there's no Sam's Club anywhere here, I decided to get the cupcake liners, and found them for $54.55 for 10,000 icon_surprised.gif of them (!), so I got those and will put them in a lidded tub like you guys suggested.

THANKS AGAIN so much for all tips!! I'm moving along today--got the personalized chef jacket, the cups, and the display covers ordered. icon_smile.gif

Now to find time to bake all those sheet cakes between New Years and the 6th; apparently I can't have *too many*...

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mariavictoria Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 7:51pm
post #39 of 59

cakeartbypam, please email info to [email protected]

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moonrosee Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 8:45pm
post #40 of 59

cakesbypam,
I would love a copy of your bridal show notes. Thank you so much for the offer to share them.
Michele
[email protected]

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mypastrychef Posted 9 Dec 2006 , 9:27pm
post #41 of 59

[quote="PieceofCakeAZ"]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mypastrychef




We decided to stop doing shows for a while due to the fact that we are fortunate enough to be in a position where we will get booked for as many weddings as we want to take, every weekend of the year even without doing shows, so spending $4000 a year on shows was just throwing money away. I swear we turn down more business at from bridal shows that we accept, but once we get staffed up a bit more, I am definitely heading back... I really do enjoy it. icon_biggrin.gif





I only do a food and wine experience show, it is fun we get to eat other restaurants food and mingle with the crowd. I always make an LSU theme 3 tiered Choc rum cake goes with the theme. And we do get orders from that event.

We have a huge bridal show here and I never do it because the fee is $400 for an 8' table. However, I only do the free shows.

I do also turn away business (usually birthday cakes). I usually don't turn away wedding cakes I just go up on the price. But I am strongly considering trying this show to try to pick up higher end brides. My competitor does this show and swears he gets brides out the wa-zoo. And I promise he is not an accomplished decorator and his cakes are mediocre, but he paints a real pretty picture of himself (although he is flamboyant) and charges more than me. And according to him he has way more weddings booked. Sometimes he sends some of them to me.

I do keep an add in the weddings with style mag. It definitely pays for itself.

Any thoughts?

I don't want to waste all that money and time if it is no more than what you mentioned.

Lora

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TPDC Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 4:17am
post #42 of 59

So what exactly do you say to avoid the "Price" question? I am with homecook and I am not very good with changing subjects.

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cakeartbypam Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 7:28am
post #43 of 59

I just price my cakes "per serving" for my basic buttercream cakes and basic fondant cakes; "premium" cake flavors (such as carrot cake, pink champagne, chocolate chocolate chip) are slightly more. Prices for anything else depend on just what they are asking for (fondant drapes, gumpaste flowers, etc.) and I can't give prices on that unless we sit down and talk about it at a consultation where I have a better idea of what I'm trying to price. You just don't have time to do that at a bridal show, that's for sure! Sometimes they get impatient when you can't give them some information, but what I do is counter their questions with another question so they understand. When they say, "How much is this cake?" I then ask, "Well, are you having the very same gumpaste flowers, the very same flavor, buttercream or fondant icing, the very same filling, the very same size, etc.?" "Are the gumpaste flowers the same color(s)?" (I charge extra for extremely deep colors, such as reds, maroons, etc., because more work, time and product are involved in achieving deep colors.) "Do you want all of the servings in the main cake, or some kitchen cake servings (not as decorated)?" In all honesty, seldom do they want THAT EXACT cake, whether they say they do or not. Maybe your first question should be how many guests the cake will need to feed. If they say 150, then a 6-9-12 will only feed 100 (if they're not saving the top tier), so already that cake won't work for them just as it is. Whatever you do, don't let the bride lead you around by a ring in the nose; you're the expert here and you need to maintain authority in the conversation, however nicely so. Don't question yourself, or they will sense it. If I have any doubt about a request from a bride, I have come to a point where I tell them I just won't do it that way and stand my ground. Sure, I've lost one or two that way, but I've also had more tell me they felt I knew what I was talking about and they felt safer and trusted me because of it.

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kaychristensen Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 8:01am
post #44 of 59

I haven't had the time time to read all the posts. And am looking forward to all the tips. I did a bridal show for another business thinking I would have great success the day of the show that wasn't true. So looking for future ideas.

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TPDC Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 7:15pm
post #45 of 59

Those are great ways to get around the question, thank you cakeartbypam. All this information is wonderful. Thank you everyone for sharing your advise!

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cakeartbypam Posted 10 Dec 2006 , 7:16pm
post #46 of 59

I have to say that of all the vendors I've spoken to about their experience at the show, they say they've made contacts and appointments for future meetings more than they've taken deposits/orders. I think the brides act more as butterflies touching here and there, checking things out, but not really making commitments at that point. I'm sure there are some exceptions, but for the most part, (as my husband says) you're "planting seeds." If there's a slam-dunk technique for making sales at a bridal show, I haven't found it! icon_surprised.gif)

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Chef_Stef Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 6:04am
post #47 of 59

This has been a great thread--I hope everyone else learned as much as me. icon_smile.gif

Now, I'm just freaking a bit about how many brochures and/or cards to print and have on hand (don't want too many or too few icon_surprised.gif ), how many samples (???), and HOW IN THE WORLD am I going to make 3 more dummies NEXT WEEK before my house fills up with holiday guests for 2 weeks, then a week of baking samples, then the show?????

Oh, and Christmas shopping, baking, shipping packages, wrapping, homeschooling, gymnastics, swimming, running dh's business, figuring out decor for the booth, etc.

Feeling better about the flow of things but not about the time management between now and then...*sigh*!!

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Zmama Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 7:20am
post #48 of 59

Christmas vacation! Takes care of homeschooling, dh's biz, and your helper for the fair can come help bake samples under supervision. Dh takes a couple days vacation and is chaufer and babysitter and gift wrapper. Dummy cakes are done on the weekends, one per weekend. No sleep for 2 days before the fair to get samples done, then get about 10 hours the night before so you are rested and calm the day of!

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SweetConfectionsChef Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 1:19pm
post #49 of 59

Homecook, you're gonna have to pull off some serious multi-tasking! I'm sure you can do it!! thumbs_up.gifthumbs_up.gifthumbs_up.gif And, thanks for starting this thread....I am sending in the $$ today for my first bridal show! thumbs_up.gif I wouldn't have even thought it was worth the $$, time & effort without this thread and Pam's help! Have a great holiday everyone and keep on bakin'!

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melodyscakes Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 3:01pm
post #50 of 59

sweetconfectionschef, cong. on deciding to do the bridal show.
I have made my booth and advertisment $$$ back already, and my show was in oct.
next year is going to be awsome!!!!!!

good luck to you all!!

I was told that my area has 18,000 brides per year and brides spend something like 3 billion dallars a year on weddings.....I am getting my little piece of the pie. and it is sooo exciting!!!!!


melody

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Zmama Posted 11 Dec 2006 , 5:59pm
post #51 of 59
Quote:
Quote:

I was told that my area has 18,000 brides per year and brides spend something like 3 billion dallars a year on weddings.....I am getting my little piece of the pie. and it is sooo exciting!!!!!




You got it! When else does someone (not rich!) spend umpteen THOUSAND dollars for a one-day party? And what other wedding biz can change to this degree with each project?

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rits Posted 12 Dec 2006 , 12:56am
post #52 of 59

Hi there. cakesbypam, would you please send your bridal show notes to me as well? Thank you so much for the generous offer! [email protected]

Jen N.

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SweetConfectionsChef Posted 12 Dec 2006 , 2:06am
post #53 of 59

Thanks Melodyscakes! thumbs_up.gif

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bakerladybec Posted 17 Jul 2007 , 11:33am
post #54 of 59

cakeartbypam, may I also have your notes on shows as I am planning on trying to do the big bridal show in Columbus this year.

thanks so much bec

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bakerladybec Posted 17 Jul 2007 , 11:47am
post #55 of 59

You can find the soufle cups and lids at any Sam's club or GFS store, that 's where I buy mine for the bakery, I use them for everything.


cakeartbypam, here is my email addy:

[email protected]

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marmalade1687 Posted 17 Jul 2007 , 1:10pm
post #56 of 59

Have you thought about doing cupcakes or minicupcakes? That way, you don't have to cut them - the bride just has to take one herself and take the paper off, and drop that in the garbage can that you will have beside your table. I have done this for my shows for years, with huge success. I display them on my Tall Tier Cake Stand, so it is another display in itself! Just a thought! thumbs_up.gif

Nicole

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DarthLaurie Posted 25 Jul 2007 , 10:41am
post #57 of 59

cakeartbypam...please could you email me your bridal show notes and pictures! Much appreciated. This thread is amazing and site addictive icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif [email protected]

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momacs Posted 25 Jul 2007 , 4:04pm
post #58 of 59

cakeartbypam...please could you email me your bridal show notes and pictures!
Thanks, Mindy Mc

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hsmomma Posted 25 Jul 2007 , 4:41pm
post #59 of 59

I just pm's you about the bridal show notes too. But, I'm not sure I actually sent it (LOL).

I WOULD love any pictures or notes you have. I can't believe how generous you are being with sharing them. Thank you so much!!! I'm doing my first show in a couple of months (deposit has been paid ~ so no backing out now!) I'm VERY nervous. Any help would be so appreciated.
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