Not Legal But Advertising Like Crazy????
Decorating By SueW Updated 8 May 2008 , 4:56pm by ntertayneme
Ok, I will try to make this short and I am really not sure why I am so annoyed. A few weeks ago I started seeing really cute flyers around town for a person who bakes cupcakes. Of course I snatched on up and as I got a closer look at the pics they weren't even that good in terms of decorating ability. Sorry to sound so snooty, that really isn't like me 
Anyway it just gave a phone number and 2 first names of girls to ask for when you call. A few days later at my son's preschool I come to find out a mom in his class knows these 2 women and they are not legal, they are just doing it out of their kitchen. I think to myself "well good for them that they have the guts to advertise like that" especially if they are home based and not "legal".
Well today another friend sends me a link to a website and says " cupcake competition?". Now keep in mind I only bake for friends and family and I am even too afraid to have a business card or anything on paper. I look at the website and after a few minutes I find it odd that there is no address for this "premier cupcake shoppe". Well turns out it is the same 2 woman advertising in the fliers all over town. They now have a website too 
and it only has a home phone number and no address and they keep saying "call us" so it is clear they are NOT a store front. There cupcakes are ridiculous, just a swirl of icing then those ready-made sugar wilton decos (like Diegos face etc) that you can buy in the food store.
OK, sorry this is so long. I guess I am so annoyed because I am SO afraid to advertise or have a business card and these 2 are all over town flaunting their "talent" and they aren't even doing it legally. I can't figure out if they are geniuses or really dumb 
Thanks for letting me vent 
They could not know you aren't allowed to do it.
How many times do we cover the copyright information on here? And how many times do people say I never thought about that or heard about that?
Being Legal is the same thing. Unless you are on a message board like these with the talks we have, they may really be clueless about it.
Why not jot them a little email and let them know. If they pull the site, they may not have know. If htey do they are either brave or don't care.
Breaking the law is only genius until you get caught. 
I agree with TexasSugar...
maybe they just dont know. I know that I didnt know before I got to cakecentral.....
I think they would appreciate it if you let them know whats up!
Breaking the law is only genius until you get caught.
So true.
I have the same problem with these 2 girls making cupcakes. Their advantage? They are young and they go to all these clubs and do their networking that way.
They also are advertising SEX IN THE CITY cupcake packages, calling them cutesy SIC names and using the movie images to advertise them.
I'm livid.
I sent them an email asking them if they didn't have a legal kitchen that I was willing to rent out the mornings in mine.
I didn't get any response, not even a thanks but no thanks.
It's just like this other little chick, she used famous song titles to name all her cupcakes and when I sent her an email letting her know not to get caught I was also ignored.
These other 2 girls are now using my idea of using liquor in the cuptails when I announced that I would be doing so on my website and was trying out recipes and some of the recipes were not that good. I'm trying to work my way down the list to offer the best, yummy ones and now POOF they have them on their menu.
I'm so mad I just don't know what to do and I know that here in Florida they won't inspect a home so what's the point in reporting them?
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
What's the Beatles song?..."Live and Let Die." Well, I say those people who have the audacity to advertise with paper and website without being legal are ASKING for trouble. I say don't waste your energy getting angry/jealous over what other people are doing. Put your energy into what you CAN control, like your own work, recipes, decorating abilities etc...These people are eventually going to get their "come-up-in's" in one way or another. Life is just too short to waste it worrying about what you can't control! If you have a superior product people aren't going to waste their money on substandard cupcakes!
What's their web address? I want to see this!
Me too...I wanna see!!!
I've been doing cakes out of my home (not legally) for about a year now, only having one or two cakes a month. I've gotten really busy within the past couple of months (five this week) and I feel that it's time for me to get legal. Many people have asked me for my website or a business card, which I have neither, and I just don't want to say "um...well...I'm not really legal, soooo.....". I'm waiting for my health dept. to give me a call back so I can get all the information. I don't want to risk any fines or anything but I'm about to bust to get my name out there besides just by word of mouth.
So maybe they just don't know. Thanks to this site I've learned tons of stuff I would have not thought of otherwise. 
don't get mad....get even!!!
have a little fun with it.
call asking about their products and then tell them that you are from the health department or who ever it is that would handle that stuff. tell them that you have tracked down their address and will soon be sending them a fine for working without a license. recommend they get a lawyer.
could be fun LOL
Ditto for me. I'd love to see the web site!
If they are aware of operating "under the radar", to advertise is just plain ignorant and they deserve to get nabbed for it!
Amy
Well, first things firt.
I make cakes out of my kitchen and I am not legal. I do have a website and a card with just my name & number on it. I've asked several people and they all tell me the same thing; only difference is, is that not everyone will fess up to it.
You can have a website, but it must be like a "blog". That's how mine is. I separate it with tabs to categorize it into cakes, cupcakes, etc. DO NOT INCLUDE PRICING. I network solely on word of mouth and Myspace. Even then, my myspace profile is just pictures of my cakes with flavors I have done/can do. If someone confronts me about it, I say they only pay me for the ingrediants that I SHOP for them. Then I tell my "clients" that I am not legal, but they never seem to mind since the "charge of ingredients" is cheaper than other cake designers. Again, I network solely through word of mouth and myspace.
I don't see anything wrong with that...just my .2 cents.
Well, first things firt.
I make cakes out of my kitchen and I am not legal. I do have a website and a card with just my name & number on it. I've asked several people and they all tell me the same thing; only difference is, is that not everyone will fess up to it.
You can have a website, but it must be like a "blog". That's how mine is. I separate it with tabs to categorize it into cakes, cupcakes, etc. DO NOT INCLUDE PRICING. I network solely on word of mouth and Myspace. Even then, my myspace profile is just pictures of my cakes with flavors I have done/can do. If someone confronts me about it, I say they only pay me for the ingrediants that I SHOP for them. Then I tell my "clients" that I am not legal, but they never seem to mind since the "charge of ingredients" is cheaper than other cake designers. Again, I network solely through word of mouth and myspace.
I don't see anything wrong with that...just my .2 cents.
Honey, put on your flame-retardant full-body suit because if past threads are any indicator, you are about to get blasted.
sometimes you have to add a little humor to your life.
right now we are in the middle of an ugly custody battle with my husband's ex. you can only imagine the creative things i have thought of LOL
haven't followed through on anything but it's good for a laugh sometimes.
reality is these two ladies obviously aren't offering a quality product. they aren't a threat to you. they're probably just stealing business from walmart. people looking for quality are going to head your way. i'm sure your customers are loyal to you. i wouldn't see them as a threat
just because there is no address on the website does'nt mean they are'nt "legal". I rent a kitchen and do all my office work at home. I don't have a store front and the place I rent from does'nt want me having customers up there, its their business first and mine second. So I do not have an address listed on my website, not even my home address. I don't want people showing up at my house wanting cake, I have no cake here.
With that said, if their product is'nt quality I would'nt worry about it. There are alot of other bakers where I live, even ones with storefronts who just don't make a quality product, so I don't consider them competion.
Well, first things firt.
I make cakes out of my kitchen and I am not legal. I do have a website and a card with just my name & number on it. I've asked several people and they all tell me the same thing; only difference is, is that not everyone will fess up to it.
You can have a website, but it must be like a "blog". That's how mine is. I separate it with tabs to categorize it into cakes, cupcakes, etc. DO NOT INCLUDE PRICING. I network solely on word of mouth and Myspace. Even then, my myspace profile is just pictures of my cakes with flavors I have done/can do. If someone confronts me about it, I say they only pay me for the ingrediants that I SHOP for them. Then I tell my "clients" that I am not legal, but they never seem to mind since the "charge of ingredients" is cheaper than other cake designers. Again, I network solely through word of mouth and myspace.
I don't see anything wrong with that...just my .2 cents.
Honey, put on your flame-retardant full-body suit because if past threads are any indicator, you are about to get blasted.
It's a shame how some people on here are very critical.
And please don't refer to me as "Honey".
Like I said, I work solely on word of mouth through friends and family...if theyhappen to spread the word about my cakes, I can't control that.
For some people to say "I hope they get caught"- I think that's un-called for. We're all adults here and if people are doing things differently than you, why be so foul and act in a catty behavior?
Well, first things firt.
...I don't see anything wrong with that...just my .2 cents.
Honey, put on your flame-retardant full-body suit because if past threads are any indicator, you are about to get blasted.
LOL!! That was my thought exactly... I squirmed in my seat a bit for you, too, Babarooskie. But I do agree if you live in a state like CA that makes it impossible to get home-licensed.
Woah - why don't you all put on your white hoods and go around lynching all the unlicensed bakers in the country?! I'm sure that'll make you all feel so much better about yourselves. It never ceases to amaze me just how vile some people can be to others on this forum. Why can't you just live and let live - if others are illegal and you aren't, why should it be your problem - they are the ones who risk getting caught and fined not you, so why worry?!
Woah - why don't you all put on your white hoods and go around lynching all the unlicensed bakers in the country?! I'm sure that'll make you all feel so much better about yourselves. It never ceases to amaze me just how vile some people can be to others on this forum.
My thoughts exactly!
It's hard to get licensed and run a full bakery. That's why I'm starting from home to SAVE money for my bakery.
I don't know about you, but I don't have $5-10,000 to open up a bakery ASAP.
Babarooskie wrote:
Well, first things firt.
...I don't see anything wrong with that...just my .2 cents.
CakePro wrote:
Honey, put on your flame-retardant full-body suit because if past threads are any indicator, you are about to get blasted.
Hey! Everybody hold your horses!! If you haven't followed past threads about this issue(Leagal vs. Not legal) then CakePro was JUST WARNING you that OTHER people get VERY passionate, emotional and critical about this issue...she is very right to warn you based on PAST THREADS. I suggest you look at them to give you context for her remark. I thought her words of warning were quite humorous. Plus she's from Texas for goodness sakes! Texans call everybody "Honey!."
The devious part of me would want call them asking for the products you know they can't do, place the order and not show up. I WOULD NEVER DO THIS THOUGH, IT'S THE THOUGHT OF DOING IT.
The professional part of me says "every dog has their day and theirs will come at a high price.".
Babarooskie, you did mention the $5K to $10K to become legal. I thought the same to legalize my home kitchen. I had a couple things I needed to fix that were simple in cost and then paid about $300 - $500 out in licensing and HD fees and that was it. Total out of pocket was less than $600.
Since I do not know you I don't know if you got this from research or not so I am just suggesting yiou look further into it in case you haven't yet. If you have and I spoke out of turn from not knowing you IRL just throw some buttercream at me and tell me to get back in my kitchen.
No, no! I'm not angry or jealous that they do what they do.
I'm livid because they took my idea. Not that the idea was my original, but I had been blogging about it on my myspace website to let people know what I'm doing and when I get new cake things.
I got the page for the free blog, lol. Not for business and they are on the "friends" list. That's what I get. I think I should blog someplace else.
lol
Oh please, they can do whatever they want, they are like 21/23 do you think they will stick with it?
My clients are from a WHOOOOOOLE 'nuther base.
I think Babaroskie, was referring to opening up a bakery, not just getting lincensed from home.
I wish I was licensed.....
Please don't do any of that stuff, or get even. Let's all worry about our stuff, and if they get caught, oh well.
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