I don't doubt that you treat your employees well. The employers I worked for were @$$holes. They hired a cook who made a mistake once and filled the parfait cups (just granola and yogurt) with sour cream instead of yogurt. It was only about 4 of them - but they left her a scathing note calling her stupid - and even showed it to me and laughed about it. And once the boss' husband met me and she thought he was flirting with me - well, I was the next target.

Now, I am in the process of opening my own business - which will be very similar to theirs. And while it will be my name on the door and my @$$ on the line, I would NEVER disrespect anyone that worked for me. I think if you treat people well, they will respect you and treat you well. I always went above and beyond for those employers who treated me like gold.

Anyway, my argument isn't about employer/employee relations. It's about what kind of image you want to project online. If anyone here wants to portray themselves in what I feel is a negative light - more power to them. However, I feel there are some here who are new and impressionable. I would hate for someone to hurt their business before it even got started by taking the wrong advice from people they admired. I'd like to point out that I do admire both Indydebi and TxKat. I envy and applaud your successes and your willingness to pass on information. But that doesn't mean I won't occasionally (respectfully) disagree with you.

isn't there a saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer? wouldn't that work with you biz neighbour? i would like to know what you found out about a clause in your lease and use that justifiably(sp) so in stopping them from selling similar items. for however long you guys are sidebyside i would think it best to be on good terms-jmho

The point of my original post was not to denigrate the cupcake shop down the street. It was to assure the original poster that if she had a great product, then competition wasn't really an issue because quality will win out over time. I made a special point to mention that our competition was underselling us by $.75 a cupcake and we were busier than ever.

My employees are well paid, they have health benefits, and they have something rare in this economy...job security. Everyone else is laying people off. We're hiring. And that isn't because I'm so nice. It's because I am ruthless in guarding and growing our market share. Once upon a time, my job was to make cake. Now, even though I still make some cakes, my real job is to make sure everyone of my 23 employees can pay their rent and that I am still in business a year from now to honor my commiments to brides that have booked with me. If that upsets the people down the street, I can live with that.

The point of my original post was not to denigrate the cupcake shop down the street. It was to assure the original poster that if she had a great product, then competition wasn't really an issue because quality will win out over time. I made a special point to mention that our competition was underselling us by $.75 a cupcake and we were busier than ever.

My employees are well paid, they have health benefits, and they have something rare in this economy...job security. Everyone else is laying people off. We're hiring. And that isn't because I'm so nice. It's because I am ruthless in guarding and growing our market share. Once upon a time, my job was to make cake. Now, even though I still make some cakes, my real job is to make sure everyone of my 23 employees can pay their rent and that I am still in business a year from now to honor my commiments to brides that have booked with me. If that upsets the people down the street, I can live with that.

The point of my original post was not to denigrate the cupcake shop down the street. It was to assure the original poster that if she had a great product, then competition wasn't really an issue because quality will win out over time. I made a special point to mention that our competition was underselling us by $.75 a cupcake and we were busier than ever.

My employees are well paid, they have health benefits, and they have something rare in this economy...job security. Everyone else is laying people off. We're hiring. And that isn't because I'm so nice. It's because I am ruthless in guarding and growing our market share. Once upon a time, my job was to make cake. Now, even though I still make some cakes, my real job is to make sure everyone of my 23 employees can pay their rent and that I am still in business a year from now to honor my commiments to brides that have booked with me. If that upsets the people down the street, I can live with that.

tkkat....your comment about working 70 hrs a week hit a sad nerve with me and I'll tell you why. I lost a brother almost 14 yrs ago at the age of 45, because he didn't know how to enjoy his life. He had a Phd. from Notre Dame University, and many other degrees that he had worked very hard for. His biggest problem was he could not slow down. He worked "70 plus" hours a week and killed himself in the process. He came down with a bacterial pneumonia that could have easily been treated with antibiotics, if he had only taken the afternoon out of work to see his Dr. By the time his wife drove him against his will to the Emergency room, it was too late and he died 4 days later after falling into a coma. His Dr. said he died of exhaustion.

It's great that you work so hard and tirelessly to keep your business going but please don't let your life pass you by. My brother didn't know the meaning of "a day off" or a "vacation". He couldn't say no to anyone and he paid the ultimate price for that, he gave his life for his job and you know what, I'm sure he was missed, but he wasn't indispensable. He was a professor at UTEP and had a private practice besides teaching full time.

What good is the success and the money we make if we don't make the time to enjoy it? Life is way too precious to waste it working every minute. I don't know how old you are but I'm assuming that 50 yrs from now you won't want to look back and regret that you wasted your best years. Work 10 hrs less a week and do something for yourself and your family, you'll be happy you did.

Deb

P.S. I don't, not post my business site because I'm concerned that my competition will see it. I really could not care less what my competition thinks of me, however I do care what my clients think and that's why I choose to not post pics of sold cakes or a link to my business site.

tkkat....your comment about working 70 hrs a week hit a sad nerve with me and I'll tell you why. I lost a brother almost 14 yrs ago at the age of 45, because he didn't know how to enjoy his life. He had a Phd. from Notre Dame University, and many other degrees that he had worked very hard for. His biggest problem was he could not slow down. He worked "70 plus" hours a week and killed himself in the process. He came down with a bacterial pneumonia that could have easily been treated with antibiotics, if he had only taken the afternoon out of work to see his Dr. By the time his wife drove him against his will to the Emergency room, it was too late and he died 4 days later after falling into a coma. His Dr. said he died of exhaustion.

It's great that you work so hard and tirelessly to keep your business going but please don't let your life pass you by. My brother didn't know the meaning of "a day off" or a "vacation". He couldn't say no to anyone and he paid the ultimate price for that, he gave his life for his job and you know what, I'm sure he was missed, but he wasn't indispensable. He was a professor at UTEP and had a private practice besides teaching full time.

What good is the success and the money we make if we don't make the time to enjoy it? Life is way too precious to waste it working every minute. I don't know how old you are but I'm assuming that 50 yrs from now you won't want to look back and regret that you wasted your best years. Work 10 hrs less a week and do something for yourself and your family, you'll be happy you did.

Deb

P.S. I don't, not post my business site because I'm concerned that my competition will see it. I really could not care less what my competition thinks of me, however I do care what my clients think and that's why I choose to not post pics of sold cakes or a link to my business site.

I edited to delete triple post.........this site is wacky today sorry!

I think one of the biggest mistakes women in particular make (to generalize just a bit) in running their businesses is that they falsely believe that their competitors are obligated to "play fair", or to ensure that everyone should get to be successful. I agree with the OP that it is very naive to assume that the business across the street will (or should) refrain from selling what you're selling because it would be mean or unfair to cut into your business.

If there's a demand for a product, if you're in that business and you're smart, you try to fill it and fill it better than your competition. That's what capitalism is all about. The expression, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" is apt. You have to figure out what you do better than anyone else and then go after that with ferocity.

I have a feeling that the owner of the business across the street isn't losing sleep over the fact that they've taken some of your business away when they sit down and can pay their bills and make their payroll. Leah, and Debi and txkat are all right. You have to use sound business principles to run a successful business. Playing well together and making sure everyone is happy isn't part of that equation. I think some women have a hard time suppressing that urge to make sure everyone is taken care of and happy when they try to run their business, and it's to their own detriment. Business is business.

I think one of the biggest mistakes women in particular make (to generalize just a bit) in running their businesses is that they falsely believe that their competitors are obligated to "play fair", or to ensure that everyone should get to be successful. I agree with the OP that it is very naive to assume that the business across the street will (or should) refrain from selling what you're selling because it would be mean or unfair to cut into your business.

If there's a demand for a product, if you're in that business and you're smart, you try to fill it and fill it better than your competition. That's what capitalism is all about. The expression, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" is apt. You have to figure out what you do better than anyone else and then go after that with ferocity.

I have a feeling that the owner of the business across the street isn't losing sleep over the fact that they've taken some of your business away when they sit down and can pay their bills and make their payroll. Leah, and Debi and txkat are all right. You have to use sound business principles to run a successful business. Playing well together and making sure everyone is happy isn't part of that equation. I think some women have a hard time suppressing that urge to make sure everyone is taken care of and happy when they try to run their business, and it's to their own detriment. Business is business.

I think one of the biggest mistakes women in particular make (to generalize just a bit) in running their businesses is that they falsely believe that their competitors are obligated to "play fair", or to ensure that everyone should get to be successful. I agree with the OP that it is very naive to assume that the business across the street will (or should) refrain from selling what you're selling because it would be mean or unfair to cut into your business.

If there's a demand for a product, if you're in that business and you're smart, you try to fill it and fill it better than your competition. That's what capitalism is all about. The expression, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" is apt. You have to figure out what you do better than anyone else and then go after that with ferocity.

I have a feeling that the owner of the business across the street isn't losing sleep over the fact that they've taken some of your business away when they sit down and can pay their bills and make their payroll. Leah, and Debi and txkat are all right. You have to use sound business principles to run a successful business. Playing well together and making sure everyone is happy isn't part of that equation. I think some women have a hard time suppressing that urge to make sure everyone is taken care of and happy when they try to run their business, and it's to their own detriment. Business is business.

I think one of the biggest mistakes women in particular make (to generalize just a bit) in running their businesses is that they falsely believe that their competitors are obligated to "play fair", or to ensure that everyone should get to be successful. I agree with the OP that it is very naive to assume that the business across the street will (or should) refrain from selling what you're selling because it would be mean or unfair to cut into your business.

If there's a demand for a product, if you're in that business and you're smart, you try to fill it and fill it better than your competition. That's what capitalism is all about. The expression, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen" is apt. You have to figure out what you do better than anyone else and then go after that with ferocity.

I have a feeling that the owner of the business across the street isn't losing sleep over the fact that they've taken some of your business away when they sit down and can pay their bills and make their payroll. Leah, and Debi and txkat are all right. You have to use sound business principles to run a successful business. Playing well together and making sure everyone is happy isn't part of that equation. I think some women have a hard time suppressing that urge to make sure everyone is taken care of and happy when they try to run their business, and it's to their own detriment. Business is business.

I SWEAR I only hit "submit" one time.

I'm sitting here laughing my butt off about the Yumm-o shirt, indy! My husband and my kids say that to me, and my daughter likes to say "chicky-wicky" to me because it chaps me so much!

I won a gingerbread contest here this year, and one of the prizes was an autographed Paula Deen cookbook...I asked my husband if this was the booby prize or something. They meant well...All I need to know about that is to add some more butter to it, I don't need a cookbook for that kind of cooking!

ohmyganache, it does sound like you worked for some pure
a-holes, but what you have to keep in mind is that you can treat people well and still know who the competition is and isn't. I get your point about posting it in a public forum, but maybe that will spur them on to "beat" you, so you can look at it as a form of encouraging people to strive to do their best!

Well, let me say that Gordon Ramsay has an 80+% retention rate of his employees. Despite his brusque manner!!!!

If I were you, I would just stick with what you are good at. And in this day, people are looking for good value and heart-smart/healthy for the family, so what about becoming a little bit boutique-y and making desserts for families to take home. Or what about advertising "chocoholics anonymous" evenings and dessert parties (for the Desperate Housewives crowd). Something that is unique, and yummy, and doesn't cost a fortune. You deliver the X number of servings for such a price, and the ladies have their evening of fun. Target the Bunko ladies. Get your wedding cake business out there to places where brides are booking venues (lots of brides will say to the venue "Oh, do you have a recommendation?" and they legally can't PUSH a decorator, but they can certainly offer your business card and say "Gee, she brings samples in frequently, and I have NEVER been disappointed..")

The key to upping your biz is to figure out who you are, what you want to do, and then agressively do it.

Good luck!

TXKAT, You had me at HELLO! Oh I think I am in love with you

AND AMEN to EVERYTHING you said...I got your back!

I think free coffee is freaking jean-eee-us, Levi Strauss & all.
Put a sign in the window.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I truly marveled and shook my head at this comment about JC Penney and Neiman Marcus. Your comment comes off in a way that I hope you didn't mean.

Hey, there's not only those two fine stores, btw there are about one thousand JCP's and less than 50 NM's, there's also Boardwalk and Baltic Avenue (in Monopoly). Can't tell you how many times the mighty have fallen stumbling over that annoying persistent runty Baltic Avenue

I love success. I loves me some bakeries. If I find myself in your neck of the woods, I'm definitely dropping by. But consider being a little careful how you say stuff.

Your Friend.

Sadly k8.........she means it I guess I've become accustomed to some member's "less than tactful" way of posting............sigh

I really dont mind all the comments about JC Penneys but what does bother me is when I see women who are trying to be successfull put down other women who are successful. I think it tacky and just plain old nasty when I hear women smash Paula Dean or Rachael Ray. Those women had to over come great obstatcle to pave the way for other women who want the same thing and have dreams of making it big. Sometimes people just make me sick. So what you dont like their recipes but you should respect them. How would you feel if you finally made it big and had your own show just to have peole always talk crap about you. I think its just jealousy and you're mad because you dont have what they have because believe me if it was offered to you, you would jump on it and wouldnt have time to be on hear talking smack about other successful business women.

I really dont mind all the comments about JC Penneys but what does bother me is when I see women who are trying to be successfull put down other women who are successful. I think it tacky and just plain old nasty when I hear women smash Paula Dean or Rachael Ray. Those women had to over come great obstatcle to pave the way for other women who want the same thing and have dreams of making it big. Sometimes people just make me sick. So what you dont like their recipes but you should respect them. How would you feel if you finally made it big and had your own show just to have peole always talk crap about you. I think its just jealousy and you're mad because you dont have what they have because believe me if it was offered to you, you would jump on it and wouldnt have time to be on hear talking smack about other successful business women.

I dont' like Adam Sandler movies either ... it has nothing to be with being "jealous" of his career .... I just think his movies are stupid and I don't like them.

sometimes you just don't like something because you dont' like it. Nothing more. Nothing less. It's just not someone's preferred choice of entertainment.

How did I make your point?

My point is neither Neiman Marcus nor JC Penney.

Being the best is great. Striving for excellence is awesome.

Do you understand how you sound? Mohammed Ali-ish.

But about that competition thing:

I mean come on, your place is unique but there's a ton of places to get dessert and coffee or drinks, as well as gelatto. Amelia's, Francesca's down the road a bit, Carolina Coffee next door, Padgett Station sounds cool. You definitely have competition.

You may argue that there is no comparison in product quality however there's plenty of competition.

The cupcake purse while cute has no bearing on your business.

CakeBuddy, Neiman Marcus worries about sales just like everybody else.

Wow....I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with the comparison to Neiman Marcus. The only reason I could even begin to think of why I would be offended is if I thought I was JC Penneys. Which I don't. If I did, I would think about stepping up my game a bit.

No more metaphors....that said, I shop at JC Penney's regularly as well as Walmart, and I know that my budget requires me to do so, for personal things. When it comes to cakes, I go into "gourmet" mode. Best ingredients, strive for the best presentation, and therefore consider my product to be superior to that which "JC Penney's" would offer, and therefore, hopefully would be something found in a "Neiman Marcus" storefront...there I go with another metaphor. Ahhhh. Oh well.