Has the recent turn of economic events took a told on your business in any way?

Im from the UK and I have been surprised by the amount of orders Ive had so far this year, im a home baker and although I have put my prices up I have had more orders. It seems people will still pay for cake.

Yes it has. Sales are up significantly.

People are doing more comparison shopping and (especially on the catering side), I'm in the price bracket that people are cutting BACk to. The size of the events are also bigger this year. My average headcount per event is up about 30-33%. My average invoice for wedding cake & buffet is over twice as what it was last year.

Those who remember the recession of the 70's, might also remember that when the 80's hit and people had jobs again, and they were able to catch up on their financial hardships, they also were sick of anything that represented "conservation". Thus the big cars, big houses, big hair, big cakes.

I'm seeing that now. People are willing to trade in their SUV for a good gas mileage car, they are willing to eat beans and rice from walmart .... but a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and they are going to "do it up right". That doesn't mean they are throwing their money around willy-nilly ... they are shopping and getting the best deal.

Fortunately, I believe I'm in that bracket.

I am a home-baker and I have also not had a drop in sales so far. I just had an 8-order weekend and that is a lot for me.

Sales are up significantly here.

I am not in business. Just wanted to let you know some things that have happened in my area. There was just an article about a local bakery that is closing down the entire month of February. He said this is the typical slow time for a bakery, but this year it has been worse. Here is a link the the article...

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090212/LOCAL0201/302129985

A couple of months ago a local bakery closed it's doors. I actually bought some of their cake equipment a few weeks ago. She told me that the economy hit them hard.

We are doing just fine here at my store....Indianapolis area.

My sales are also up significantly. People here are shopping around, and looking for the best quality they can get for their money. This has brought lots of people my way. I'd say I've got 4 times the business I had last year. I keep waiting for that "slow" month, but it isn't happening.

Certainly up on 2008 for me.

Off topic - Just wanted to tell chutzpah how much i love her new 'location' and signature!! Genius!!!

I also laughed hard at chutzpah's new location... Sometimes I think I live there, too!

Oh, and my sales haven't been down at all, either.

Sales are way up here too (I have double my sales this year at this same time last year...) I am seeing the same thing, big weddings, but because I am at the price point that people like, I am getting more bookings. THere have been a few bakeries closing in our area that are full service bakeries: You know they sell cookies and donuts and such. I think people are cutting back on the full service stuff but not wedding cakes and special events. I made a huge increase in my celebration cake prices because I just didnt want to do them anymore as they were just taking so much time and now I am getting these HUGE (100 plus) celebration cake orders that are higher then my wedding cake orders! I also just made a deal with a local caterer who is going to be using me for her wedding and large events (she is also very busy and people kept asking her if her price included the cake and deserts They dont have time to shop around and find someone) My cupcake sales are amazing this year, as people want them for corporate parties and as table decorations..(flowers have gotten too expensive they tell me) on that same line, I have also had a huge increase in gum paste flowers where it seemed nobody was wanting them anymore because real flower prices have gone through the roof! My month of April and June is booked up (average 6 weddings and 3-5 celebration cakes a weekend) and my October is almost booked! I did a weddint show in January and didnt get any quiet time this year. The phone has been ringing off the hook! I had to forced myself to take a week off! My DH is more tired then me as he is working his own job and coming home and helping me get contracts out and we do tastings all day on Sundays (from 10 AM to 7 PM) and are booking 80 percent...50% of them are booking right at the table which is unusual for us. This is the first year (this is my fourth year) I am actually paying myself a salery every week. Although its not much...but it does feel good. I wish we could say we are rolling in dough, but to be honest with you, I don't think you can get rich in the cake decorating world, unless you are like Duff or something...

I'm tracking along at pretty much the same rate as last year. I've also noticed the brides shopping a lot!

Quite interesting. I read and article on CNN.com entitled " Party like it's 1929". It basically said the economy was taking a toll on the celebration industry and people were cancelling or postponing parties and weddings.

Once again , don't believe everything the media feeds you. Haven't seen a "slump" here locally either. Preparing for a 3 day bridal fair featuring lunch with Sylvia Weinstock . Anyone ever met her?

I am excited too!!! Little pricey , 125.00 bucks at a private club. However , what are my chances of this happening again? A much better bargain than ordering one of her cakes

last year i didn't have the regular "slump" either....sales were up.

This is my first season of wedding cakes. My goal was to only book 5. To my surprise, I have booked seven and have 2 tastings this weekend.

The only quarky thing I have noticed is that some couples aren't getting married on Saturday anymore. They are going for Sundays or just having a reception after eloping to the very romantic justice of the peace! Or simply having it all in Grandma's backyard and letting their aunts cook the reception food. But it seems everyone still wants a wedding cake.

I do have to say that my sales aren't down, but I have a friend who has a chocolate shop, and she's seen a big slump. She does a lot of corporate stuff, and they didn't order this year. There were also a number of big corporate events that didn't happen during December that affected a few caterers I know. There are a lot of cutbacks going on, but it's true that people still want wedding cakes.

Wow...this is all very encouraging news. I have not started yet but intend on starting up my business slowly this year and this gives me high hopes.

I was initially worried about starting up this year because of the recession, now I think I can relax a little bit and just give it a good go!!

Well, I am slow, scary slow. I have a licensed home bakery.

Another bakery here just closed down along with a number of other businesses. Lots of lay offs either happening or rumored. My DH is going to have to go to nights after almost 25 years on his job his position is being eliminated. Even the local university (major employer) is having issues, talking lay offs, consolidating offices etc.

I am glad you all are doing well, wish I could say the same! Hopefully, things will look up soon. I'm trying to figure if I should market more or try to find some kind of work.

I do think the lack of visibility can be an issue, at least around here.

I agree with Debi...these are the times where millionaires make their millions! I have read about several bakeries and bridal shops closing-but I think as far as store front bakeries go they HAVE to have a solid clientele to turn a large profit-drove by one in town twice last week and never saw a car there

Saying that though-I am just as busy as ever-trying to juggle the return business with new orders And having fun doing it I HAVE noticed people wanting to make payments or asking way in advance so they can start saving That is neat I think too! I kind of wish for a break sometimes but am never stupid enough to pray for it

More businesses are started and more fortunes are made during bad economic times than in good ones.

Deb , I'm loving this!!!

This is my new mantra

I hate to jinx myself, but my sales are way up from last year. I hardly did a thing last Feb and this one I've hardly gotten to sit down. Good luck!

This is only my second year in business. But my sales are doing great. There are some weeks it is all I can do to get my orders out. Then there are some week I could do a little more but the busy out weights the slow.

Last week, valentines, I could NOT have done more than I did. Between several b'day cakes, one celebration cake, and all those valentine orders for cookies, candies, cupcakes etc. I was overwhelmed. On Thursday alone I did 285 cupcakes, then had to make more saturday! These people loovvvveee their cuppies. HeHeHe me too!

I am very grateful for the work I have gotten. I know people are having a hard time and are watching what they spend. But they do enjoy their sweets.

I don't sell really, just teach, but I am glad my fellow cakers are not experiencing any hardship. Smart people will continue to try to spend as they can. Bigger corp's I can understand the cut back, but everyday people just shop smarter.