jlynnw, did you say psychic powers or psychotic powers?
Edna, she has goddess powers, too?!?
I'm outta here....
Gail
I bet she has physco powers too! I heard she can go MELVY at any time. Run, save yourselves! Pay homage to the goddess where ever you can!
Wow, I think she just went "MELVY"...come back Mel...we're sorry!
Gail
Screw all you guys, I'm goin' home. You know, I've been treated worse by better people, so... *sob* so... *gasp* so... just waaahhhhhh *running out of the room crying*
Wait a minute...I think we've been insulted....
...I still have a bucket for you!...lol
Edna
Ohhhh, that's evil! 
Funny...but evil! I like that in a person 
Gail
Oh, Mistress Mel, please tell us all about your new opportunity. This thread is all about you. All for you and we only want to hear about how things are good for you! Please tell us, we are truly sorry and we will place nice. Really we will, please come back and tell us all about you. We will miss you! 
jlynn, you are the back-stabbinest hoochie momma in this here forum! Hey, that's high praise really... if I address you with street speak, you know I like ya. Unless I am simultaneously slapping you while addressing you in street speak... then it's just a ghetto beat down and ain't nothin' you can do but cry fo' yo' momma! Course she ain't listenin' cuz I fed her pudgy butt some wicked good cake. Sorry!
jlynn, you are the back-stabbinest hoochie momma in this here forum!
Hey, that's high praise really... if I address you with street speak, you know I like ya. Unless I am simultaneously slapping you while addressing you in street speak... then it's just a ghetto beat down and ain't nothin' you can do but cry fo' yo' momma! Course she ain't listenin' cuz I fed her pudgy butt some wicked good cake. Sorry!
ok...this had me cracking up.. ...I love the hoochie momma combined with the getto beat..
Edna
Hahahaha, I do what I can!
So, seriously, what would you do if someone walked up to you and handed you the key to a pretty little building that had plenty of retail space, a modest but usable (already licensed) kitchen, and told you that you could do whatever you wanted in it and all you had to pay were the utilities you used? No rent, (but she maintains ownership of the building)she keeps paying the insurance, property taxes, etc. at her own loss. And she takes no 'cut' of what you sell, you have no financial obligation to her whatsoever beyond the utilities. And it's not a shared space, you get the whole building all to yourself. And... the icing... if you get into it and a few months down the road hate it, you can walk away scot free, having invested nothing, no contract to keep you there or make you financially responsible for anything. On the flip side, if after 6 months you find it to be prosperous and you love it, she will be willing to sell you the building if you choose. Is this like a dream? Is this woman insane? She was running it as a gift shop and tea room, and has even stated that if I want to continue to sell the gift stuff she'd hook me up with her wholesalers, and as for the stock that is currently in the store, if I want to keep it in there and sell it (remember, she's already paid for it) she will split it with me 50-50. And she doesn't mean the profit. If something sells for 10, I get 5, she gets 5. 
She said she essentially just wants the wholesale amount that she paid and I get to keep the profit part and can reinvest it into my biz. Do things like this really happen? 
The back story: She has been running this place for many years, put 60k into it for renovations, etc. Now she has just started having grandkids, she wants to retire, but she doesn't want the building to sit empty. (Small town) She is so desperate to have a biz in there that she is willing to do this. And she specifically wants me in there. She is super impressed with my work and thinks that I am 'just what this town needs'. 
So sweet! Oh, it also has an outdoor area with tables and flowers, etc. I could do cakes of course, but it's also licensed that I could serve food there. People could congregate and relax, etc. During nice weather they can go out onto the patio-like area, etc. I could serve whatever type of stuff I want, be it just coffee and cinnamon rolls, or full food menu! She also said she'd happily sell it to me for some insanely low amount if I should choose to at any point.
Hmmm... I have a lot to think about.
recovering from the beat down, sorry to be a back stabber. I guess that is my lot in life to be the slime of the earth that clung to your shoe!
I think this lady see that you have talent and may need a hand up. She had the place and it worked for her. She is now willing to give you the opportunity she had. If you don't like it, you can walk. What will the terms be like in 6 months. Is it really affordable for you? Is the time right for you? I would really like to say go for it. I also know not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but if it sounds to good to be true, I would do a bit of research and then try it. I am so excited for you. In all honesty, I know you don't seem to care for me but I do wish you the best of luck.
Going to bed to lick my wounds.
WOW! That really sounds like a dream come true! Listen to Edna and get it in writing!
See good things DO happen to good people!
Gail
Sounds like a great opportunity! Is it in your home town or would you have to move?
A lot to take in and think about for your family! 
Heck, you'll be so famous, hubby can stay home with the kids! Good luck in your decision. You'll probably be too busy for us little people if you decide to go for it.
In all honesty, I know you don't seem to care for me but I do wish you the best of luck.
O..M...G... that had better be sarcasm. You got all serious there for a minute, so I can't tell...
The best part is that it's only 2 realllly short blocks from my house. I mean, if I threw a rock really hard, I'd probably hit the front door. But with my luck, I'd hit the front window! 
But in good weather I'd just walk over there.
Just got back from vacation and was reading this thread. I have deduced the following:
1. Melvira, your cake turned out beautifully! It's gorgeous. Your work is fabulous and don't know why you were doubting yourself. KUDOS!
2. Not only are the most fabulous cake decorators on the planet on CC, but also the best group of ladies with the greatest sense of humor.
I really do love this place and all of you!
Best,
Karen
So, seriously, what would you do if someone walked up to you and handed you the key to a pretty little building that had plenty of retail space, a modest but usable (already licensed) kitchen, and told you that you could do whatever you wanted in it and all you had to pay were the utilities you used?
If I thought that I were capable of running a successful business (and I have a good feeling that you are 
), I'd say,
"Thank you, Fairy Godmother!!!!!!"
I can't wait to hear what happens -- it's not often that an opportunity like this falls in a person's lap -- take it and run!!!!!!!
OK, so it is walking distance from the house, so you will get your daily exercise in, as if working all day in a bake shop ain't enough. Close by for your babies. What about them, are they in daycare/school? Your son's surgery? Will you be able to take care of all of it. I know you are like a super hero, but will it be too much? We don't want to hear about you on the evening news! Listen to Edna, get it all in writing, every little detail. OK, now that that is out of the way, what are you going to call your shop? Will you have employees? Where do I send my application? Does the job come with daily or just weekly beat downs? What all would you do? Do you want to continue to serve food? The menu would be what, something similar to this party you did? Do they have many tea shop bakeries and the like around? OHHH so many questions.
Sarcasm? It is just one of the many services I offer!
Say thanks to your fairy godmother and see if she has family in my area!
You lucky, lucky girl! You'll regret it later if you don't at least try-- this kind of thing never happens! Awesome.
Exactly my feelings. I said to my hubby last night, "You know, in a month, someone could walk up to me and offer me the same or better... but how likely do you think that is?"
The good thing about the shop is that most of my work would continue to come from sources outside of town like it is now, so I would not be stuck having to keep a store front open for hours and hours every day. I could have it open any time I want for any walk-in biz, but that wouldn't be the main source of income. So it wouldnt have to take away too much from my SAHM-ness. That is my main concern, that Im still here for my boys as much as they need me, until they are in school, then I have my days free.
I have several businesses that want to buy from me for resale, but I've previously had to say 'no' because that is one of the limitations of my legality the way I operate now. So, those types of accounts would be the money makers. The handful of people that would want to sit in there and slurp coffee and nurse a single cinnamon roll for 2 hours would not be where the money is. (Think: Bluehairs playing cards for 2 hours but its cool because they were friends of my Gramma and would be supportive of me in this endeavor)
If I got into actually serving food, there are 2 sources of competition. We have one full service restaurant (that is closed on Mondays) in town and one gas station with a miniature kitchen that makes sandwiches, pizzas, etc. I don't really want to give them a ton of competition because we keep things friendly around here. I'm telling you, 500 people in this town, that's no joke. You dont crap where you eat! But I would be doing a completely different type of food, so I don't think I'd really be direct competition.
Opening to the public with food is really something that would come more down the line anyway, if I felt I wanted to do that. At first it would mainly be corporate accounts, and my continued cake customers. This would be a wonderful, attractive place to meet my brides, instead of in my kitchen.
I do have a couple people that are chomping at the bit to work for me, but that will all depend on how things are going. I've made it very clear that I can't afford to pay anyone YET. If the wholesale accounts are profitable, I may pay someone to deliver them. If I choose to do in-house food consumption I may pay someone to care for the customers. That person may be one in the same, it's hard to say.
Another idea that Ive kicked around for years is sort of a restaurant. I call it Take It or Leave It dinner service. Essentially, I cook what I feel like cooking that day and there is a sign or something letting you know what Ive got (voice mail msg you can call in to if you dont want to come over to find out) and then you decide if you want to take it or leave it. It would be mostly a carry out biz, perhaps even in-home delivery for the people in my town. I am an excellent cook, so it might be popular for people who are having to drive 30, 40, 50+ miles to get home after work and just want a decent dinner they dont have to cook. Options, options, I can see SO many options!
As far as names go, my current cake name is pretty durn lame because I wasn't all hardcore into it when I started using it. It was just a silly little notion I used... but if I am going to open a shop I want a cool name. I've looked into the availability of some pretty neat stuff, but I keep coming back to a few that strike me. Since I live (and the shop would be) in Lost Nation, I have kicked around ideas that include that name. In part or in whole. I just haven't really decided yet.
My, my, my... look who's wordy. Sheesh.
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