Hi.

I was brainstorming last night and came up with this idea. I was thinking of HOW I could bring people back to me after they got their cakes.

Well, I came up with this idea, and it can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.

When we bake cakes we sometimes seem to have extra batter, especially when we do those odd shapped pans or wedding cakes; I remember that I used to have small 3, 4 and 5 inch pans in the shop and I used to use them for the "tasting cakes".

But, what I came up with last night was this, whenever someone comes into the shop...take their personal information, name..addy..phone number and BIRTHDAY! Keep this info filed by the month of the birthday and then break it down by the day.

This may sound like work for some , but a great idea for others ( it all depends!)

Call your customer, who's birthday is in a few days and tell them they can come to you and pick up a "complimentary" birthday cake! You can make a 5 inch cake and put on a 6 inch board and keep it very simple, nice bottom border, small top border, whatever extra flowers you have and..presto.

Your customer would be so impressed that you remembered the occassion. If you would like to get fancier, you can bake those small cakes with mimimun batter so they don't rise out of the pans and make the same size ice cream cake and combine them together for a real spectacular cake...! and then you have an excuse to "FREEZE" them..hahaha.

I was always giving small free cakes away and was building up quite a clientel.

With a wedding cake, I'd send a small, packaged "HONEYMOON CAKE" most brides are so caught up in the wedding they do NOT eat and appreciate the nosh, plus it was also a great icebreaker for the couple..giggle.

Or if it was a second wedding with children involved I'd make a small cake with their children's name on it for the kids table

When it was a big party for a sibling, like a sweet 16 or quinceanera and the little sister would tag along to my shop and I'd see those big eyes, I would arrive with the party cake and a smaller box with a little cake, JUST for the birthday sister or brother!

The comments were wonderful...Little siblings would tell their parents that they wanted me to make their big cakes too!

For baby's first birthdays, I always send a cupcake. (sanitary reasons..lol) Let the baby drool on his or her own piece of cake...!! They can put a candle on that one and not have to worry about baby putting their little hands into the big, decorated cakes!

Another great idea I used to do quite often, I used to have "camp" accounts..I lived out in the country and there were many summer camps.

I made up a flyer and for 25 dollars I would bring in a 9x7 cake for the birthday child to share with his or her cabin. The cake was easy enough. After I iced the cake, I would AIRBRUSH it in FABU bright cool girl colors or FABU bright cool boy colors.....but the trick was always this...... instead of spraying out the airbrush onto a piece of paper towel...I'd spray the box! in swirls, circles...just any crazy design!!! (nicely done of course) Put a top and bottom white border and write with the white icing and put the cake in the "PARTY BOX" (which is what they started to call the brightly colored boxes! they would see me comming in the van and run in with me..lol) Tie every thing up with a curling ribbon.

This has been my signature, but you are most welcomed to use it if it suits your business. It's a little more work, but, believe me...Promotions like these are worth their weight in gold!

Thanks for a great idea!!!!!
traci

AWESOME Ideas!!

Berta

Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas!

It must be a pleasure to be your customer. Your ideas are great and thanks for sharing.

Believe me when I say that my camp accounts more than paid for my airbrush investment.

And I got the expensive one from AZTEC!..lol

You are great and very generous to share these ideas. I will keep these in mind. Thank you so much!! )

Those are great ideas. I love the one about the complimentary cake for birthdays. What a great way to keep the clients coming back.

great ideas!! I think i will do this to suit my business~ You are so thoughtfull.

I have an idea that came to me Saturday. Around my area we have quite a few "art galleries." They display art, but are more laid back and have shows about once a month. I had thought about doing a dummy cake to display and have cake to serve during one of the shows. It wouldn't be a paid for item, but it would have the potential to attract clients and get the word out.

Thought I'd share it in case others have the opportunity!

Of course, that means I have to get BETTER at my decorating.

Traci

I do the "Honeymoon cake"... a small 4 incher inthe flavor and filling they like or sometimes I will do chocolate dipped straberries instead. I put them in the small white boxes that wilton came out with and tie it with ribbon. I always put a thank you card on top also. I also do free smash cakes for 1st birthdays. It's usually a 6 inch one layer but sometimes if I have time I will make it an exact replica of the main cake, even tiered. Lots of fun!

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing.