would you think $45 is waaaaaaaay to expensive for this cake? I heard a couple saying "it is an outrageus price!!" So my boss priced it $35 the next day...
It's a chocolate cake, with raspeberry preserve filling, chocolate ganache frosting and accents in fondant.
12 ppl serving
(it's a wilton pan, I totally hate it, sooooo many details and you need to frost every single one.. ouch! took me 2h just for frosting and decorations..)
I would price it at $50. Is the skeleton edible? Add another $15.
So your boss prices his cakes based on if some random customers complain that the price is too high? How long has he been in business???
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I would price it at $50. Is the skeleton edible? Add another $15.
So your boss prices his cakes based on if some random customers complain that the price is too high? How long has he been in business???
I know right? yes the skeleton is fondant, so edible.. I told him not to low the price, but what can I say.. ??
He's rather have many orders for a little less money to grow the business..
i don't believe that 45$ is a outrageous price, but it might be to high a little...is't a 3D cake (even if it's a wilton pan cake), frosted in ganache, fondant decorations, spider figurine etc...i think that 35$ is a good price...it's 3$ per serving.
When i go to a restorant, i buy a piece of cake for 3.50-4$ and it's not even decorated.
I guess, it's also depends on your location.
It's only my point of view :)
I sell cakes from my round wilton pans.
If it's the coffin shaped pan without the skeleton, it might be okay only because it's a shape, not a character.
I would charge $50 as well.
I have that pan. The skeleton is a part of it. But I guess it isn't a licensed character so I don't know abut that...Good point Norasmom
OP, didn't you see this coming from a mile away when you posted about taking this job a month ago? So your boss wanted you to price cakes for him, but he didn't want to take the advice??
Changing him, teaching him, advising him, etc. is all futile, if he just asks customers what they want to pay. Just give up now while you still have your sanity.
And to the new people reading this thread, the low prices being tossed about are sarcasm. :)
Liz
AI would say that it shouldn't take you even half that long to decorate that cake and $35 is more reasonable. Also, I wouldn't use fondant for the skeleton, buttercream would work fine and be quicker.
Well, I don't know what he's paying you, but let's just say $12/hr. So, just the decorating cost him $24.
Let's say that mixing, pan prep, electricity, ingredients, insurance, gas, rent, board, etc. ran him another $6.
If he's happy with a soft $5 "profit", why argue with him as long as you're getting paid?
Now, with such poor business practices, you may not have that job for very long....
Always make sure that you're paid off the top because you might show up to work one day to find the doors padlocked........
Sometimes, you can't save people from themselves. It's important to know when to stop trying and to use that effort to protect yourself.
its not legal to sell from a wilton pan. where is that disclaimer? so if i have a 9' round wilton pan, can't sell that cake.?
not following this logic.
plus I think that cake is worth $45...less than 4 per serving. ganache isn't cheap (depending on chocolate used)
AYou cannot sell cakes made from the copyright character pans, but the non-licensed pans are free to use however you like. This would include generic ghosts, skeletons, etc. I'm sure Wilton lists which pans are acceptable to use for sale.
AIf you look at their pans, they distinguish "for home use only" when they are not able to be sold commercially.
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Well, I don't know what he's paying you, but let's just say $12/hr. So, just the decorating cost him $24.
Let's say that mixing, pan prep, electricity, ingredients, insurance, gas, rent, board, etc. ran him another $6.
If he's happy with a soft $5 "profit", why argue with him as long as you're getting paid?
Now, with such poor business practices, you may not have that job for very long....
Always make sure that you're paid off the top because you might show up to work one day to find the doors padlocked........
Sometimes, you can't save people from themselves. It's important to know when to stop trying and to use that effort to protect yourself.
fortunately the business is going pretty well, cakes are a very little part of it.. but your counts are totally write!
Anyways, yes I took me around 2h but it wasnt just for that cake, I try to do several things together. So let's say, with no interrupts, it will took me 1h ok? (it wasnt quite simple ganache the little spaces and smooth them out!!!)
I am trying to get them on the right direction, which is, in the first place, educate ur customers and don't let them tell you how much YOU should charge! I mean.. you don't go at the restaurant and start questioning why the chicken cost $15, while you want to pay $10!!!
long way to go indeed!
AYou need to break it down for your boss like it was above - the cost to make this cake was probably over $30 so he made $5 profit at best. Ganache, fondant, raspberry filling - none of them come cheap. And the $12 an hour you get doesn't account for the payroll taxes he has to pay on his side (I assume you don't get any benefits).
I'd like to see your clients go to Walmart and barter down the prices.
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fortunately the business is going pretty well, cakes are a very little part of it.. but your counts are totally write!
I find it hard to believe the owners are costing out and pricing the other desserts/pastries any better than their cakes. That's not logical. You either understand costs and mark-up or you don't.
I'd say $25. It's not that big of a cake if it serves 12. Yes, the skeleton is in fondant, but it's a simple skeleton. There doesn't seem to be anything else there that screams "charge more" in terms of other decoration/embellishment.
I love chocolate and raspberry together, btw
A
Original message sent by Stitches
I find it hard to believe the owners are costing out and pricing the other desserts/pastries any better than their cakes. That's not logical. You either understand costs and mark-up or you don't.
That's assuming the owners can actually measure their profitability. They may just be looking at revenue, which doesn't really tell you how successful your business is.
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That's assuming the owners can actually measure their profitability. They may just be looking at revenue, which doesn't really tell you how successful your business is.
Yeah, well when your deposits aren't more than your debits in your bank account, you'll figure things out, quickly!
A
Original message sent by Stitches
Yeah, well when your deposits aren't more than your debits in your bank account, you'll figure things out, quickly!
What's that? The balance in the business account is getting low? No problem, just add some more money from the personal account! :top hat:
If your boss wants to sell in volume, I understand the price is low, $ 35, and you get your Commission as with other cakes, I guess.
A
Original message sent by embersmom
I'd say $25. It's not that big of a cake if it serves 12. Yes, the skeleton is in fondant, but it's a simple skeleton. There doesn't seem to be anything else there that screams "charge more" in terms of other decoration/embellishment.
I love chocolate and raspberry together, btw :)
Chocolate, cream, fondant and raspberries must be very cheap where you are!
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