Good Grief, Another Pricing Question
Decorating By chocomama Updated 28 Feb 2007 , 10:34pm by whyteicing
I was just called by someone my husband works with to make a cake for her daughter's 16th bday party THIS Friday. (Like she didn't know she was going to need a cake. Grrrr...) She orders cakes for company functions from me and I always give a "company discount" of sorts and when she asked my hubby tonight if I could do the cake she also asked if she could get a discount and he told her she could. GRRRRRRRRRR... I have to speak with her tomorrow but this is what she wants: a two-tiered stacked white cake with BC icing (boring, IMO) with blue, red and silver stars (to match invites) to feed 50. It shouldn't be very difficult but I am so POd that she waited till now to request this that I almost feel like telling her I can't do it. I'm having a hard time coming up with a price b/c my DH will feel uncomfortable if I charge too much (in his opinion) but I'll be mad at myself (and him) if I undercharge. Oh, and the best part is that I'll have to drive the cake (assembled) to her office which is about 20 minutes away and then she'll have to drive it another hour to the party site. I told DH to tell her it may not make it (b/c traffic here can be rough with quick stops and starts on the highway of all places, esp. on a Friday during rish hour). She asked if she could assemble it herself, but then I woudn't be able to put a border around the top tier. Anyway, prices and any other advice would be appreciated! Thanks!
.... I'm having a hard time coming up with a price b/c my DH will feel uncomfortable if I charge too much (in his opinion)...
My hubby used to go around telling people that ".....she's going to have to raise her prices." I asked him "How much profit do I make on a wedding?" He replied, "I have no idea." I said.......
"My point exactly. So stop giving people your UNINFORMED financial perspective."
He doesn't go around telling people what HE thinks of my pricing anymore.
You do need to set your husband straight about quoting prices and offering discounts. He just needs to say "ask my wife". For a stacked cake I charge $2.50 per serving. That's for classic flavored cakes and buttercream as a filling. I charge extra for fillings and special cake flavors. For delivery I charge $30.00 for the first 10 miles and $1 per mile after that and it does include cake setup. I let them know that personal pick up and deliveries are at their own risk and if I have to drive out to fix a cake I also charge my delivery and set up fee for that. Since your husband said you would give a discount you could either offer a percentage off the cake or offer free delivery? Good luck!
Jacqui
Yep, DH and I are going to have a little chat. He just can't understand why people would pay so much for a cake when they can go to the store and get it cheaper, but that's the way he thinks - not everyone else - and he's going to have to mind his own business. I told him I was going to charge $2/person and he almost gagged, but I look at it like I would be doing a simple wedding cake, kwim, and that's what I would charge a bride. I'm not going to deliver it b/c of scheduling conflicts, but I will tell her that it will be a risky trip.
You go girl! I wouldn't say anything about it being a risky trip though. Just let her know that you will not be responsible for the cake once it leaves the door of your home. I actually put that on my receipts.
Jacqui
I'm sure you know this already but be sure to put a center dowel through the cake!
Jacqui
UGH!
STOP SAYING ITS JUST CAKE!!
not YOU, i mean everyone else!
and worse, your own HUSBAND is saying that!
people are FINALLY realizing that a specialty cake -custom designed and decorated- is more than just cake, i think in part because of those cake decorating shows all over tv now.
now that customers are seeing
A. what can be done, and
B. how long it takes,
they are finally "getting it".
frustrating to have the hubby sabotage you.
ANYWAY.
i would do the cake, but say only 'X' is available on such short notice, and she will have to assemble the cake.
can you wrap a fabric or fondant ribbon around the bottom of the top tier so theres no border necessary...?
If you dowel the cake (including running one through it) and put it in the fridge over night it should make the trip just fine.
My dh gave one price to a co-worker...I fixed him real quick. He told the guy I would make the cake for $20 
so when dh explained this to me I said "hand me your wallet real quick" and he did so I took out $30. He said "what the hell are u doing?" and I simply replied "charging you the difference". He NEVER quoted a price again.
As for discounts, I would tell her that you are giving the larger discount to the company because of the volume of cakes they order on a regular basis. Then when you give her the bill charge her $15 more than what you normally would and give her a $15 discount. If you put it in black and white they feel like they are getting a discount. I would also charge for delivery...why would you deliver any cake under $300 for free?
My dh gave one price to a co-worker...I fixed him real quick. He told the guy I would make the cake for $20
so when dh explained this to me I said "hand me your wallet real quick" and he did so I took out $30. He said "what the hell are u doing?" and I simply replied "charging you the difference". He NEVER quoted a price again. 
You're my hero! Well, actually, I don't even have a husband to do this to me, but on behalf of all the stories I read on here by wives with husbands that pull these tricks, you are my hero! 
Laura
My DH HAS done the same thing. Notice the past tense there. He would take orders for me, and just offer a quote out of the sky. My final straw was when he quoted a 1/2 sheet cake for $15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are you crazy??? My basic 1/4 sheets START at $28!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL. I finally fixed him. He's an electrician, and I joked with him telling that I quoted a customer (made up this story) $100 to rewire his ENTIRE home! LOL. That got his goat. Now, he just takes messages and let's people know that I'll call them back asap. Funny how that works for one, and not the other, eh? LOL.
I just spoke with DH on the phone and told him to stop talking about discounts and costs and things he knows nothing about. We'll see how long this lasts. Anyway, I've never done a center dowel and I'm nervous about that. Ugh. I hate last minute things like this.
Don't worry, center dowels are easy...just sharpen it in a pencil sharpener and tap it through the entire cake after its assembled.
I would definately not charge anything under $2/serving, I start mine at $2.50 for a bare basic cake and it goes up from there.
Also I have found refrigeration helps TONS for traveling! I used to have dreadful fears about transport but now that I refrigerate my stuff it has put my mind at ease and my cakes have always arrived in perfect condition....I have even had customers pick up 3D cakes and so far, so good.
My husband is good about money in the fact he wants to make sure if I am putting out the work, that I am bringing in the dough! Maybe if you show your husband how much it is costing you BOTH to make these cakes, both in time AND in money, he will not be so quick to offer these things for a discount. Show him how the money is coming out of HIS pocket (if you share finances) and that might change his thinking.
People just crack me up waiting until 3 days before they need the cake to order - do they think we are just sitting around with nothing else to do or perhaps that baking, decorating, and assembling a cake not to mention the clean up happen with the shake of a wand? 
Ok, back to the question at hand. I would price out the cake just like you normally would for a stacked cake for 50. Don't sell yourself short, it might just be butter, sugar and eggs but they don't put themselves together. Yes I would charge a delivery fee and I would also tack on a rush job fee because in truth this is a rush job on a stacked cake no less. From there you can take a discount if you are feeling generous but I don't think you are obligated to do so - call me crazy but I have a feeling if she walked into your local cake place they wouldn't give her a discount just because and I am guessing she might not even be able to get a custom cake on with this short a notice. Hope it helps, let us know what happens.
chocomama:
Repeat my infamous line to a mirror until you can say it to your husband with a straight face.
"I am an artist and I am expensive."
These are the first words out of my mouth when anyone, and I mean anyone asks me about making one of my creations.
This tends to be a women's art and traditionally the world has sorely underrated, undervalued and underpaid for our talent and our creations!
"I am an artist and I am expensive."
This is my new mantra!!! thank you!
Well, I spoke with the mom and told her I would normally charge $100, but would discount it to $87.50, but then would have to add a rush fee which would bring it back up to $100 anyway. She asked if I could do a 1/2 sheet cake for less and I said I could so that's what I'm doing. She's happy, I'm happy and I won't worry about the cake sliding during transport.
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