I recently got a job at the local flower shop-very small but I am thrilled! My boss is great very relaxed and willing to teach me. She's very supportive of my cake decorating and is going to let me put displays in her window.
On to my issue:
I made this candy tree at home. I bought the chocolates, the tin and she gave me the styrofoam form that has been lying around the shop since the shop was built (it was pretty old). I went home and made this tree. I was excited so I brought it to the shop to show her. She liked it (but later admitted that she didn't think it would sell) said it turned out great and to put it in the front window. She then said she would pay me for the chocolates and the tin ($40.00). My mouth dropped! I was expecting to sell it to her and then she could mark it up and sell it to whomever....
The tree did sell within a couple of days to some ladies at a bank. Now word is out about these "trees" and people want to order them but they are calling her instead of me 
She wants me to look for the styrofoam and tins and then I make them and she just reimburse me. My husband told me not to make any more for her and I do agree but she is a really good boss. I do feel this was my idea (actually Martha Stewarts) but I should be making something off of this........I did attach my card to the original tree and gave extra cards to the ladies at the bank but they still called her....
What should I do?
I was thinking of making up some small ones and giving them to the other bank in town and have my cards on display.....
What would you do????
Tammy
You should probably talk to the boss, but...If you make them on her time, she is entitled to the sales. You are being compensated by the wages. I know it may not seem fair.
If you take one to the other bank, you will be in direct competition to your boss. she will definitely not like it. Plus, she can easily do it herself.
You best bet is to get a couple of great display cakes, right next the candy tree.
hmm....that's a tough one. You got the exposure due to her shop but it was clearly your idea so her just expecting you to make them is not cool...... that said, speaking up may jeapordize your job. I don't like that she jumped right on that when you clearly have an entrepreneurial spirit and she knows it. I think she is taking advantage of you but unfortunately, if you are on her time as her employee and that is what she expects you to do, you don't have much choice unless you want to risk the job.
I would be livid! And to be really honest, I would not be able to stomach working there....seeing your idea come to life while she reaps all the reward.
If you take one to the other bank, you will be in direct competition to your boss. she will definitely not like it. Plus, she can easily do it herself.
Is that fair? She must have thought since you used her styro that the idea belonged to her..... this would drive me bananas...also, when you say she gave you $40, is that what your cost was? What were you expecting her to pay you? I forgot to ask about that...
Hmmmm, this is tough. But I understood you made this at home. Not at the shop. But you also didn't specify if you could put this in the window to sell on commission or if your boss is letting you put cake displays in the window and she expects to make money off of those too. Sounds like you will need to sit an talk with her about the expectations of these. I would NOT make any more until this issue is ironed out. I also think going to other banks might not be a good idea just yet. If your boss is as great as you say, talk to her!
Kayakado, I don't agree in this situation that is true. I work as a programmer, if I create a cake at home and bring it in, my company does not own it! The only gray area is the styrofoam, which the company supplied. She said she made this at home, how can the company take ownership?
I think you should just tell her that since this is a product you want to sell in the future with your cakes, you want to keep it your own. Then you will make them at home and sell it to her "wholesale"...then she can mark them up.
You won't use her time to make them and she will make a profit in the end for basically doing nothing but keeping it in the window.
If someone contacts you outside of her shop for one, then it is none of her business.
Yeah I would definately sit down and talk to her about this. I would say if she wants to provide all the materials and have you do them at work, then she should be able to sell them. However she needs to realize that if you are putting in ANY extra time outside of the shop, that you must be compensated for that somehow, and not just "reimbursement" for cost.
If it gets sticky I'd just tell her that you value her and your job and that maybe it would be better if you kept your business and your job seperate, including deciding against putting anything in her shop window....there's a way you could put it to make sure she knows you feel its best for BOTH of you and that you are making that decision in order to preserve your relationship.
Kayakado, I don't agree in this situation that is true. I work as a programmer, if I create a cake at home and bring it in, my company does not own it! The only gray area is the styrofoam, which the company supplied. She said she made this at home, how can the company take ownership?
Sweetflowers...I think Kayakado meant on company time......whatever you do at home is really nobody else's business....unless you have a contract that says so.
I think you should just tell her that since this is a product you want to sell in the future with your cakes, you want to keep it your own. Then you will make them at home and sell it to her "wholesale"...then she can mark them up.
You won't use her time to make them and she will make a profit in the end for basically doing nothing but keeping it in the window.
If someone contacts you outside of her shop for one, then it is none of her business.
This is a great idea!
The only hitch would be if somehow the shop owner has misunderstood and thought that the rights to the tree were somehow hers...
if she supplies you all materials and you make them "on the clock" in the shop, then let her sell them for whatever she wants. You're still getting paid for your time. But if you're making these at home, then you should mark up your cost to her and she can mark up for resale. You're not working for free or just out of the goodness of your heart! You're in it to make money. I would have a talk with her before things got too far and she should understand that you want to make a profit too. Otherwise, just say you don't have time to do them becuase your busy with your cake business but you'd be willing to do them while working in the store. Just my 2 cents.
BTW - I'd be p.o.'d too - she said it wouldn't sell and now that it has, she wants to take credit for it - not right!!
aven68 wrote: "I think you should just tell her that since this is a product you want to sell in the future with your cakes, you want to keep it your own. Then you will make them at home and sell it to her "wholesale"...then she can mark them up.
You won't use her time to make them and she will make a profit in the end for basically doing nothing but keeping it in the window.
If someone contacts you outside of her shop for one, then it is none of her business. " sorry I don't know how to use the quote from another note.
I agree. Still comes down to talking with your boss. Too bad the people who got your cards didn't contact you directly.
Hi Tammy!
I'd be put off by the whole thing too. I would probably tell her that it was meant to be part of your cake side-business, (especially since it's food-related). I don't think that she should be just reimbursing your for the supplies, but she IS your employer so who knows how she'll react?....She may look at it as if it's part of her flower shop's business to provide 'candy bouqets', even though it was YOUR idea. That's a tough spot for you to be in! 
She's really taking credit for, and using your idea to benefit her own company....yuck.
It doesn't sound to me like the boss is trying to cut in on your turf. It sounds more to me like she wants to be the distributor in a joint venture. Talk to her about it. People are contacting her because it was purchased at her store and because she already has the name recognition. If she's as nice as you think, Im sure she will understand the situation. The two of you can come to agreeable terms, I'm sure.
Ok so here is my thoughts: I think you should talk to her about it. Maybe ask for some kind of commission off the whole thing. And this is why... At the job I am at I get paid from business A however one of the owners opened another business and expected me and the other manager to run it without being paid. We sat down with him and told him that we didn't think it was fair to be doing all this other work plus the work we had to currently do and not get paid for it. Surprisingly I got a 200.00 per month raise. Maybe you can just sit down with her and tell her what you original thought was regarding the tree. The worst thing she can say is NO. All I can say as being a boss myself is "It never hurts to ask." And knowing my bosses if they can get something for free they will.
HTH
Thank you all very much!
I don't know why I am being such a chicken about talking to her about this. I guess I don't want her to think I'm being greedy in any way but I also think I should get something for this as it was intentionally going to be part of MY business. I did do this out of my home and Cakediva, yes the $40.00 was my cost so I never made any money off of it and to boot she wants me driving everywhere from 1/2 an hour away to 2 hours away to pick up supplies for her to do this....well, I would probably be the one doing it. I don't think she is willing to pay my gas or mileage.
I do have to say she is a good boss and I'm sure she'll understand from a business point of view.
I am keeping this as part of my business and will make sure she knows that.
If I had done this at her shop and I was getting paid for it I would not complain at all, but it was done from my home. She had given me the styrofoam form because it was so old and just taking up room.
Tammy 
I guess I am going to be in the minority here. I would not contract outside to make any. That is the surest way to undermine your relationship with her. I know our local banks deal with the local people because we deal with them too. If you go behind her back to contract these, maybe the banks won't think you are a person of integrity and not order your cakes? Which is your main business.
I think if you sit and have an honest converstion about wanting to wholesale to her, she will be fine with that. But please don't do anything to jeopardize your reputation.
People will remember what kind of business person you are long after the candy has been eaten.
You are very right justducky! I won't be doing that because I don't want to have that sort of rep! I will be having a talk with her, I don't think she realized I was doing this from my business, she was thinking of hers which is not meant in a bad way, we are just two people with business's.
Thanks for your input!
Tammy
Just wanted to ask if you can give us an update as to how it goes whenever you talk to her....I am really curious as to the outcome and I hope it all works out for you 
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