I have a store display for my home business in a bridal store....I thought it was great!!! I bought a table cloth and made a display cake and got photos and framed them and even put up business cards and graduation flyers....Well.....I told the ladies in the store that I would give them freebie mini cupcakes for their customers for prom pick-ups in exchange for the free space and such....Well I went in to ask what kind of freebies they wanted and only to find one of my 5x7 framed photos was stolen and they have no idea where it went to....Well I said okay..I can't blame them for someone stealing....even though I was pretty upset...My husband said to completely pull the whole display he was so upset. I went back in with the freebie mini cupcakes and conviently pulled all the pictures because it was taken up space for the freebies....I haven't put them back in since because as I was standing their talking about an awful wedding mess I just did for a bride of theirs....THEY STARTED EATING ALL OF THE FREEBIES!!!!!!! The display had been in their for over a month and I haven't got a single order out of it.....I want and probably should pull the display because after I went back in about a week ago to show them a new idea I have I saw that MY table cloth was covered with their pictures and my flyers and biz cards where pushed over and scrunched over with my display cake into a corner of the table...This had turned into a nightmare. I thought this was going to be good for business but it has turned awful....What do I do?!?!?!? Please help as to a good solution without burning a bridge....they are the biggest bridal store around...Help!!! TIA
I would pull the table. You can either explain why to them while smiling really big.
OR tell them that you think the table has been there long enough for now. Maybe before fall you'll think about doing it again.
I would have probably asked why they were eating the freebie that were for customers, then knocked all of their stuff in the floor "accidently".
I agree, the best thing to do is to do no explanation just that you're going to come by after prom season and pull everything out (leave the business cards 
).. The thing is, as you've said it hasn't fielded you one call, so it's really not producing the results of having your stuff walk off. It also just isn't likely to produce a lot of results unless you do a dummy up that is next to the display of the gown that matches the cake. Keep the departure from doing the display at the bridal shop a positive! Also, for the future, when you do a display like that, only use stuff that you don't mind disappearing. For example, get a stand from Good Will or a garage sale, do just a small basic photo album, or, just have the photos in a brochure that brides can take home with wedding cake etiquette articles.
HOWEVER, don't get in a tissy about the staff eating the cupcakes!!! They ARE your word of mouth advertising for now into the future! Word of mouth advertising IS the least written about yet the most profitable form of advertising. Remember, people in the wedding industry talk not only ABOUT brides, but we talk to brides and give recommendations to other vendors all the time. Just as we know all of the florists, coordinators, caterers, reception halls, etc. The bridal shop just happens to be earlier on the food chain.
oh yes, I would definitely remove your display.
Not only is it not working for free advertising, but things have been stolen.
That would be enough for me right there!
I agree with CoutureCake.
You do not want to burn a bridge, but you also want to handle the whole situation as proffessional as possible even though it seems not to be working out as first planned.
You have a great idea. It is unfortunate that the bridal shop doesn't share your plan for a positive result for both partys.
Use items that are less expensive to replace possible stolen items and I like the idea of using flyers with color pictures to advertise your cake. I think brides, Mums & other customers will be more willing to take a well done flyer than a business card.
I for one pickup business cards, but unless I write why I picked up the card on the back, I forget why I picked it up in the first place. Sad to say...
If you have a good working relationship with the local florists, you could ask them to put some of the flyers or business cards on their counter or into their reference books.
Don't be too upset over the cupcake issue. It only takes one person to bad-mouth your actions or cake to ruin a well laid plan.
Remember, they are in the business of promoting their products not yours... sorry if that stung, but unless the store manager/owner has given instructions to the employees to follow (cupcake/customers), there's not to much to get upset over.
Hopefully the owner didn't give a bunch of lip service about how he/she will help you with your business and then hasn't come through on what he/she said they would do.
I wouldn't give up on your idea. It's just a bump in the road. Consider down sizing your display, but don't give up.
If you do pull the display, which are dummy cakes. Take it apart and make a new one in a different design. Take a picture and add it to your photo list for wedding cakes.
Although you are frustrated with the whole situation, it is a good idea. Free adverstising beats paying for it, but remember Free goes both ways.
The work you put into your advertising will pay off in the long run... Sorry the race is a little longer than expected.
Just one gals opinion.
Could you just have a pedestal stand with a cake on and a box of business cards? That way there's no room on your display table for them to mess up, no cakes to eat - just your lovel display cake and cards if people want to pick one up?
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