Do You Provide Candles With Your Birthday Cakes?
Decorating By jen1977 Updated 17 Jul 2006 , 4:40pm by AgentCakeBaker
i amost posted this same question myself in the cake business forum under the "give promos away" thread...
I did a little research on this idea and, like the baby bibs, couldn't find a source of supply for candles that were cheap enough. -- looking to keep the cost under $1 and better yet under 50 cents for candles.
It's an interesting idea. certainly as business grows larger could offer selection of themed candles for sale at extra cost.
There are several "Just a $1.00" stores here and they carry some candles. Are there any where you live? There is also a Card and Party Factory but the candles are more than $1.00...the selection is great...all kinds.
I don't provide candles mainly because I forget, but sometimes I hate to stick them into my creations...LOL!!!
I include basic candles i usually do the same amount of the birthday so 3 for a 3yr old but for double figures i usually do the last digit say 28 i would put 8 or if its 20 two.
I only do this as i find people tend to forget candles when their not actually buying a cake in the shop.
Ihave'nt as yet offered themed candles and idea though but i would charge for these.
I also include the board (i find people often return these so not losing out) but charge extra for a box as i usually deliver to a house so it's not needed.
Hope this helps i have often wondered what people include for their price.
Nicole
I usually ask them if they want candles.....depends on the birthday too.....I won't provide 50 candles (unless they pay extra), but I do provide say 1 for a 50th birthday. I personally would rather put them in myself so they can be placed on the cake where they don't interfere with the design. If nothing else, pad your price by a couple of bucks and just tell them you are throwing in the candles!
I do provide candles, unless they want a whole bunch, then I let them. I keep an eye out for sales. Sometimes Hobby Lobby, Big Lots, Kroger, etc will have some on clearance and I grab them up. I got some really neat large ones (about the size of straws) at Big Lots not long ago for 49 cents for a dozen. One big candle in the center is pretty neat. I also look for odd candles - squiggly ones, etc. Even at regular prices, I can use, say 3 on a cake and people like them because they are different and I can get 4 cakes out of a box. I put them in a ziplock and tape it to the front of the cake box. Usually the cake is too tall to put candles on and put it in a box. If not, I'll pipe a star where the candles go and put them in myself.
I just did some looking on the net (not wanting to work today). The best place I found was partyoptions - has bulk package of BD candles 250 for 4.99. Even with shipping they come out to less than .05 per candle. They have all sorts of other candles to.
Just FYI.
I provide candles for all my cakes. I went to my local dollar store and found quiet a variety of candles and some were even in bulk packages. I think my cost ends up being just a few pennies for them and most of my customers seem to always forget candles so it is a little something extra that they don't have to worry about.
I don't supply candles, but I like to throw in a cake sparkler. (like sparklers for 4th of july, but specially made for cakes)
I bought a few pkgs at the OSSAS last year. I found the little ones are best (cupcake size) The longest ones burn way past the singing of "happy birthday"
They are supposed to be ashless. But the larger ones did leave some black dots on the cake. The little ones were fine.
They cost about a dollar for 6 or 8 and they have shaped ones also.
I just tape the sparkler to the top of the box and they can use it if they like.
I provide the candles for a novelty birthday cake like an over the hill etc..as I incorporate the candle into the design but as for kids birthday cakes...I don't!! Unless I am asked and I will but I add the cost of the candles on to the price of the cake!!
I don't supply candles unless it is requested and I add the price of the candles to the cake price.
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