the one who has the cookie shop...
I told her I will be willing to try decorated cookies (gotta remain competitive) for her to sell at the shop. I told her this yesterday and then they got a call yesterday evening asking if they do decorative cookies.
what I told her yesterday is that we can do them custom only and have a consultation. Her husband told the lady that caled that we would need to do a consultation and show her some "prototypes" of the design she is requesting (8 ball). I told him I didnt think that would be feasable since people usually make the batches fresh. how can we bake 3 cookies and decorate for this consultation?
how do u guys usually handle this? Evelyn? Bonnie? helen? anyone?
I usually have some icing made up, and some dough rolled and frozen, so if I get a "last minute" order I'm ready to go.
I don't think it's reasonable for you to make a prototype of each design someone might want, but you may want to consider making a few cookies, in different designs with different techniques, so they have samples to show customers. Talk to your friend who owns the shop about that. They would last for quite a while as representative samples of your work, if they're sealed up.
I made some cookies back in Feb. that I took in to my kids' school for the teachers. The principal got the last sunflower cookie on a stick, put it into a planter she had on her desk, and it still looks good today, LOL! Make sure nobody eats them - I certainly don't think they'd still be good (or safe) to eat after a week or two, but they LOOK good for a long time!
If you have the dough and icing ready, it doesn't take that much time to make up a few cookies, although there is drying time involved, esp. if you're using an icing like Antonia74's recipe.
I think it will be important to have some samples available so customers can see the quality of your work, but IMO it's not reasonable for them to expect to see a sample of the exact design they want, custom made, before they order.
Good luck!
Laura.
thank you! I was thinking about cookies representing what can be done, but like you said I have doubts that I would want to have "samples" for the designs they are considering. I guess once we decide what icing it would be helpful to have some frozen.
She would basicaly be selling these based on her reputation.. or at least that is my thought
what I told her yesterday is that we can do them custom only and have a consultation. Her husband told the lady that caled that we would need to do a consultation and show her some "prototypes" of the design she is requesting (8 ball). I told him I didnt think that would be feasable since people usually make the batches fresh. how can we bake 3 cookies and decorate for this consultation?
how do u guys usually handle this? Evelyn? Bonnie? helen? anyone?
Okay, so the husband misspoke. That's okay, it happens.
I just recently took a request from someone in NJ (I'm in Michigan). She wanted to know if I could do a certain shape with a certain design, on sticks, and what might it cost? After a few e-mails, she asked if she could get a sample. I charged her $7.50 for a 3 cookie sample. She liked what I sent, changed her idea from cookies on sticks to cookies without. She ordered 10 dozen, with 3-D calla lilies in white chocolate clay on them. We adjusted the design somewhat. I shipped them in pizza boxes packed with bubble wrap and packed in larger shipping boxes.
They arrived with only 4 or 5 cookies broken. She had about 11 more than she needed (because I shipped about a half dozen extra) before any breakage, so she was good to go. She sent me an e-mail indicating she was happy.
My suggestion would be to make up one batch of cookie dough. Make a representative selection of your cookies - lots of different designs, many different themes, etc. Take some really great digital photos - group the cookies together by theme (trains: engine, caboose, coal car; wedding: bride, groom, champagne glass, wedding cake; Valentine's Day/Love: hearts, cupids, lips; you get the idea). Gave a nice set of prints to your baker friend that show plenty of detail and let them get you orders from that. The biggest concern you should have is whether or not you have the particular cutter someone really wants. If you're worried about that, buy a kit so you can make your own cutters if you need a rush order and don't have time to order/buy what you need.
I have a photo or two of the heart cookies I made in the gallery. They are called Calla Lily Cookies. Hope these help.
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