I'm Baaack! Need Some Advice!? Please!
Decorating By step0nmi Updated 9 Aug 2007 , 7:20pm by step0nmi
(I guess I posted this in the wrong thread before!)
Ok! I have been off of here for 2 days now and I can't believe I survived!!! LOL My computer had a surge go through it the other night which took out all the lights and the cable router and telephone router with it! Soo today I have internet again!!! Yeah! But, no phone. I am telling the place that they need to send a new one but, NO ONE LISTENS TO ME!! (the lights were okay it was just pitch black in the house and we had to flip the circuits back on!)
Ok! So good news! I turned on my voicemail though all this and I'M GLAD i DID! I had a message from a woman interested in me doing her wedding cake!! Wahooo! It's for next summer but, the cool thing is she was referred to me by a local photographer that had some of my cake at our local coffee shop. He said that he was going to refer me to brides and..HE DID!
So, I haven't spoken to her yet but, her voicemail said she wanted some more "information".
What do I tell her and NOT tell her about my cakes? I have never done a wedding cake...yet! I am not sure if I will keep her as a customer if I tell her " Well, the pricing depends on how difficult the design and what fillings you have and the type of frosting you have" I think I loose people every time I tell them this!
I am just now starting to get some prices going but, know I need to raise them. Anyway!
ANY advice or tips on how to speak to my 1st wedding customer would be great!
What did you do for your first wedding cake? How should I start! ahh!
I KNOW I can do this! I guess I just want to be prepared for when I call her back! (if I ever get my phone working again! )
Thanks for listening and any advice you guys give! You all are the greatest and I am soo glad I am back on CC!!! 
Congrats on your first consult!
The biggest thing to remember is that you are supposed to be the expert in this situation so you have to be prepared accordingly. You can't let them push you around about pricing and such. That being said you need to be able to tell her wedding cakes start at xx and go from there depending on basic vs premium flavors and design choices, etc. Then you need to see what she has in mind and go from there to set a price. Don't be tempted to lower your prices or do something you know in your gut you'll regret just because you are excited about doing your first wedding cake. We've seen that too many times on here!
You need to know your pricing, serving sizes(making sure they understand just because you want a cake for 100 you might have to get a cake for 90 or 120 depending on how the servings work out), delivery fees (if any), have a contract (there is a pretty good one on earlenescakes.com) that you can customize.
That's all I can think of right now! But I'm sure there's more!
d
Thanks! Those are some good tips there!
I am thinking about setting a base price. Per serving right? I am thinking $2.00 if it's bc and $3.00 or $4 if fondant. Depending on what fondant I use.
Now, I am kinda new to decorating. What would make it sound like I know a lot about wedding cakes? Should I refer her to look on CC? I am scared that if she finds something amazing that I am not going to be able to do it!? I know that I can do a lot of things and most of the time people are like "whatever you like" but, I don't want them to be like that!
Should I tell her that I can do a sample for her after I found out what type of flavors she likes?
Do I OFFER UP that I can do a sampling?
Thanks again dodibug! I am going to look up that contract right now!
i would ask her what things she had in mind for the cake design and tell her that with that information you will come up with a sketch of the potential cake and an estimate for it all. i would say something like "prices vary depending on the complexity of the design and size. no 2 cakes are ever the same and that all your designs are created especially for each bride" or something like that. i read something to that effect on duff's website. you can give her a estimate of cakes range any where from $3-$5 per serving or whatever.
You're welcome!
I personally wouldn't refer her to CC. There is so much here to look at it can be overwhelming. Plus, most brides really have an idea in mind. Ask her to bring pics of things she likes, her invitation, etc so you can get an idea of the theme/feel of her wedding. Those are always good places to start for ideas/inspiration.
Some people charge for samples and others don't. Because I'm not super busy with tons of orders I offer to do 2 flavors. I make 4in sample cakes and let them take them home to try so they don't feel pressured having me watch them eat. Also if they want to try more than 2 flavors then they can pay!
As far as making it sound like you know wedding cakes, it's really a matter of knowing cakes and you have some pretty cakes on your site so you should be fine.
Oh, I forgot-always ask about the topper. If they are using a topper it can affect the size of the top tier! And ask if they are planning to save the top for their anniversary or serve at the wedding. If they are saving I tell them I will provide a box and instructions for them.
I'm sure I'll think of more! lold
Yeah...I think I want to ask her a few questions before I get into it all. I would probably need to see some samples of what she would be liking as well.
My problem is that I LOVE to talk! I will try very hard not to do that on the phone for this one! I am soo excited!!
Thanks dodibug! I LOVE all of your advice! ANYTHING you can think of would be great!
I like the idea of sending them home samples. So what would i do? Like a chocolate and a vanilla with regular butter cream? I am thinking cause it's a summer wedding to do the crusting bc. It's ALWAYS hot here!
Thanks again!
I usually steer people to the kinds of things I CAN do. I ask them what they have in mind and then I come up with pictures of cakes that are within my skill set either from CC or the web.
Every time I meet with someone I feel like such a fraud because of some of the incredible cakes that are on this site. I always think to myself what if they ask me for (fill in something amazingly hard). . . but it hasn't happened yet.
Be confident and steer the choices in the direction you feel most comfortabel with. Like someone else said you are the expert even if you don't always feel like one.
I list my prices on my website - and when someone calls me, I like to refer them to my website (I tell them to look at photos and flavors - but really want them to see my pricing so they can either call back - or not if they can't afford me). I don't like being in the situation of having to defend my prices... I charge what I charge, and if you don't like it, take your business to Wal-Mart. 
You can refer them to a website, or list prices on your business cards, carry brochures... whatever you need to do to let people know that it is a SET PRICE - and you charge everyone the same.
I am currently in the process of creating another page on my website entitled "Before you call..." I want people to be prepared for the questions I'm going to ask, and give an explanation of why I ask what I do. (I'm not asking what their budget is so I can fleece them, etc. LOL!) I think giving them a brochure to look through and giving them things to think about so they know what to expect, what to have planned beforehand (bring color samples, invitations, photos of cakes you like, or whatever you want matched) and what to ask you...
Giving them this information beforehand will make things less stressful on you, and let them save face if they can't afford you - and it looks so gosh-darn professional.
I like to e-mail as much information as possible before meeting with someone as well. I can copy/paste my policies, prices, questionaires... and never have to speak with someone who may not even order from me. (I loathe ringing telephones)
Good luck!
I like the idea of sending them home samples. So what would i do? Like a chocolate and a vanilla with regular butter cream? I am thinking cause it's a summer wedding to do the crusting bc. It's ALWAYS hot here!
Thanks again!
You're welcome again!! I let them pick the two from my list of flavors. And yep a crusting bc(def not an all butter bc) or even fondant are great choices for the heat.d
Spend time getting information from her. Ask her how much she has budgeted for her cake, how many people she has invited, (not to be confused with how many will actually come!) The formality of the wedding, indoors or outdoors, date of wedding (aka how darn hot will it be?), wedding colors or theme....
Ask her if she has any photos of cakes she has in mind or sketches.
I have never met a bride who doesn't get all excited talking about her wedding. 
From there, steer her into the oven and seal the deal with a small sample, if you like.
Have a contract ready to go with spaces for her to fill in all of her information and that of pertinent folks.
Wow! there is soo much to think of!
The only reason I don't have set prices yet is because I am just starting! And I have never done a wedding cake for anyone! I don't know if set prices would bring anyone to me in this area. And...I am not legal. I don't know if she would like that either! I get so worried all the time about this kind of stuff but, if they are okay with it then, so am I! I am going to make a list of things to ask her first and then see if I can get into email with her. That is easier for me also!
Thanks again for all the advice!
I don't know if set prices would bring anyone to me in this area.
You can't think like this or you'll lose money left and right. Everyone has set base prices from Colette Peters all the way down to wal-mart! You have to have a minimum or you'll never cover your basic expenses for your basic flavors/designs. You have to look at what your area will support, your skills level, what your recipes cost, etc to set your prices. Also you can expect to charge more if you specialize like all organic or something like that.d
I don't know if set prices would bring anyone to me in this area.
You can't think like this or you'll lose money left and right. Everyone has set base prices from Colette Peters all the way down to wal-mart! You have to have a minimum or you'll never cover your basic expenses for your basic flavors/designs. You have to look at what your area will support, your skills level, what your recipes cost, etc to set your prices. Also you can expect to charge more if you specialize like all organic or something like that.
d
Well, the thing that I meant was that I can't put set prices on my website. I do have a basis of what everything costs for me. I triple that and then I charge $10 for the hour I will be doing the design on basic cakes. If it's sculpted I charge for the basic amount of cake, times that by 4 then I charge extra for the design and any additions like fondant or gumpaste accents. I think this fits me very well right now. The bakeries in my area are soo low. I am just glad that people are willing to pay the prices I have given them!
If I put them on my website then I am selling and then I really look like a home business which is a no, no in my area. But, I don't have a choice but to charge people because I am a full time student in college and I need the money! It costs money!
Hey Steph............I would get as much from her first, so you know what you are dealing with...........let her see pics of what you HAVE done, but also, get her information too, so you know what you CAN do for her........like dodi said, get the contract together, pics, any info up front, so you look professional.........
OK. So I have decide I am going to tell her I am starting at $3.00 perserving.
Now....I just called her! That was a breakthrough!!! Her wedding is at the end of June and she said it's for like 250 people! Wow! Possibly my first cake and it's is a crazy amount of people!!! Thanks guys for all your help. She was very understanding that I was an up and coming baker. The photographer said my cake was the moistest cake he's ever had!!! Wow! Our bakeries must stink! GOOD for meEEE!
Thanks again!
step0nmi
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