Little Things That Set You Apart...
Business By i_heart_pastry Updated 28 Aug 2007 , 6:15pm by Bettycrockermommy
I am nowhere near starting a business yet, but as I've been looking around, I've seen several "little things" that different bakeries and decorators do to set them apart from the competition.
For instance, one very popular bakery offers free 6-inch anniversary cakes (replicas of the wedding cake's top tier) for the 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50th wedding anniversaries. I think this is genius! What a huge selling point for dreamy-eyed couples, and how many 25 or 50th anniversary cakes will they really end up making? (Or for that matter, how many 5 or 10 year cakes, given divorce rates these days?) Plus, it's like they're already putting the "repeat customer" idea in the heads of the bride & groom. Genius.
One thing I like to do with my cakes, is print out a pretty little sign that goes on my decorated cake board, under the cellophane (when I decorate a board in fondant, I use a laminated sign). For birthdays it usually says, "I hope your birthday is sweet," with a cute little graphic of a cake. Nothing big, but people always seem so happy to get that surprise when the cake is cut & served (I make the sign just a bit smaller than the cake and in colors that compliment the cake board). If I end up in business one day, I'll do that & be sure to have my business name with a "Hope you enjoyed your cake" or something similar printed on it.
So is there anything special or neat that you do to set yourself apart, or that you've seen others do? I'd love to have a list for "one day."
Bec
your hidden sign is a sweet idea! such a nice surprise, i love it!
here's a few things that i feel set me apart:
.details! i always sketch my cake designs and get approval before making it into cake
. i torte my cakes and use fillings and icings that are distincively unique to most people who are used to only ever having buttercream with a cake.
. bake everything from scratch
. sometimes i'll add a mini replica of the cake for the birthday individual http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=389023
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=388943
.wrap my cake box with ribbon and a personal handwritten tag
. i use glitter. its almost my signature! (i dont know of anyone in my vacinity that uses it ...unless of course its a cc member haha)
I collect cool, unusual, curvy, beautiful, sometimes tall candles and include five with a birthday cake for free.
I love this topic, Bec! Melysa, I have admired your cakes and love to hear what sets you apart. <<<<<<<Cheryl
We 'Keep it Simple":
For Cakes:
- No extra charge for different cake flavors.
- No extra charge for fillings
- No extra charge for design elements, such as basketweave
- No extra charge for fountain or stairs in the design.
- Cake cutting is included in our package pricing.
For Catering:
- No up-front phony-a$$ 20% "gratuity" charge, that is pretty standard with all caterers! (On a $2000 catering, this can add up to $400 to a bride's bill "just because"!)
- No extra labor charge for staffing, like other caterers .... it's included in the price.
- No extra charge for glass plates and real silverware, like other caterers ... it's included in the price.
Feedback from our brides tell us that our "package pricing" is a big draw for them. They dont' have to worry about little details .... we handle it ALL for them. Our cake package includes plates, forks, punch, cutting, linens, and more. We have a "Grand Reception" pkg that includes all the food at one price ..... appetizers, choc fountains, buffet, wedding cake .... brides LUV this! Fewer decisions for them .... all details handled!
If I had to summarize, it's the "keep it simple" philosophy that sets us apart. Some refer to it as the "here's what we can do for YOU" technique.
From the cookie side:
I always include a few extra cookies in an order in case any of the cookies break.
I am doing a bridal consult tomorrow for lobster cookies. I not only made lobsters for samples, I did a few special wedding cookies personalized for the bride.
I always include a thank you with an order....
I'll have to think of what else I do...this is a great thread. Love the idea of the hidden message on the cake board.
I guess because we specialize in cheesecake... that sets us apart. But, there is, I am told, my reputation for never turning down a dare... I have facilities that will send Brides and Grooms to me if they want something a bit "unusual" for their design. I don't know of anyone in our area that does what I do... Hmmm... as far as I know that is!!!
My shop colors are pink and brown. I did research before I opened and realized no one had pink boxes. Every cake leaves the shop in a pink box with a brown ribbon. I also put my logo sticker on everything. Everyone knows that they have my stuff when its in that box. Customers come in and say how much they love the boxes. My mother said it was a stroke of genius on my part. Sometimes I wonder what kind of condition her mind is in!HAHAHA
i use glitter. its almost my signature! (i dont know of anyone in my vacinity that uses it ...unless of course its a cc member haha
I use lots of glitter & luster dust whenever possible, but to camouflage my not-as-smooth-as-I'd-like buttercream. They just think it is my "signature"! 
I love the ideas of the note on the cake board and the handwritten note. Very personal touch, and at this point in my life, I am truly honored and excited that they wanted little ol me to make their cake. I'll try to remember to include it for the cake auction at our school this fall. "Thanks for supporting our school." would be pretty cool to see, and maybe a reminder of who made it for their future reference. I usually use freezer paper as my board wrap. What kind of cellophane are you using? I've only seen the clear stuff you use for wrapping gift baskets. Is that food safe?
My shop colors are pink and brown. I did research before I opened and realized no one had pink boxes. Every cake leaves the shop in a pink box with a brown ribbon. I also put my logo sticker on everything. Everyone knows that they have my stuff when its in that box. Customers come in and say how much they love the boxes. My mother said it was a stroke of genius on my part. Sometimes I wonder what kind of condition her mind is in!HAHAHA
ooh, i love that! i had been thinking of those cool pink boxes too.
OMG BBB1215, my shop colors are pink and brown too! My shop is called The Pink Pantry and I had a caricature made of me holding a cupcake. The walls are painted a coffee and cream color (its called apple sauce cake) and the kitchen and bathroom are pink. My curtains are a combo of pink brown and cream and my furniture is either cream ( my husband is a new home builder and he put in some fantastic shelving and cupboard units) or a maple color. Everything has a touch of me! The lights are stainless steel with crystals and I have matching sconces. I too have not been able to find pink standard boxes, so I am having so made as well as tissue paper. Sorry- I am on a tangent I am just so excited! Where's your shop?
I too have not been able to find pink standard boxes, so I am having so made as well as tissue paper.
they sell them here...
http://www.papermart.com/Templates/85-0-10.htm
[quote="melysathey sell them here...http://www.papermart.com/Templates/85-0-10.htm[/quote]
........I just like to shop..... Thanks!
Thanks Melysa! I think my tastings are pretty special. I set the table with china including the flatware and coffee cup- kinda like a wedding place setting I suppose. I put fresh flowers on the table and depending on the flavors of the filling/buttercream, I put whatever is in them on top ie- if it is raspberry butter cream, i put a raspberry, coffee a chocolate covered coffee bean. I serve coffee to cleanse the palate before each new flavor ( very similar to smelling perfume or fragrances). The idea is that my customer knows from the get go that I am professional and the aesthetics of the tasting doesn't hurt in making their decision. I have not had one person who has come to my tasting not choose me to do their cake.
What kind of cellophane are you using? I've only seen the clear stuff you use for wrapping gift baskets. Is that food safe?
I was wondering this myself. I have a cake board to cover soon, and couldn't find what I was looking for, so I had to settle for covering it with fabric, so I'm wondering what to put over that, before placing the cake. obviously, I can't put the cake on the fabric.. hehe This would be perfect!
I too have not been able to find pink standard boxes, so I am having so made as well as tissue paper.
I found this site they other day. They have a ton of kitchen/baking/cake equipment and also carry the pink boxes. There are more sizes than this, but here is a link to one set they have.
http://www.instawares.com/bakery-box-pink.0826soc.0.7.htm
Holly
**edit** Just found out that company *points up* gets their boxes from this company. http://www.sctray.com/c5.html
You can get the cellophane at Michaels.
I love all the great ideas on this thread! Keep 'em coming!
Bec
These are all terrific ideas! I'm just now doing cakes for friends but would like to go into it more full time in the future.
I think doing things to set yourself apart is wonderful because there are lots of places people can go for cakes and cookie bouquets but I'd like them to think of me first.
I include a personal "Thank you" in my cake boxes. I actually had a customer call me yesterday about a baby shower cake her husband picked up on Sunday explaining that not only was it beautiful and tasted good but she liked the way it was professionally boxed. I had it in a cake box with a thank you taped to the top corner for her.
Debbie
Am watching this site.
Love the idea for bone china use but more importantly the "topper" for the cake tasting. Sometimes I make small cakes for co-workers b-days & don't need a huge cake. I like the idea of putting a topper on cupcakes that go to work. Also the thank-you card.
I'll put thank-you cards for the school bake sale & the school carnival fundraiser. That's a cool thing to give to a parent! 
You can get the cellophane at Michaels.
I love all the great ideas on this thread! Keep 'em coming!
Bec
I've seen that there, and Hobby Lobby, Joann's, even walmart, but nowhere on it does it say food safe, so I thought it was the wrong kind.. heh
Thanks,
Holly
OMG! I LOVE the little personal Thank You note in the cake! That is soo clever. I think I might start doing that.
Even though I am an "at home baker" I like to think that my signature is my cake board. I try to come up with some nice ribbons and patterns to put on the board then just regular foil. Other than trying to make each cake so personal to a person, that's all I got!
GREAT THREAD!
Oh I love this thread. There are so many ideas out there. I would love to have my own shop someday. Pink is my favorite color. I think Pink and black would be awesome. Hopefully dreams do come true.
I guess for me it's the obvious stuff since my main competition is the grocery stores and I can't compete with their prices, so I have to offer something else.
1. Lots of choices of flavors. Most customers come in expecting white or chocolate. I offer 14 different flavors and let them make anything 1/2 and 1/2 of any 2 flavors or marble swirl of any 2 flavors.
2. Fresh baked product. Of course this is what sets us all apart from the grocery stores, but believe it or not there are still people that think Wal-Mart bakes there cakes in store.
3. SERVICE!!!! This should have been #1. Every customer that walks through my door is the most important person I have talked to all day and I try to make sure they know that. They get one on one attention with shopping and ordering, you name it. That's just something people aren't used to any more. That's a shame, but they still really appreciate it.
4. Choices. Not only on cake flavors, but cake designs. I have lots of different pictures for them to look at of cakes I've made, but most people just bring in their own designs and we go from there.
5. As far as little advertising touches, I have printed plastic cake servers that I include with larger cake orders. This is nice for people taking a cake to a party somewhere besides home and it keeps my business name on the table after the cake box is set aside.
That's all I can think of right now!
-Lori
CelebrationsbyLori,
Wow! Where do you get those plastic cake servers with your printed info on it?! Sounds very cool!
You can get the cellophane at Michaels.
I love all the great ideas on this thread! Keep 'em coming!
Bec
I've seen that there, and Hobby Lobby, Joann's, even walmart, but nowhere on it does it say food safe, so I thought it was the wrong kind.. heh
Thanks,
Holly
So, are you guys using the cellophane on the rolls to cover the cake board???
I've always used contact paper and this takes me a while, seems like I usually get bubbles throughout it! 
I'm one of the Too Yummy Mummies and many customers have commented how cute our logo is. Everyone here does plain white cake boxes so ours are in our signature colors of tiffany blue and hot pink. If the celebrant is a boy the box is pink and the lid is blue,girls are reversed. Apart from our cakes being the best tasting in town, I can't think of anything more. Thanks for this thread as it's making me think of how I can make our cakes even more distincitve
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