Okay, so for the last year and a half I haven't gotten a weekend off. It's great because I spend my time filling cake orders and decorating out of my home and making some good money, but really! Not having a weekend to myself and the family has really been bogging me down. The boys (2 & 3) rebel by being some of the winiest little things ever and my hubby gets stressed as well because he comes home from work to winy boys and a busy (sometimes stressed) wife. I'd like to take a break from decorating for a while but bills and anywhere from 1-4 cake orders a weekend keep me from taking one. Anyone else out there in the same boat?
I have a dream of opening my own shop in town because I know it'd do really good given the amount of orders I get strictly by word of mouth. With an out in the open shop I know I'd be evn more busy but I'd also have people helping me with the cakes and other able to take over when I need a break.
So, to the decorators in my boat and with my dream- Can you give me some insight?
unless bills mandate...
no one says you HAVE to take cake orders for every weekend.
learn the power of NO.
learn the power of "I have a previous commitment." They don't need to know it's an appointment to take your kids to the pool, yourself to the bubble bath, etc. -- It's your reserved time for you and your family.
the two of those will also breed more desire on part of your customers --- can we say Exclusivity? supply/demand? you lower supply, competition for your services goes up and so do your prices!
Only you can reserve time for yourself.
Goodness, I understand what you're talking about! I've barely had a weekend off all year. I turn down orders and try to limit them but I still stay pretty busy. I try to take off on Sunday and monday though. So maybe you can reserve a day when you are "closed"?
You're getting orders and need the money - how about putting your prices up a bit - $10 a cake? I don't know what kind of work you do or what your competition is, but putting prices up a bit might help make it easier for you to say no.
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