I wanted to ask the advice of you talented people:
How do you get the phone to ring for an order from a stranger? I've been decorating cakes since April '05 and totally enjoy it!
But now I'm at the point of getting a bit frustrated that all the "freebies" that I've done hasn't produced any orders (maybe 3-4 from friends that refused not to pay and 1 from the local High School). I've taken cakes to work for birthdays, just "because", practicing techniques, etc. I've taken cakes to the dentist office, the local High School and the local grocery store.
Please don't get me wrong, I don't mind it at all!!! I just kinda thought that someone would see one of my cakes and call and want one.
How did you do it? What else could I do?
Thank You!! and I'm sorry it's so long.
My best referrals come from, believe it or not, baby showers. You get a bunch of ladies standing around the "centerpiece" talking about it, and voila! Phone ringing off the hook!
Hang in there, it will happen. I looked at your cakes, and they are great! For what it's worth, the vast majority of my "freebie" cakes never produced any orders either. I just look at them as practice.
I used to do a lot of freebies at work for birthdays and such, and then one of my friends said, why are you doing them for free?? They cost you money...and started taking up a collection. Then something happened, people started asking for cakes and referring thier friends...and paying of course. One even said, thank god, you are charging, I have been dieing to ask you, but didn't want you to think I was a mooch.. Does that make any sense? Maybe it was just a coincidence...Do you have business cards or anything, that go with the cakes?
I agree that freebie breeds freebie. If you continue to provide free cakes for each occasion people will come to expect it. I don't sell cakes, however I do request reimbursement for ingredients and materials, which I have no problem getting. I did about 10 cakes last month for friends and family. I dont have any upcoming orders and I'm looking forward to a little break. At the very least, start charging for materials, if you break down your costs and see what it really costs you to make a cake, it will be a lot easier to ask others to reimburse you.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%