Cake Supplies For Small Business

Business By deld Updated 9 Aug 2008 , 10:23pm by Bobbi123

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deld Posted 28 Jun 2008 , 5:11pm
post #1 of 21

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to find out from everyone what you think its worth to get as far as supplies go (which pans, kitchen supplies, etc) when starting a small business, lets say you have nothing in the kitchen, what would you get? and what wouldnt you get?

Thanks to all!!!!
D

20 replies
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costumeczar Posted 28 Jun 2008 , 6:33pm
post #2 of 21

The things that I use the most are round and square pans up to 16" diameter, lots of rubber spatulas and offset spatulas for icing the cakes, my lovely 6-qt kitchenaid (although I have my eye on the 7 qt cuisinart) mixer, and lots of tupperware-type containers for storing icings in the fridge.

As far as cake decorating-specific things, you can get those on an as-needed basis instead of putting out a lot of money up front. I use cakedeco.com for my wholesale supplies and boards. They have a $50 minimum, but it's awfully easy to get to that point when you start shopping! icon_biggrin.gif

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Monkess Posted 28 Jun 2008 , 8:42pm
post #3 of 21

I would def invest a professional turntable or two. A good pastry case if you intend to display cakes for walk in traffic -a second hand often suffices. I like to rely on a local source for boards and boxes rather than online, if you look up your local business directory or ask around you should be able to find a store that specialises in disposables. Good luck!

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Jasmine33 Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 9:05pm
post #4 of 21

costumeczar

Thank you so much for posting this. I was disappointed to find out decopac.com will not sell to anyone without a federal tax id #. In your experience(or anyone else reading feel free to chime in), do you know which cake kits sell best?

Any more sites like this please post them.

Thanx!

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indydebi Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 9:25pm
post #5 of 21

large cooling racks .. lots of them ... and not the kind with wires that run vertical with one hortizontal wire. Get the kind that have the little square holes. The other kind are worthless for anything.

If you're going to invest in equipment then do it right from the git-go .... don't get tupperware or rubbermaid for food storage .... go for the acrylic NSF approved food containers. Then when you're ready to go legal, you wont' have to go thru replacing all of this. They also stack great!

Zip Lock bags are also a cheap food storage item! icon_wink.gif

Ditto on the turntable! Invaluable! If you can get an extra bowl or two for your mixer ... you won't believe the difference that makes!

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costumeczar Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 9:44pm
post #6 of 21

I don't do birthday cakes, so I can't give advice about the character kits... I'd just be careful that when you do buy them you don't get too many of the super-new trendy ones, since it might end up being the trend that never was. I'd think that Princesses and racing cars never go out of style, though.

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FromScratch Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 10:08pm
post #7 of 21

I'd stay away from the deco-pac kits until you know if you will need them. I don't run into many people who are looking for a kit cake so that would be a TOTAL waste of money for me.

A stand mixer is invaluable as are extra bowls. Lots of silicone spatulas.. off set spatulas for smoothing icing, a bench scraper for smoothing the sides of your cakes, piping bags, don't go crazy on the tips as you may never use some of them. I don't really use much more than my round tips on a regular basis.. cooling racks like Debi said are a MUST.. and many of them and the larger the better.. nothing worse than trying to fit a 14" cake onto a normal sized cooling rack.. LOL. A good leveler.. I'd spring for an Agbay if you can swing it.. the wilton one is a PAIN to use. You will find that you don't need tons of fancy stuff.. and the little things you can get piece meal.

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minorfan Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 10:11pm
post #8 of 21

Round pans 3" in depth
Square pans 3" in depth
9x13 - 2 pans
large ball pan
Pudding pan - it is english and is like a large bowl shape

Assorted tips

Kitchen aid Mixer - I want two.

Large table with storage underneath to keep tools handy and to be able to roll out fondant on.

Upright freezer - separate upright cooler with adjustable shelves.

A lot of color gels, spatulas, sharp knives, exacto knives

Large sheets of clear plastic, vynal to roll out and move fondant.

Assorted containers for frosting, fondant.

Commerical roll of plastic wrap 36 " this something I LOVE! cover the cakes and freeze or store with out dealing with little rolls of wrap.

Commercial wire shelving with large clear containers to store stuff and keep it organized. I use one for cake boards, another for cake bases, another for cutters, another for decorations etc.

Check out busness auctions and restaurants and bakerys that are closing for supplys and wholesale sales. GFS is a good place for some of the storage items and the plastic wrap.

I am keeping an eye out for a commercial mixer at auction to be able to make up large amounts of buttercream at one time.

Love the decorating - hate the making the BC, Royal and baking.

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FromScratch Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 10:25pm
post #9 of 21

I say find out what you like in a pan before investing in a bunch. I don't like the 3" pans personally so I would recommend 2" pans, but that's me. I know people who have regretted buying a ton of one kind before really trying them out.

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weirkd Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 10:29pm
post #10 of 21

I agree with everyone else but the 16" pan is something you have to measure to see if your oven can fit it. It never dawned on my that it wouldnt fit in my oven but it doesnt. Its about an inch two big so the oven door does not shut. I have a top of the line Kitchen aide with confection so you would think that something as silly as a 16" pan would fit. Measure to make sure!!
Also tubs for storage is great because once you get all this crap you have to find room for it and if your not in a rented space then the stuff accumulates very fast!!!

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LetThereBeCake07 Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 10:38pm
post #11 of 21

I would get some type of storage cart on wheels with drawers to organize the small stuff you use a lot. I have a small one that I keep my colors in as well as a few basic cookie cutter shapes, fondant tools, things like that. I also have a tip organizer case to keep my tips in as well as my reusable and disposable bags.
I would aso get a small scale for measureing your ingredients (a great tip i got on here for making my bc, no more measuring shortning!)
My fave turntable is the one that sits high and tilts, it was costly but I got it at Michaels with a 50% off coupon so it brought the price way down.
I would also get some boxes, boards and dowels or some type of support system.

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weirkd Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 10:43pm
post #12 of 21

ooh the cart is a good one! Where did you get yours? I would like to get one myself!!

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Linliv46 Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 11:01pm
post #13 of 21

I would like to find a cart too! Lowes has one on sale but DH says its not big enough. Have been all day trying to organize and I have got to have a cart of some kind! icon_rolleyes.gif
No place to put all the molds and cookie cutters! icon_cry.gif

Linda

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msgwinn Posted 26 Jul 2008 , 11:31pm
post #14 of 21

Hi, I work in a bakery 2 days a week and do it on the side for xtra money as well. In our bakery at work we have a small 3x4 convection oven with 4 racks in it. Enough to bake 8 half sheets at a time and 3 6 quart mixers.
We have 6 of the large racks that you can buy at Sam's or Lowe's that are storage racks 5 or six shelves. We have lots of turntables but I prefer to use a 3 gallon filling bucket. I stand when I work so my counter top is tall and I usually do all my side work at eye level. I also do lots of full sheets and the bucket seems more stable than a turntable and I don't like it when the cake turns and I am not ready for it. Just a personal preferance. Anyway we also have tons of the medium plastic drawers that stack on each other we use these for decorations for the cakes and we try to keep them straight. If you need anymore info please email and I will happy to answer any questions. We generally put out about 100 to 150 cakes for the weekend not including wedding cakes.

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Sonya Posted 27 Jul 2008 , 1:49am
post #15 of 21

[quote=]

Thank you so much for posting this. I was disappointed to find out decopac.com will not sell to anyone without a federal tax id #. In your experience(or anyone else reading feel free to chime in), do you know which cake kits sell best?

Any more sites like this please post them.

Thanx![/quote]

Decopac.com will sell to people without a tax id#. If you do not have a tax id # you will have to call them and tell them you want to set up a NON-Licensed account with them. Without a tax id # you can only order their supplies (such as coloring, tips, drums, etc) not the licensed character items such as Mickey Mouse, Barbie, etc. Also if you order $75.00 or more shipping is free. Fast shipping also, I ordered $125 worth of stuff last Friday and had it to me lighting fast.
As for the cake kits that are popular right now... I can tell you what is selling at the grocery store I work at... Hannah Montana, Hello Kitty, Bratz, Wall-e, Kung Fu Panda, Cars, and Spiderman.

~Sonya

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LetThereBeCake07 Posted 27 Jul 2008 , 8:45pm
post #16 of 21

the cart...because I wanted a short one and I wanted black, I had to look around a bit but finaly got one at Staples, they had them on sale and had a few different styles to pick from. they are normally 30 bucks but i think i paid 15. Now with all the dorm stuff on sale it is a GREAT time to buy storage anything!

hint, think outside the box. look at things to fit your needs, not to fit your stuff into someone elses design.
for example, I use a bead box with a lid and stationary compartments to organize my icing colors and cake sparkle containers. I have 3-one for the sparles and shimmery stuff, one for cool colors and one for warm colors. I store them standing upright, not laying down and use a lableer to mark them so i just grab what i need when i need it

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born2bake Posted 27 Jul 2008 , 8:59pm
post #17 of 21

Not sure if this was mentioned, though many other items were, but I love my baking strips. How about a good quality rolling pin.

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Lesia Posted 27 Jul 2008 , 9:01pm
post #18 of 21

Without a doubt - an Agbay leveler! It was one of my best investments! icon_biggrin.gif

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TandTHarrell Posted 27 Jul 2008 , 9:31pm
post #19 of 21

I have bought from deco numerous times, give them a call.

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Jovy Posted 6 Aug 2008 , 3:50pm
post #20 of 21

thanks a lot for all the postings...it have been very helpful, thumbs_up.gif I dont want to go crazy buying, I want to buy the essential equipment for now

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Bobbi123 Posted 9 Aug 2008 , 10:23pm
post #21 of 21

I'm just starting out again (back at cakes after 15 yrs! thumbs_up.gif ), but I still have plenty of my old stuff (and lots of new items!) - never did fondant/gumpaste before. I'm not a business yet, but I keep pretty busy. icon_biggrin.gif

I've had to learn to organized what little space I have to work in:

I keep pans/separator plates/pillars in huge clear plastic bins w/ lids (they stack well& keep things clean) I store in a closet around the corner from the kitchen.
All my fondant/gumpaste tools & supplies in a huge plastic fishing tackle box that folds out from top - can put out on table to work, then folds up to put away (found @ yard sale for $2! and bleached & painted it)
Also, all my tips, colors,and other stuff for buttercream in another tackle box w/drawers and organizer boxes built in (found @ wallieworld).

I have no counterspace, so I built myself a mobile "baking center" from RTA MDF small cabinets - like closet storage type (for less than $100 total) - painted, screwed & glued them together side-byside, put on it all on wheels, added a recycled butcher-block top (hinged to fold-up to make top wider) and voila- tons of drawers and cabinet doors for kitchenaid (2 with all attachments!). All my baking food supplies are in recycled coffee "cans" (plastic square ones- fit best on the adjustable shelves), extracts and spices in recycled vintage spice racks attached to the sides of the unit, and the rest of my tools & toys, etc in drawers - very handy. I just move from "storage wall" area to work area- across the room, by oven/sink.
I also think "verticle" - cooling rack holder that holds 4 trays at a time, plastic office 12 drawer unit on wheels for cookie cutters, another 6 drawer for candy making supplies, another for packaging. Just wheel out when you need it.
I also have smaller folding/height adjustable banquet-type tables to open up when I need more work area.

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