I having been really down since after Christmas as my orders have significantly dropped this year and the end of last year....I am usually booked up solid 3 weeks in advance for every weekend and now I am so quiet.I know it is the economy and when people don't have money the luxury items get axed but I am really starting to get worried.Hubby and I rely on this income to help out with the bills and when it is significantly cut...well you get it...


Doesn't help that everytime I go on Facebook a newly opened business here which offers cakes as part of their party package is bragging how busy and booked they are


Anyways..Just wanted to express to those who understand!!

Ugh. I think it's spreading, too. I'm so tired of hearing and reading in the media how the economy is recovering. Recovering for who?

So many people are struggling these days. I am afraid the economy is going to get worse before it gets better! I hope your business rebounds soon!

I feel your pain! I have had only 2 orders since the beginning of the year and only 2 small orders coming up. I only have 2 weddings booked so far.

This economy is hurting me, too.

also remember that Jan-March is usually the "famine" part of this feast-or-famine business.

Isn't the #1 new years resolution to lose weight? i.e. not eat cake/cookies?

Keep your chin up !!! People are always going to have celebrations....birthday's, anniversaries, wedding, etc....there will be a need for one of your beautiful cakes. I think Deb is right, this time of year is the famine stage. Wedding season will be here soon and I'm sure you will get busier!

Thanks Debi...Yeah...hubby said that Jan/Feb are usually slow because people are recovering from over spending at Christmas but this has never affected me before...I've been getting lots of "Tire kicking" emails also of people who are inquiring and then don't want to order when they find out how much...or try to barter my prices..No Way...I don't need the money that bad!!..I guess I'll just try and hang on to the postive attitude that things will get better...

I know the feeling too well. the orders are there but the cost of ingredients are killing me. I worry that raising my prices will push people away but I also need to make a profit.

Kiddy have you clicked your link lately? it goes to a party store and not to a cake site. That could be a huge problem if your website isn't accessible.

ditto sadsmile-- i'm pretty web savvy & if i were looking for cake i would have left your site. instead, i read & seached, clicking 3 links before getting to your actual cakes.

could you maybe afford to send out reminder cards to those who ordered birthday cakes last year? remind them to call and order this year's cakes.

or for wedding cakes, send a happy anniversary card to the couple and remind them to order their anniv cake.

It's not just you. I have a wedding garter business (my FT job) and it's been down 5-15% for a few months now. Just not getting as many orders and the orders I am getting are down in average transaction too so my brides just aren't spending as much. Keeping it optimistic though, it'll come back. Hang in there.

I think Jan/Feb is always super slow for me....it will come back.....

They're right....I can't find your cakes on your link either!

Yeah..I know..I decided to take my website off of my signature because I was getting emails from idiots hassling me from US addresses which I think was from here...I do have a website but don't want it listed here anymore.

I'm slow too. The few inquiries I've had lately are from the WalMart brides.

In any business January is usually busy with gift card redeemers and purchases for late-Christmas get togethers. By February the Visa bills start to arrive from Christmas and people tighten the purse strings. March is about family vacation time with the kids being out of school for a week (and every district is a different week). By April the rain starts and people start planning parties and feeling like spending again.

Usually for us that is how it worked with retail. We also experienced a lull in September when the kids went back to school until after Thanksgiving in mid-October (Canada).

Thanks Cakenovice2010...I am beginning to pickup..I have had several inquiries and actual orders already so maybe you are right!!You can just never tell with the way the world economy is going...People panick and when they do that....everything is scaled down or comes to a halt!!


Thanks everyone for your encouraging words!!