At Home Bakers- Do You Do Cake Testing?
Business By ericaaiden Updated 18 Dec 2014 , 5:28pm by zirarzirar
AAre all of those things on the shelf dummy cakes?
A
Original message sent by sixinarow
Anna, is that a craftsman tool chest painted blue?
AAnna, I am in an agony of jealousy here! Love, love, love your setup!
Resurrecting an older thread here, just to mention something new that I tried...as I posted earlier I usually hold my consults in a public place. The reason is two-fold--hesitant to bring strangers into my home & my HOA doesn't allow "traffic" due to a home-based business (whole other topic, there). Starbucks and Panera were OK, but I didn't give them their cake tasting box until it was time to go because I didn't want them to eat my stuff in a restaurant; that's just wrong plus it opens me up to the risk of getting kicked out 
.
OTOH, my experience is that the consults go better and I have a higher booking rate when the potential customer tries the samples during the meeting. So, I met a wedding couple today at the Food Court at a mall! It was perfect! I bought drinks from one of the food vendors, set up at a table, they had a little picnic of cake and buttercream while we had the meeting. It was mid-afternoon so no lunch rush. No one cared that they ate cake. They loved my cake samples and my work, I love the cake they want and their venue.
I think the ONLY reason I didn't seal the deal on the spot was that they decided they want square cakes and I couldn't do a quote on the spot.
I'm making some other changes, too, but that's a different beast...
Quote:
I also do consultations. Consultations for cakes of 100 servings or more (regardless of the occasion) include a complimentary tasting-to-go box. The box contains 3 flavors of cake and 3 flavors of buttercream, all my choice, depending on what I have on hand. For cakes of fewer than 100 servings, a box may be purchased for $25.
For some reason, I haven't been able to upload pictures into posts...here's a link to a picture of one of my boxes:
Elcee: very nice packagings & sounds like good business advice also.
A
Original message sent by Annabakescakes
Some of the photos are taken at different times and strategically to hide the mess, so I know it doesn't really show how things are truly set up. One of these days, when I have a couple thousand to invest, I'll fly Laney up to help me drag it all out and find a place for it... I even have 2 really nice label makers and we'll make a trip to the Container Store in Cincinnati ;-) and we'll take some great pictures then!!!
I just squealed with delight. Feeling lighted from the excitement of just thinking about it.
AI'm often telling - you can buy a small cake and test. Not far I made the proposal, if there are more than 4 people wants to test cake, i can make 4 different cakes, cut it on 4 parts, and they buy one cake with 4 different parts. It's a very interesting idea, but anyone was interested in it. So i'm still telling "no" on answer about testing.
I'm not an at home baker, I work in a restaurant. I offer 8 flavor combos for weddings. My cakes are four layers of cake and three of the fillings. But, my tasters are just three layers of cake.
I bake the cake in a half sheet pan, and cut it into 3 strips lengthwise. I then layer the cake with the fillings and frost them. After they are chilled, I wrap them well and freeze them.
When we get an order for a tasting, which is a choice of three, I remove them from the freezer and cut a slice. They thaw in the fridge, then I let them sit at room temp for about 1/2 hour prior to the appointment. Works great, and no one knows it's been frozen.
I've worked a couple of places that make rounds and freeze them, but I prefer the long strip. I get more servings that are easier to cut. And, we have sold more wedding cakes since I offered the tasting option. You can charge for it as well. The place I work is overpriced, so we charge $25 for it, and it doesn't seem to be an issue. I suggested putting that toward the cake deposit, but they can get away with not doing that. One bakery I worked only charged $10. So, it is an option. I've had a couple of people ask about tasting another type of filling with a cake, and I just tell them I can make a cupcake with that particular filling or buttercream, and they are OK with that.
This is what my tasting looks like:
OMIGOODNESS...I want to get married just so I can do one of your tastings. They look so good.
I'm not an at home baker, I work in a restaurant. I offer 8 flavor combos for weddings. My cakes are four layers of cake and three of the fillings. But, my tasters are just three layers of cake.
I bake the cake in a half sheet pan, and cut it into 3 strips lengthwise. I then layer the cake with the fillings and frost them. After they are chilled, I wrap them well and freeze them.
When we get an order for a tasting, which is a choice of three, I remove them from the freezer and cut a slice. They thaw in the fridge, then I let them sit at room temp for about 1/2 hour prior to the appointment. Works great, and no one knows it's been frozen.
I've worked a couple of places that make rounds and freeze them, but I prefer the long strip. I get more servings that are easier to cut. And, we have sold more wedding cakes since I offered the tasting option. You can charge for it as well. The place I work is overpriced, so we charge $25 for it, and it doesn't seem to be an issue. I suggested putting that toward the cake deposit, but they can get away with not doing that. One bakery I worked only charged $10. So, it is an option. I've had a couple of people ask about tasting another type of filling with a cake, and I just tell them I can make a cupcake with that particular filling or buttercream, and they are OK with that.
This is what my tasting looks like:
That looks fabulous! Thanks, that's good information! How long can they be stored frozen?
I usually bake extra batter in 4" pans and keep them in the freezer.
Also, any left over flavored buttercream filling and icing get scooped into 2 oz plastic cups with the lids and into the freezer.
The PERFECT BROWNIE PAN also makes very nice 2 bite samples! I prefer mine a little bigger though.
I LOVE meeting with brides for consults. Often, though, I do the to-go boxes for a fee, just so there is no pressure, and meet up for a consultation at a later date if it's a more detailed cake or more convenient for them.
@MBalaska I can't figure out how to subscribe to a thread without posting something, so I just put a star to be able to refer to it later.
At the bottom and top of each thread you'll see a star with the word subscribe next to it. Click on that and a box will pop up to ask how you want to be informed. Chose and click submit.
@MBalaska, I haven't figured out how you do that fancy spoiler alert
mimi, the spoiler is two over from the 'quotes' it looks like a darkened balloon for text like you'd see in a comic book
Quote:
mimi, the spoiler is two over from the 'quotes' it looks like a darkened balloon for text like you'd see in a comic book
Yes! Thank you K8! @MBalaska is the only member I've seen use it (and quite effectively).
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%