Does Anyone Know Where I Can Find Thicker Skin? :)
Business By cakesbyamym Updated 2 Feb 2007 , 12:33am by elvis
I am coming off of the busiest week that I have ever had. On top of working full time outside the home, I have a growing cake business that keeps me busy each evening. Long story short, I get a frantic email last week from a lady wanting a cake for her son...with a GUN on it. Okay, no prob. She comes to pick it up...loves it...even goes ahead and orders her daughter's Sweet 16 cake for this weekend from me. I sent my customary "thank you for ordering from me...blah, blah, blah email..." and get THIS back... The adults LOVED the cake, but the kids...well, they weren't fans of the pound cake. I need you to make something other than pound cake for my upcoming order. Okay, POUND cakes are all that I CHOOSE to offer. I have only had ONE other person to comment on not liking pound cake (her son, who changed his mind 400 times on what he wanted on his cake), and this lady. Everyone is told up front that pound cakes are the type of cakes that I bake. She was a-okay with it before. Now, she wants me to go changing MY way of doing things to accommodate her. You know, I don't go into McDonald's and tell them that I really like their Big Mac's, but my kids don't, and suggest that they change the whole thing around to suit MY needs.
I emailed her back and said something to the jist of unfortunately, pound cakes were the only cakes that I bake. If she would like, I could give her the name of another lady who bakes other types of cakes. I hate turning her away, but if it ain't broke, why fix it?
Now, I'm hurt over her comments. I'm a pleaser...and I want everyone happy with their purchases from me...but the way that SHE worded her email really did bother me. Lord help me, I need a thicker skin!!!
Just wanted to vent...
Thanks for listening...
Don't take it personally. It sounds like your cake was a hit!
Yes, she could go somewhere else for her other cakes, but do you want her to? Is only making pound cake important enough to you to lose potential business?
I'm not criticizing--just putting out a few questions you'll need to ask yourself.
Don't be hurt because some kids didn't like your cake. Not everyone likes pound cake, just like everyone doesn't like chocolate cake, carrot cake etc.
Good luck!
There's nothing wrong with offering only your "specialty". It sounds like you're plenty busy with your pound cakes. 
I can see why you would be hurt by this lady's comments. Just remember, not everyone likes everything. And if you find somewhere that sells some of that thicker skin, send me a link. 
I'm not surprised the adults loved your cake. Pound cake tends to appeal more to adult pallets. Children tend to like lighter much sweeter cakes.
I don't think there is anything wrong with offering only pound cakes, but it does narrow your customer base and you may have to market yourself a bit differently.
And I agree with you. You ABSOLUTELY do need a very thick skin in this business.
when i first started...
i did white, chocolate. italian cream. carrot. red velvet, yellow,marble.coconut,turtle and hummingbird.
as the business grew, time constrants don't allow me to do everything anymore....just not enough hours in the day, and really the vast majority of people order white, chocolate, or 1/2 and 1/2.
so i do white ,chocolate or 1/2 and 1/2.
thats whay works for me....so if they want something else....they go somewhere else...no big whoop....
you found what works for you...i find that if you try to do everything everyone wants...you'll be running around like a chicken with thier head cut off.
i personally like keeping things simple.
your cakes rock BTW
I think it's all been said, but I want to chime in with one more idea...
Do what you love and the money will follow.
If it doesn't bring you money or bring you joy...why are you doing it?
When I'm asked to do something that I'm not crazy about, I charge more for it. If they are willing to pay, then I'll feel better about going to the extra effort. If they are not willing to pay extra, then I dont' have to worry about doing it!
I am coming off of the busiest week that I have ever had.
That says it all right there. You don't need to change a thing for this person. You have plenty of customers who are perfectly satisfied with your cake. Now, if you start getting lots of requests for other types of cake, then you can revisit the issue. But, for now, sounds like you're plenty busy with just pound cake!
BTW, I was in a McDonald's once where some guy was INSISTING on getting grilled onions. He kept yelling, "Just throw the onions on the grill for a few seconds! It's no big deal!" Geez, was he making a scene! LOL I felt bad for the teenagers behind the counter.
I LOVE making all flavors of cakes. I LOVE to experiment. Currently my fav thing to do is use coffee creamer. But, unfortunately the very few people for whom I bake like "Just your plain white cake please!" When I make a new cake or new icing I have a family that "road tests" it for me. Without exception "dad" will send word "Still like your white cake with that GOOD white icing!" The good white icing is CRISCO White White buttercream! LOLL
Of course, I think it's a little boring, but, I do what they want.
If you have a customer base for your pound cake and you are happy with that......I'm sorry.....is that a problem?
Just a thought
Beth
Okay, my first instinct when I read this was "Wow! That woman has some nerve!" 
I agree that if it works for you, then you shouldn't change it.
I am curious, however, if there is a specific reason that you only make pound cakes? 
This is the way i look at it.....the adults liked it ...the kids didn't....no big deal.....she asked you to make a different kind of cake and you said no. I mean at least she asked you and gave you a chance to get the business from her before she had someone else make it. I understand that you only do pound cakes, but when you have a limited variety of cakes to offer you have to expect that every once in awhile someone isn't going to like it. But if it works for you then I wouldn't be too upset over it.
I honestly think you're taking it way too personally. Like others have mentioned, not everyone likes the same cake. My first thought was, "how do you get by with a business only offering one flavor of cake?" But apparently you do very well, which is wonderful. Personally, a lot of people who order from me like chocolate, or 1/2 chocolate, 1/2 vanilla. I know I would get some strange looks (and lose business) if I only offered one flavor. But like was said, it's your business and it's your choice. But just don't be too upset if not EVERYONE loves pound cake. By the way, your cakes are wonderful, and I'm curious, too, as to why you only offer pound cake? Is it just for simplicity purposes?
Your cakes are beautiful!! I think like the others have said, its totally your decision but it was probably the lady's daughter who asked for a different flavor of cake--and I can see why she would want her daughter to have a say in the flavor, since its her cake.
In the future, maybe if someone makes a special request, you could just doctor them a cake mix cake--and that way, they'll still get your great decorating style, they'll be happy with the flavor, and you'll get a little break too timewise. Good luck! :O)
---Oh yeah, and as a little side note....the lady that did my wedding cake had an at-home wedding cake business. She had one choice....pound cake with buttercream frosting. We went to her knowing this...and she was a very busy baker.
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