Hi Everyone,
I know this topic has come up before, but I couldn't find any posts on the forum after 2011. I have been asked to make cake jars for my son's teacher for Teacher Appreciation Week.
The school has told me their budget is $5 per items (whether is cake jars, cookies etc).
I usually sell 6 oz cake jars (with icing and cake layers) for $6 (with a spoon attached with nice ribbon).
I don't make them often, and the last time I made them I got 3 jars for $1 in the $1 section at target last summer.
I'm thinking if the budget is $5, maybe I should use the 4 oz jars?
Thoughts?
idk what kind of jars you want but these are about a buck each -- but then you got shipping -- I bet you can find some local though --
https://www.webstaurantstore.com/anchor-hocking-98908-5-oz-mini-heremes-jar-12-case/55098908.html
Thanks ladies for your responses
so I think I should have said that the jars I’ve used in the past were 8oz
i went to target today and saw that they were having a sale on 8 oz Ball jars for $7.37 for a pack of 12.
Im thinking of telling the PTO that I can do them for $5 each of they order between 45-48 (since it’s a pack of 12).
And the 4 oz jars are just too small. It appears a "rip off", as the cost of those jars is about the same, about the same icing, and just a little more batter. You made the right choice!
Ugh I have a new wrinkle to report in this thread..the head of PTO thinks an 8 oz jar is too small and wants to do a 16 oz cake jar...for $6/jar!!
I think this is nuts..I would charge at least $8 per jar for this if I was selling this to anyone else, and the least I could do it for Teacher Appreciation Week is $7 per jar for minimum 45 jars.
Am I overcharging (if I sell $8 for 16 oz)??
The secretary (who basically runs the PTO) is trying to justify having me do them for $6 each by having it be "advertising" for me, but in my experience, these types of gestures never really bring in future clients.
On the one hand, I could just do them for $6 each for the sake of doing something nice for the school staff during appreciation week, but on the other hand, I don't want to hate myself later for not making a profit (I don't think the school would even agree for $7 a jar) on these things and having wasted a lot of time and energy.
Ugh what to do??
that's a LOT of cake -- that's two or three servings -- i'd just say "no that's too big"
so would you ordinarily spend $45 (the one dollar less) plus your time for the teachers?
you need to grab hold of the reigns of this project
I showed her the actual 8 oz jar, since I had it in my car, and she thought it was too small. I think the PTO keeps comparing mason jar cakes to what they usually gift to the teachers - a small Bundt cake they get from the Nothing Bundt Cake chain with flowers, which is in their $5 budget,
This year they want to do something new, and they have seen my cake jars at other events, but those are small 8-10 oz jars - nothing even close to 16 oz. And yes i agree - that is a LOT of cake. I feel like they want to have a new trendy gift for the teachers, but don't want to pay the cost associated with it.
exactly and she is pressuring you and you need to kindly stop her -- you tell her what you can do for her budget and she says "oh ok let's do twice as much" -- i'm sure she's very nice about it -- but no-- my advice is draw some lines -- she gotta decide andyou gotta lay it out for her --
If they want 16oz jars, that's fine, but not for $6.00. I would definitely let her know that the price is going to be x, and if isn't within the budget, the smaller jars would be in budget. I get that that want something new, but their budget needs to be realistic.
I do not do anything for my daughter's school unless I donate it without being asked. I was asked to do 400 cupcakes for the kids in a Math program. Their budget? $200. Nope.
Thanks ladies,
This is exactly what I plan on telling the school later today when I go in. I usually don't mind doing little things here and there for free for frequent clients, but in this case, I think I will definitely be selling myself short.
I love this forum! It's always great for quashing my self -doubts ;)
Quote by @HajraK on 9 hours ago
I feel like they want to have a new trendy gift for the teachers, but don't want to pay the cost associated with it.
I'd like a new trendy Mercedes but don't want to pay for it either.
Just say NO! As it is, I do 2.5 oz batter in the 8 oz jar. Spray, batter, bake, cool, split in thirds, stack with icing between the 1st and 2nd layer, replace in CLEAN jar, ice top, lid, band, ribbon and spoon.
Not happening for less than $5.
So just to update everyone, the school has offered to pay $7 per jar for a 16 oz jar but has said that I only need to fill it 3/4 to the top (so basically 12 oz). I’ve actually found a really good deal on the 16 oz jars at Walmart, with each jar costing around $0.65. This is actually the same price the 8 oz jars were costing me.
I figured out that if I was going to do a 8 oz jar for $5, then a 12 oz jar would be about $7.50. So really, there is a bit of a discount (with them offering $7/jar), but not something so major that I feel like I’m being ripped off.
should I go for it? Am I being delusional? Not having to fill the jar all the way (oh and they’ll be giving the spoons they want attached too), is making me think I should.
Ok so the school and I agree on $7.25 for a 16oz jar filled 3/4 of the way (so 12 oz) and they will provide the spoons.
I feel ok with this price bc I’m getting the jars for a decent price, and still saving on material used so it won’t be a full 16 oz. if I streamline the process in making the jars, hopefully I won’t regret this decision.
Yeah...I only make them for my adult sons. Sheet cake rings leaves too much scrap cake for this per-diabetic mom to resist. ;)
I slice and stack and then invert back in to a jar. The "kids" bring the empties, and I refill them....lol. One son reports that the jar cake, layered with chocolate icing and crushed butterfinger warmed in the microwave make a great lava cake---his favorite!
Sounds like you made a fair compromise real with the PTO. GL!
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