"CAKES" - TONS OF $$$ MAKING BUSINESS COMMENTS FROM NON-BAKERS
I feel completely frustrated over this.
I am self-taught baker for almost 2 years. Last week I was working on my first guitar cake (pic attached).
I took a day off from my primary work. Spend days to preparing stuff and more than 12 hours to assemble it together. My pinky toes went actually numb over so much standing in the kitchen and my carpal tunnel syndrome is coming back with each cake.
What gets me are stupid comments from people who have NO CLUE what it take to make pretty and edible cakes. I had 2 people saying that I will make more money off of that cake than I would make at work since I took day off, which is nonsense. They think it costs me nothing and all the money I make is just profit for me.
I charged $75 for guitar marble cake (3" tall) with nutella buttercream. It was made out of 10" and 9" round cakes - 3 layers, handle was not edible. I hand painted it to make wood effect on it.
When I heard comments about me making lots of money, I got so mad/disappointed , it almost made me cry. How unfair is that??? I don't charge too much! Or do I? After all, I hardly make $30 on my cakes. Is it even worth it? I can't stand those comments and don't know how to deal with it. It is so unfair to talk about something you have no experience with and assume what is not true at all. ...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joann Gottermeyer on
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I have been there!!! The overwhelming majority of people I have baked for appreciate the time and effort (and time...more time....and then some more time...) that go into creating a delicious, edible, hand made work of art. I have had lots of people tell me I don't charge enough. But all it takes is that one person to blow it all for you with stupid comment about how much money you made for 'just baking a cake'. Really? The ingredients, gas and time to get them....electricity to run your mixer...gas or electric for your oven, fridge, etc.,....water/soap to wash your dishes....the time to bake and then hours to trim, stack, fill and decorate the cake.....please. We do this because we love it, not because wages?? Don't think so. Try not to let the lousy people get you down. That cake is amazing - you deserve every penny you got and more. Someone thinks it's so much money?? Let them ty to do it themselves and then see what they think. Stand firm baby - you deserve it!!!!
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Permalink Reply by faith brandstetter on
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well cake is beautiful and worth much more than $70. I am very impressed. don't listen to those that are negative. Hope this helps.
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Permalink Reply by Goreti on
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You did an amazing job with that cake. In my opinion, you are really undercharging. If you take into consideration the time you spent do make something like this, I'm sure you are making next to nothing per hour. This is one of the reasons I don't sell my cakes. I give them as gifts to my family but even then I'm not sure they all understand how much time & money (since I try to use all quality goods) goes into each cake. I do it because I love to but don't want to deal with customers. Have you noticed that those that run off their mouths are the ones that don't bake or in some cases even cook themselves. They don't have a clue. Don't let them get to you.
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Permalink Reply by June Kowalczyk on
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Well Majka
All I can say is these remarks will never go away. Unless they have "walked in your shoes", they will never understand. I am a hobby baker, but regardless, unless you are a well known high end bakery/decorator, I believe none of us really get paid what we deserve for our time & effort. You will just have to learn to shake those comments off. I usually turn it around and ask them.... "Have you ever baked or assembled a cake like I have done?" Well they usually stammer.....ah, ah, well no, not exactly, or words to that effect... then I say, "Unless you have, and know what it takes, then, respectfully, you have no idea what you are talking about. If you think it is so easy, try doing one like this yourself. Like to see how it turns out." That usually shuts them up.
I would have charged, at least in my area, minimum $125 for your cake. I am now retired, but I never could have afforded to have taken a day off from my regular job to do a cake. Never would have made enough money from my cake to replace a days pay. I baked my cakes ahead, froze them so I could spend my Thur , Fri and the wknd to finish. Plus... my hubby would have Killed Me... if I had taken a day off do to a cake.... :o)
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Permalink Reply by Betty on
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I agree with the rest here, you should charge more. THAT is a beautiful cake!!!! You did a great job. Sculpted cakes take a lot of time to do not counting the money involved.
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Permalink Reply by Tracy Lynn Buttermore on
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You deserved much more for that cake.. I feel your pain. I started out, making just under 50% of my cost and that was'nt entering in the hours of prep and completion. When I figured that in, it was well under minimum wage. I now consider all costs and time to make it. I still will not charge outrageous prices but I refuse to sell my self short. I figure, if they don't care for the price, then they can go to wally world and pick up a traditional sheet cake. Best of luck to you, and the guitar was outstanding!!!!
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P.S. Im taking a day off this friday in order to make $500 in one day :)
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Permalink Reply by Mandy Donaldson on
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Totally with you all. I have a regular customer who normally buys box 12 cupcakes, she recently order half a dozen and was shocked when the price wasn't half of what she would normally pay for 12. Without going into great detail to her about it would take me the same time to cook 12 as it would 6 and I have to pay the same price for the boxes !! some people will only buy from you if your prices are high, bit like when your buying name brand clothes, you think your getting the best !!
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Permalink Reply by Anna Khachatryan on
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Your cake is beautiful!!! I would charge $200 for this cake.
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Permalink Reply by Katy Nott on
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Amen to everything everyone else has said. The cake is TERRIFIC and $75 is peanuts.
Just laugh at them and say - try it!
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Permalink Reply by Dee Miller on
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That is a beautiful cake and I would gladly pay WAY more than $75.00 for it. You are truly talented. And, no, non-bakers have no idea how much hard work - to say nothing of the stress - is involved in making edible art! I told my husband just last night, "It's a good thing I don't make cakes for the love of money!" I think for most of us, cake decorating is an artistic expression, and has little to do with money (although the money is nice, don't get me wrong)! You are an artist. Don't listen to those comments. If they could do it, they would. They can't so, guess what, they PAY!!!!!
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Amen, Tracy! I recently priced 200 wedding cupcakes and was told, they were going to check some other places. I was not in the least bit offended. I will be happy to do it for them, but if they want cheaper, I know they can find it. :)
Tracy Lynn Buttermore said:You deserved much more for that cake.. I feel your pain. I started out, making just under 50% of my cost and that was'nt entering in the hours of prep and completion. When I figured that in, it was well under minimum wage. I now consider all costs and time to make it. I still will not charge outrageous prices but I refuse to sell my self short. I figure, if they don't care for the price, then they can go to wally world and pick up a traditional sheet cake. Best of luck to you, and the guitar was outstanding!!!!
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