Conducting Consultations/Tastings and What I've Learned

I've been through this and I STILL have trouble with this issue, so I wanted to share my experiences and what I do now...

For a long time, I was making at least three flavors that my prospective clients wanted to try. It didn't matter what flavor, I would make it for them. I made a beautiful platter, but the tablecloth on the table, had a cake dummy out as a representative of my work.  It was exhausting.

At one point, because it was costing me so much and not resulting in more looky-loos than bookings, I started charging $25 for my time and product, but that didn't cover everything. And more often than not, they wouldn't even show up. No call, no email, no text... just didn't show up! And I had worked so hard to make all that cake, prepare the platter, sent my husband and kids away, etc.

I figured out that they never considered this a "business meeting" because I wasn't looking at it as that either.

I started looking at it as a business meeting.

At this point in my business, I don't hold private consults any longer. I hold public consultations once a month, first come, first served. I make three 6" rounds in three flavors: one white, one chocolate, one "exotic" and I cut one slice per cake and arrange it on a platter for the client.  If they like that, then they should know that all my other cakes taste just as great!

I don't do secondary tastings for those people who "can't make it."  I let them know beforehand that the people who will be making the decisions regarding the cake must be in attendance.  And I allow for only four at the consultation.

I used to serve a platter where clients could mix and match. I saw how overwhelming it was for them to have so many options. That's when I started making 6" rounds with fillings that I thought would go well with the cake. I also try to bake seasonally, as in making flavors that people are drawn to seasonally; such as pumpkin-spice in the fall or strawberry lemonade in the spring. I find that the fewer the options, the less overwhelmed the client, and they're more inclined to trust in your abilities.  That could change again at some point.

I don't send cake home with anyone unless they're my personal friend and I don't want to take it home myself.

My time and talent is worth something. I can't give this stuff away if I'm going to have a successful business. If I had store hours, they'd have to make an appointment and SHOW UP.

If you start approaching this as a business, they will too.

NO FREE CAKE! :^)