Generate Clients
I am in the beginning stages of starting my cake business from home. My problem is if I was in my home town I would have more clients then I could handle, but I am in another state with no family, few friends, and I am a stay at home mom that does not get out enough to meet people.Does anyone share a similiar situation? and could share with me some ideas that I can do to generate business. Thanks!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Diana Viera on
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I was at a bookstore yesterday picking up some cake decorating books and the woman at the register asked me if I was a baker and I said yes. We spoke about her wedding cake then she said "we can be taste testers". I then thanked her and said that I would definitely bring some in. That was another way of marketing myself. No matter where you go, someone is willing to "test" your product. One of my son's hygenist was talking to my son about his teeth and why was he concerned about getting cavities. He then told her that I was doing some serious baking and he was eating a lot of it. She got all excited and is now ordering cakes from me. Well the word got around there and I may have more clients. Thankfully, NO CAVITIES:)
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Kmonk on
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I recently gave a cake to my neighbor. She passed my name on to her friend who ordered two graduation cakes. Also I have been sending cakes to work with my husband and one of his clients ordered a First Holy Communion cake.
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Permalink Reply by Eileen S on
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I agree with Sherry - volunteering at the school is a good way to meet people. If you don't have school-age children you could join a mom's group. I have been involved with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) for 6 years now and that is a huge base for my clientele (there are MOPS groups in just about every community and it is a wonderful organization that helps moms meet other moms in a non-threatening way). I also have a Facebook page that has generated leads (friends of friends seeing my cakes). Also - donate cakes!! Take one to the school on teacher appreciation day, to any community-type events, etc. The more people who see your work, the more leads you'll get. Let's face it - the cost of a cake is pretty minimal and I always view the time I spend as an investment and skill-builder - so donated cakes are never an issue for me.
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Permalink Reply by Leah Brockington on
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I do have school age children, I made a teachers appreciation cake, which everyone love and I manage to get a order from that. I do plan on getting with the principle to see if I could do a cake give away or maybe pass out cake samples at a PTA meeting etc. Thanks for your comment.
Sherry Qualls said:Leah
Are your children school age? is so volunteer at their school, be a room mother or volunteer with the PTA (yes you can do it with small children that are not is in school yet) it is a great way to network with other mothers which equals kids which equals parties which equals cakes :D, also if you can legally bake from home in our state, make up a flyer and hang it in your local grocery store and laundry ..and hopefully after a few orders word of mouth will come into play.
I was a stay at home mom for many many years...volunteering at my kids school was a way for me to get out and meet people who were also stay at home moms.
HTH
Sherry
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I do need to get in the habit of leaving my business cards at places like that, cause you never know what can come from it. Thanks
Diana Viera said:I was at a bookstore yesterday picking up some cake decorating books and the woman at the asked me if I was a baker and I said yes. We spoke about her wedding cake then she said "we can be taste testers". I then thanked her and said that I would definitely bring some in. That was another way of marketing myself. No matter where you go, someone is willing to "test" your product. One of my son's hygenist was talking to my son about his teeth and why was he concerned about getting cavities. He then told her that I was doing some serious baking and he was eating a lot of it. She got all excited and is now ordering cakes from me. Well the word got around there and I may have more clients. Thankfully, NO CAVITIES:)
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I have made cakes for both of my neighbors and they also bought for other events, but they are stay at home moms them selves and I see that I am going to have to venture out more to spread the word of mouth. Thank You
Kathy Kmonk said:I recently gave a cake to my neighbor. She passed my name on to her friend who ordered two cakes. Also I have been sending cakes to work with my husband and one of his clients ordered a First Holy Communion cake.
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I will try to network more in the school, so the parents can get to know me and try my product. Thank You
Eileen S said:I agree with Sherry - volunteering at the school is a good way to meet people. If you don't have school-age children you could join a mom's group. I have been involved with MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) for 6 years now and that is a huge base for my clientele (there are MOPS groups in just about every community and it is a wonderful organization that helps moms meet other moms in a non-threatening way). I also have a Facebook page that has generated leads (friends of friends seeing my cakes). Also - donate cakes!! Take one to the school on teacher appreciation day, to any community-type events, etc. The more people who see your work, the more leads you'll get. Let's face it - the cost of a cake is pretty minimal and I always view the time I spend as an investment and skill-builder - so donated cakes are never an issue for me.
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Permalink Reply by Theresa Happe on
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You can also give your cards out to local caterers and wedding halls, when you feel confident enough to do wedding cakes.
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That's a great idea, I was kind of thinking alongs those lines, but instead of a planner I was thinking about a local restaurant, so I could get some study income. Do you have any advice when it comes to providing cakes for local restaurants?
Theresa Happe said:You can also give your cards out to local caterers and wedding halls, when you feel confident enough to do wedding cakes.
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Permalink Reply by jeri c on
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Hair Salons are also a fantastic place to leave cards. I work in a school and a lot of my customers are school district employees who have weddings! Teachers love samples! Our staff loves it when I have extra cake! I always make the extra batter into cupcakes and take them to the school. Never any leftovers! Living in a small town where you know everyone does have it's perks for sure!
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You are absolutely right, if I was living in my home town I would not be having this discussion cause I would have a ton of business. A friend of mine suggested the hair salon as well. I could sale cake slices. Thanks for the advice.
jeri c said:Hair Salons are also a fantastic place to leave cards. I work in a school and a lot of my customers are school district employees who have weddings! Teachers love samples! Our staff loves it when I have extra cake! I always make the extra batter into cupcakes and take them to the school. Never any leftovers! Living in a small town where you know everyone does have it's perks for sure!
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Leah... watch the caterers and coordinators... I had a couple of them approach me about referrals...they wanted 10% for every referral! I had booked a wedding cake a year before a wedding a couple years ago. About 3 months before her wedding she decided to hire this coordinator...this was a coordinator that had talked to me about her idea of referrals... she had the nerve to tell me I owed her 10% of the cost of the cake.... I told her the cake was booked 9 months before she was and that would not happen. At the wedding she was really a PITA. Just be careful of that route.
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