Look out folks i'm gonna have a rant!!!! (but not reallly) - Cake Decorating Community - Cakes We Bake2024-03-29T12:13:02Zhttps://cakeswebake.com/forum/topics/look-out-folks-i-m-goona-have-a-rant-but-not-reallly?feed=yes&xn_auth=nolol Les - I'm a bit like that…tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-24:4635016:Comment:10175872012-07-24T10:20:23.360ZKaty Notthttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/KATYNOTT
<p>lol Les - I'm a bit like that too. My husband disappears when I'm trying something new 'cos the air is just blue (mouth of a fishwife let me tell you). I was trying to make gladiola petals yesterday and honestly, anyone would think they could hear me the way I was going on at them........</p>
<p>Can't wait to see your wedding cake - I know it will be stunning.</p>
<p>lol Les - I'm a bit like that too. My husband disappears when I'm trying something new 'cos the air is just blue (mouth of a fishwife let me tell you). I was trying to make gladiola petals yesterday and honestly, anyone would think they could hear me the way I was going on at them........</p>
<p>Can't wait to see your wedding cake - I know it will be stunning.</p> Les, are you on Facebook? You…tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-24:4635016:Comment:10175742012-07-24T07:43:58.459ZTracy Deadmanhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/TracyDeadman
<p>Les, are you on Facebook? You can have a free Facebook business page and pop photo's of your amazing cakes into the gallery for all to see. It will get linked to your personal page and you can get family and friends to like you instantly. There is a company called Richards cakes and he does shouts for people which will give you more 'Likers'. He also gets requests for various areas that he doesn't cover where good cake makers are wanted - I know of a few people who have had business bounced…</p>
<p>Les, are you on Facebook? You can have a free Facebook business page and pop photo's of your amazing cakes into the gallery for all to see. It will get linked to your personal page and you can get family and friends to like you instantly. There is a company called Richards cakes and he does shouts for people which will give you more 'Likers'. He also gets requests for various areas that he doesn't cover where good cake makers are wanted - I know of a few people who have had business bounced thier way by him. I'm afraid I don't have the time to participate in the 'Share' thing on Facebook too often and my likes are quite low - but by doing cakes for family parties I've had business from family friends and then from friends of friends. And so it goes on.</p>
<p>I'm glad you thought of yourself in that awful situation you found yourself in - it's terrible. Yes she will go down the pan and I'm sure you wont get satisfaction from seeing it happen. Sometimes you have to go on a self preservation kick and it's us nice guy's that bare the brunt of these people hell bent on self destruct.</p>
<p>I wish you every success with your new venture and I'm sure it will be the best thing you did.</p>
<p>Take care, Tracy x</p> WOW Barbara......I think we a…tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-24:4635016:Comment:10177192012-07-24T07:34:24.328ZTracy Deadmanhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/TracyDeadman
<p>WOW Barbara......I think we all need to take on board that advice. Fab xx <br></br> <br></br> <cite>Barbara said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.cakeswebake.com/forum/topics/look-out-folks-i-m-goona-have-a-rant-but-not-reallly#4635016Comment1009501"><div><div id="navunderads"></div>
<div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Les, You have a captive audience YOUR CLIENTS, give them a sample of your cakes i.e. cupcakes, cake pops etc as a thank you for being such loyal clients. You built your hair…</p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>WOW Barbara......I think we all need to take on board that advice. Fab xx <br/> <br/> <cite>Barbara said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.cakeswebake.com/forum/topics/look-out-folks-i-m-goona-have-a-rant-but-not-reallly#4635016Comment1009501"><div><div id="navunderads"></div>
<div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Les, You have a captive audience YOUR CLIENTS, give them a sample of your cakes i.e. cupcakes, cake pops etc as a thank you for being such loyal clients. You built your hair client for your hair business not utilize them to build your cake business. Contact wedding officiants in your area. Take samples of your cakes to other salons, doctors offices, dentist offices etc. Put your business card with the samples a menu of cakes you make with some pictures. If you don't have a website get one done or make one yourself. There are several website builders you can use that are Free. wix.com, weebler.com are two I know off. Participate in charity programs offer a discount on a cake or raffle off a cake (up to a certain dollar amount). Link your website with the officiants website, wedding planners, venues, etc.</p>
<p>I hope this helps. Here is my website to give you an idea <a href="http://www.krazyaboutcake.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.krazyaboutcake.com</a></p>
<p><br/>Don't give up on doing hair, I have a hair license to in Florida, not doing hair now I work in the corporate world as well as doing cakes. I can retire in a couple years and plan on doing cakes and go back to doing hair or teach cake decorating or teach cosmetology part time.</p>
<p>Best of Luck</p>
<p>Barbara</p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote> Thanks so much for the advice…tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-24:4635016:Comment:10176572012-07-24T05:06:03.820ZLes Brownhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/LesBrown
<p>Thanks so much for the advice guys your all so supportive and helpfull. I will certainly be following most of the advice that I think will work for me in my area. I'm working to get my website up and running soon as well.</p>
<p>Not sure that I'll ever get on TV though Katy I'm way to much of a stress bunny when it comes to completing a cake, I'm working on a wedding cake for my brother and sister in law at the moment and on a scale of 1 to 10 think i'm about 640 at the moment hahaha!!! not…</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the advice guys your all so supportive and helpfull. I will certainly be following most of the advice that I think will work for me in my area. I'm working to get my website up and running soon as well.</p>
<p>Not sure that I'll ever get on TV though Katy I'm way to much of a stress bunny when it comes to completing a cake, I'm working on a wedding cake for my brother and sister in law at the moment and on a scale of 1 to 10 think i'm about 640 at the moment hahaha!!! not sure there's a TV station out there that could deal with my stress levels my partner has threatened me on more than 1 occassion that he's moving to Australia !!!!!</p>
<p> </p> Here Here Katy!!!tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-23:4635016:Comment:10170402012-07-23T12:59:58.693ZJune Kowalczykhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/JuneKowalczyk
Here Here Katy!!!
Here Here Katy!!! Bettina - awesome, wonderful…tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-23:4635016:Comment:10170312012-07-23T10:50:18.441ZKaty Notthttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/KATYNOTT
<p>Bettina - awesome, wonderful advice. Les, isn't it great how people care on this site and go out of their way to give all the help they can? Do keep us updated about your progress, we all want to see you on TV!</p>
<p>Bettina - awesome, wonderful advice. Les, isn't it great how people care on this site and go out of their way to give all the help they can? Do keep us updated about your progress, we all want to see you on TV!</p> Wow Bettina
Great info!!!!! …tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-23:4635016:Comment:10166712012-07-23T00:56:41.184ZJune Kowalczykhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/JuneKowalczyk
<p>Wow Bettina</p>
<p>Great info!!!!! So detailed!!!!</p>
<p>If could also make another suggestion Les. One of my cake club members was trying to get "out there", and she approached Ronald McDonald house and offered to do celebration cakes for the children/familes staying their for free. We here can write off the dilivery, supplies, and labour for those type of cakes. Now, that wasn't foremost in her mind, but it helped. She made sure she had pictures taken, left her business cards. It was…</p>
<p>Wow Bettina</p>
<p>Great info!!!!! So detailed!!!!</p>
<p>If could also make another suggestion Les. One of my cake club members was trying to get "out there", and she approached Ronald McDonald house and offered to do celebration cakes for the children/familes staying their for free. We here can write off the dilivery, supplies, and labour for those type of cakes. Now, that wasn't foremost in her mind, but it helped. She made sure she had pictures taken, left her business cards. It was amazing she said the word of mouth business from the families & employees. This did two fold. Firstly, it helped out a great charity, and Secondly.... she felt great giving. A win win. There maybe a worthy charity right where you Les that would appreciate and benefit from something like this??? :o)</p> That really bites and isn't i…tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-22:4635016:Comment:10166382012-07-22T23:37:15.933ZBettina Dwyerhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/BettinaThorp
<p>That really bites and isn't it amazing how much one will put up with until you go 'no more'? <br></br>Ok to business. <br></br><br></br>1. The very first thing you need to do is make a business plan. I did a short course just for this last year and it solidified all those things I 'knew' about my client base, where I was coming from and where I was going with my business. It takes a bit of work but it is well worth it in the end AND at the end of it you have a pretty awesome document to submit to banks…</p>
<p>That really bites and isn't it amazing how much one will put up with until you go 'no more'? <br/>Ok to business. <br/><br/>1. The very first thing you need to do is make a business plan. I did a short course just for this last year and it solidified all those things I 'knew' about my client base, where I was coming from and where I was going with my business. It takes a bit of work but it is well worth it in the end AND at the end of it you have a pretty awesome document to submit to banks in order to apply for business loans etc.<br/><br/>2. Social media is THE most accessible portal for most people. By having a presence on FB, Twitter etc, you are putting your business out there for people to see what you're capable of. Once there you need to make sure that your business page comes up in the news feeds each day, You do this simply by making a post each day. This will keep your profile up there with friends, family and customers so you remain in their minds eye.<br/>Most people have ready access to facebook etc and, in my experience, find it easy to contact you. It also acts like 'word of mouth' advertising and people 'like' and 'share' both your page and your photos of your creations; and as we all know, word of mouth advertising is the most effective advertising there is.....and the least expensive.<br/><br/>3. Work smarter not harder. Decide what you want your business to be. For example, I decided that I didn't want to be making 'everday' cakes. I wanted to make special occasion cakes and novelty cakes. They're not the sort of cakes for your run of the mill birthday - that's what supermarket cakes are for - I also don't do cake pops (except for friends but I don't advertise it) or cupcakes (again for friends and family and again I don't advertise it). You can try to do too much and end up with nothing. So specialise and do it really well, so you can mark out your niche and do something that will make you stand out from the rest.<br/>Would it be better, say, to do a couple or big orders each week rather than a lot of little ones? If you're going to go the cupcake and cakepop route, make sure you have a miniumum order in place so your'e not just going to all the trouble to make less than a dozen.<br/><br/>4. Write an advertorial for your business. Newspapers, especially the local ones, are always looking out for stories to fill the pages. Write it as if you were a third person looking at your business and don't forget to submit photos (at least 300dpi) with it. They may not use it that week or even the next, but it is there and that sort of thing rather than paid advertising, will get you noticed.<br/><br/>5. Make sure you have cards or a flip book at hairdressers, beauticians, nail bars, wedding shops, party hire, as well as reception venues, wedding and party planners, etc. Go in and introduce yourself so they remember the face and the name.<br/><br/>6. Professional business cards and business stationery will cement your professionalism in people's minds. I know a lot of people use vista print (as do I) but I upload my own images for my cards so that it is different from the rest. I know they have a lot of templates on vista print, but how many times do you see the same design for a variety of businesses - they don't stand out. You need to stand out from the crowd to catch people's attention.<br/><br/>7. Approach your local council and find out what licensing laws affect you. Do you need to register as a business? Do you need to have an accredited kitchen? Should you hire a commercial space to bake in? It seems that laws between shires and councils vary... a lot, so it's best to find out for yourself what applies to you.<br/><br/>8. You can also 'blog' which is an alternative to having a website as such. A lot of cake blogs offer mini tutorials on how they do things, tips and tricks, as well as photos of their work and other's work that inspires them. Both with social media and blogging, you need to present yourself as an 'expert' in your area of expertise. You may not think of yourself as such, but just think what you are capable of compared to 'Joe Average'; he would see you as an expert.<br/><br/>9. Look around your region. What is missing? What can you offer that others don't? What makes your cakes so special compared to others? Is it range of flavours? Decorating expertise? Price? The fact that you're the only one in your area that will deliver? The quirky nature of your designs? <br/><br/>10. Bring joy to your work and it will come out in what you do. Being happy about what you have created and being able to make someone smile or even grin is an awesome thing to be able to do. Holding this to your heart it will come through in both your art and the way you deal with potential customers.</p> Thanks Barbara I will definat…tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-22:4635016:Comment:10159752012-07-22T07:41:49.492ZLes Brownhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/LesBrown
<p>Thanks Barbara I will definately get round to getting my website up and running as soon a I've got a bit more time. your website is really informative. I must admit I haven't done cake pops or cupcakes as I tend to go for the larger cakes but it's certainly something worth thinking about.</p>
<p>Thanks Barbara I will definately get round to getting my website up and running as soon a I've got a bit more time. your website is really informative. I must admit I haven't done cake pops or cupcakes as I tend to go for the larger cakes but it's certainly something worth thinking about.</p> Wow, Barbara, this is just an…tag:cakeswebake.com,2012-07-16:4635016:Comment:10097822012-07-16T13:46:47.233ZLinda Wolffhttps://cakeswebake.com/profile/LindaWolff
<p>Wow, Barbara, this is just an awesome piece of advice. Kudos to you!<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Barbara said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.cakeswebake.com/forum/topics/look-out-folks-i-m-goona-have-a-rant-but-not-reallly#4635016Comment1009501"><div><p>Les, You have a captive audience YOUR CLIENTS, give them a sample of your cakes i.e. cupcakes, cake pops etc as a thank you for being such loyal clients. You built your hair client for your hair business not utilize them to build your cake…</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Wow, Barbara, this is just an awesome piece of advice. Kudos to you!<br/> <br/> <cite>Barbara said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.cakeswebake.com/forum/topics/look-out-folks-i-m-goona-have-a-rant-but-not-reallly#4635016Comment1009501"><div><p>Les, You have a captive audience YOUR CLIENTS, give them a sample of your cakes i.e. cupcakes, cake pops etc as a thank you for being such loyal clients. You built your hair client for your hair business not utilize them to build your cake business. Contact wedding officiants in your area. Take samples of your cakes to other salons, doctors offices, dentist offices etc. Put your business card with the samples a menu of cakes you make with some pictures. If you don't have a website get one done or make one yourself. There are several website builders you can use that are Free. wix.com, weebler.com are two I know off. Participate in charity programs offer a discount on a cake or raffle off a cake (up to a certain dollar amount). Link your website with the officiants website, wedding planners, venues, etc.</p>
<p>I hope this helps. Here is my website to give you an idea <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.krazyaboutcake.com" target="_blank">www.krazyaboutcake.com</a></p>
<p><br/>Don't give up on doing hair, I have a hair license to in Florida, not doing hair now I work in the corporate world as well as doing cakes. I can retire in a couple years and plan on doing cakes and go back to doing hair or teach cake decorating or teach cosmetology part time.</p>
<p>Best of Luck</p>
<p>Barbara</p>
</div>
</blockquote>