Selling just the topper??

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Katy Nott on September 26, 2012 at 6:33am

mmm - you do have a point here Kiana.

Kiana Malvagno said:

I have to disagree with the masses If they want yor toppers they must be pretty special, I would sell them the most important part of a decorated cake The decorations, but charge them what they must think they're worth ALOT

Permalink Reply by Bettina Dwyer on September 26, 2012 at 7:39am

Thanks Katy.

Katy Nott said:

What a great idea Bettina and what a nice person you are.  Clever girl

Bettina Dwyer said:

I make cake toppers as a separate thing altogether. In the area I live there is a lot of lower socio econmonic families and although they would love the whole cake package, many simply cannot afford what I have to offer. I thought a lot about this and decided that in this case, I could still offer something for this customer.
Each time I have provided a topper the customers have made it clear to those who asked, that I hadn't made the cake - most times it was homemade by mum - just the topper. 9 times out of 10 these occasions aren't for a major event - usually it's for a child's birthday.

This is completely different to what Joann is talking about though. In this case I think it's just rude. I agree, all or nothing in this case.

Permalink Reply by Mandy Nel on October 1, 2012 at 8:19am

I had a lady who had started baking approach me to make her a set of "Barney and friends" and I charged her a small amount because I felt that she was just starting out.  She then proceeded to make a really ugly cake (sorry, it was in gaudy green colours with masses of piping) and then put my lovely characters on top of that.  Granted, they did redeem the cake somewhat, but then she started calling me every week and kinda being pushy about what characters she wanted - I then had to tell her that I had really just done it as a courtesy to a new baker, but that she would have to learn to make her own, just like I had to.  That was the end of that. :-( Me bad hey?

Permalink Reply by Joann Gottermeyer on October 1, 2012 at 9:14am

Unbelievable!!

Permalink Reply by Bettina Dwyer on October 1, 2012 at 6:14pm

Around the area I live, decorators often commission other decorators to make flowers (especially) or figures for cakes because they have been asked to make a cake at the last minute and don't have the time. But the difference is they will pay the appropriate rate for getting that done and make sure the customer knows who made the flowers or whatever, the decorator doesn't try to pass off the other decorator's work as their own. Of course the cost is passed onto the customer so everyone is covered and happy, especially since, most times, the time line is tight.
I wouldn't have any hesitation to commission someone who was great with flowers, to make a bouquet or whatever for a cake I made, IF I thought I couldn't do it justice. But then I'm not ringing up every week asking someone to make something that will ultimately be the focus of the cake because I can't do it. One has to ask why one earth they agreed to do the cake if they couldn't deliver what they promised?

Permalink Reply by Mandy Nel on October 2, 2012 at 2:41am

I hear you sista!!!!  No harm in colloboration to do a cake amongst cake artists, but not someone who thinks they can do it the easy way.  In fact I have made use of a very good friend to help with roses on a past cake, simply because I didnt have the time to get to it and it was a bit of an extra income for her.  I even had a friend come to my home last year and bake me a whole load of fruit cakes as she has retired, with a very small pension, and I paid her for her time (I provided all the ingredients, electricity etc.) and she loves to bake so was happy to have the opportunity.  Its a bit like doing a patchwork quilt - with loads of love in the finished product :-)

Permalink Reply by Bettina Dwyer on October 2, 2012 at 2:58am

It's funny isn't it? I have a mate who will basically drop everything to come over and give me a hand and she didn't know anything about cake decorating, BUT she's an awesome cardmaker! As such she has that amazing eye for detail and problem solving we all have with cake decorating! She has learned so much just sitting and watching and doing hands on. I love working with her, it makes it fun and the day go quickly, and I do her cakes for free. It's a win win for both of us!

Mandy Nel said:

I hear you sista!!!!  No harm in colloboration to do a cake amongst cake artists, but not someone who thinks they can do it the easy way.  In fact I have made use of a very good friend to help with roses on a past cake, simply because I didnt have the time to get to it and it was a bit of an extra income for her.  I even had a friend come to my home last year and bake me a whole load of fruit cakes as she has retired, with a very small pension, and I paid her for her time (I provided all the ingredients, electricity etc.) and she loves to bake so was happy to have the opportunity.  Its a bit like doing a patchwork quilt - with loads of love in the finished product :-)

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