It's a really great time for those of us who make wedding cakes, party cakes, or really any kind of special occasion cake. The same holds true for consumers who never knew the possibilities of what can be done with cake. Why do I say this? Well, we're lucky that we can see all of those possibilities just by turning on our television sets! Shows like "Cake Boss"
( http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/cake-boss/cake-boss.html), "Ace of Cakes" (http://www.foodnetwork.com/ace-of-cakes/index.html), "Ultimate Cake Off" (http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/ultimate-cake-off/ultimate-cake-off.html ), etc show people making, buying and eating these wonderful creations. Who could have known that it's possible to make the Golden Gate Bridge out of cake, or Wrigley Field, or even the Leaning Tower of Pisa??!! Amazing!!!
Yes, exactly...it IS amazing. The detail on some of these cakes is just incredible. So is the time that is put into making these masterpieces. Is it any wonder that the bakery behind "Ace of Cakes" has a $1,000 minimum per order? Or that wedding cakes by the "Cake Boss" begin at $8.00 per slice (for a basic cake)? Besides flour, butter and eggs, some of these cakes have not only hours and hours of work but also the creative and design experience of years of experience or education. Many of them have handmade figures, flowers and decorations---none of which cost a lot for the raw materials, but the labor and expertise required to make these decorative items can be significant.
Anyone who makes custom cakes can relate to the stories of people who call to ask for "just a simple cake...in the shape of a 1960 Corvette." Or "a small cake...10 or so people...in the shape of the Empire State Building." Well those, "small, simple" cakes can easily take the baker tens of hours (or more, depending on the detail) to complete so it should be no wonder when the baker quotes a price of $300 (or a LOT more) for these works of art. Often, once quoting the price, we hear, "Oh...I only want to spend $50-$60."
Now I'm not saying that I, or really even most of the bakers/decorators I know in my market, are as talented or as prolific as any of the TV cake designers. But many of us do a great job and are more than willing to accommodate just about any request we get for our cakes. And we love that the art we are so passionate about is getting so much attention by the TV networks. But the point is, it's not just "butter, eggs and flour." It's also years of experience, attention to detail, passion for design and the love of working to make someones life a little bit brighter during their special occasion. For all of us "cakers" out there...please remember this when you call us for your next special occasion. We'll love you for it!!! :)
Monday, October 19, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
So I decided to open a wedding cake business...
About a year and a half ago, I decided I wanted more control over my work life. Some things had happened, due to the economy, which lead me to doubt my direction in the corporate world. I loved my job, no doubt, but was I really appreciated? Did I need (and want) a creative outlet (it turns out the answer was yes)? Was I being challenged enough? What was my purpose on the earth (OK, I know, that's a little deep!)? So, I decided to do it the "right way" and "get legal."
Fortunately, for bakers in Virginia, the state has made it possible to pursue our passion for baking out of our own homes. The Department of Agriculture licenses and inspects home bakers and it works out really well. There's a fair amount of paperwork, regulations, etc but it's do-able. So I got all of that worked out (and then bought insurance, got a website, formed an LLC, etc etc) and was officially ready to open my business in September 2008. It was delayed a bit because I got married and became a custodial stepmom that summer, so life was really busy!
That fall I began to do some baking for a caterer friend and that was a lot of fun. Every so often I'd get a cake for one of her customers but the winter was pretty slow. Once January 2009 rolled around, my ad in one of the wedding publications hit and the phone started ringing! I got a crash course in doing consultations and tastings, working with brides and generally dealing with the "wedding public." Sure, I made some mistakes, but for the most part, it was a LOT of fun! My calendar started filling up, I was meeting some great, fun people and what's happier than a wedding, right???
Oh, a lot happened this year, my first "wedding season," and I sure did learn a lot! I did over 20 weddings this first year as well as a bunch of celebration cakes and my cakes seemed to be very well received. A lot of what I learned, the experiences I"ve had making cakes, serving brides and grooms on their "special day" and some of the joys and stresses of the job will be featured in this blog. So stay tuned and check back! Hope to "see" you again!
Fortunately, for bakers in Virginia, the state has made it possible to pursue our passion for baking out of our own homes. The Department of Agriculture licenses and inspects home bakers and it works out really well. There's a fair amount of paperwork, regulations, etc but it's do-able. So I got all of that worked out (and then bought insurance, got a website, formed an LLC, etc etc) and was officially ready to open my business in September 2008. It was delayed a bit because I got married and became a custodial stepmom that summer, so life was really busy!
That fall I began to do some baking for a caterer friend and that was a lot of fun. Every so often I'd get a cake for one of her customers but the winter was pretty slow. Once January 2009 rolled around, my ad in one of the wedding publications hit and the phone started ringing! I got a crash course in doing consultations and tastings, working with brides and generally dealing with the "wedding public." Sure, I made some mistakes, but for the most part, it was a LOT of fun! My calendar started filling up, I was meeting some great, fun people and what's happier than a wedding, right???
Oh, a lot happened this year, my first "wedding season," and I sure did learn a lot! I did over 20 weddings this first year as well as a bunch of celebration cakes and my cakes seemed to be very well received. A lot of what I learned, the experiences I"ve had making cakes, serving brides and grooms on their "special day" and some of the joys and stresses of the job will be featured in this blog. So stay tuned and check back! Hope to "see" you again!
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