Pricing. What gives?
(12/09/2020)
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There's a real heavy issue in regards to the home-baking/ cake decorating industry.
It's called pricing. I hear phrases such as " It's just a cake", "I can get it cheaper elsewhere"....
A lot of potential customers come to me because they look at my gallery and like my work.
So why are so many discouraged once I quote my price? There are so many factors that go into a cake,
I don't think many people understand how much work goes into each and every product.
It's not just a cake I'm making. I'm creating a bespoke, original design, usually set out by my client in a personal consultation, where I work with them to design the wedding cake of their dreams and they get to try some cake samples too. Here's an example of a design that became a reality.
Well, that's all part of the process, but as I make cakes in Chesterfield,
which is a highly competitive town, what makes me stick out from the rest and allows me
to charge what I do, even when so many feel dejected by my fees.
First, I am not a supermarket and I get a lot of comparison to supermarket prices.
Supermarkets use cheap as they can get ingredients and have the ability to produce in mass.
There is a significant difference between my Cake-Artist skills and the design outcome of a Supermarket cake. I have superior crafting skills and my cakes are made
with all natural and organic ingredients. Nothing artificial. They are superior in texture and flavour.
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Second, the difference is in the details. My cakes represent true craftsmanship and that's something that Supermarkets cannot offer. No supermarket is going to produce a cake that feeds over 100 people.
Thirdly, I have to earn a living. Past the point of the cake itself, I need to pay myself a wage. Something that reflects the amount of work and time put in.
A perfect example would be on a most basic of wedding cake that includes sugar-flowers.
To feed 100 people, you require a minimum 3 tier cake of a certain size. This is approximately 3-4 days work.
Day 1 = creation of sugar-flowers, Day 2 = baking, Day 3 =filling and covering, Day 4 = decoration.
Then we have to factor in hours of work, utility usage, fuel and all other associated costs.
Here's one of my favourite meme's to help show you what goes into my business.
So what makes me different to the rest? This is my passion. My true passion.
I'm not just another home-baker. I have spent several years developing my professional skill set and attended sugar-craft school.
When my clients book a wedding/birthday or celebration cake with me, they know they are getting
the very best. I do understand that my pricing may not be for all, but there are those out there who's fees are a lot more than mine. Just be careful not to go too cheap. You get what you pay for and what you get from me is the best quality service I can offer and a cake that will astound you in both taste and design.
In regards to going cheaper, please remember that if you are getting a three tier wedding cake for anything less than £300, then that cake maker is working for less than the minimum wage for the amount of work gone in and I know you wouldn't want that for anybody.
I do hope this has been a little insight into the world of cake pricing and helps you realise why the cake industry must charge the way it does.
Why not take a look at my (coming soon) and see what works for your budget.
I look forward to being able to make the perfect celebration or wedding cake for you.
#weddingcakes #cakes #samples #cakesamples #freecake #freecakesamples #wedding #bride #groom #appointment #booking #chesterfield #weddingcakesinchesterfield #celebration #event
Wedding Cakes in 2020
(03/09/2020)
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I'm excited to write my first blog on what I'm up to and begin with a topic that not only affects me with wedding cakes in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and the surrounding area, but all cake artists worldwide.
I will continue to write something for this blog on a regular basis and with my newly found typing skills, this should be a much easier job.
It's been a while since I've really had to output multiple wedding cakes in a week . Maybe even 8 months at this point. The pandemic has really hit our industry quite hard as we are all self-employed. It will be quite interesting to read this blog in a few years when this situation has calmed down, true vaccines have been found and see how the world has changed. Since the UK's lock-down, I've been concentrating on birthday cake designs, adopting new personal skills and learning some new cake techniques. If you've been following my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/realcakeninja ,
you will have seen some of my latest creations.
It's a strange time with Covid-19 interrupting the flow of cake businesses across the UK.
This strangely, quiet period has allowed me to pick up additional skills in my personal life.
As mentioned above, I taught myself to type and it only took two weeks, eight hours a day.
I also tried to learn the piano but, for some reason, I struggle to play my hands independently. Something to look into?
OK, back to the issue at hand.
Wedding cakes have practically been at a standstill and are only now coming back into the fold.
I'm taking wedding cake orders on a regular basis, but they're not booked until next year and beyond.
I do have some open spaces left for the rest of 2020, but I'm also being asked about year-end and Christmas weddings.
As I write this, I have a couple of very important birthday cakes in the works and with
Halloween just around the corner, things are picking back up.
If you would like to take advantage of the remaining spots I have in 2020 for your bespoke birthday, celebration cake or even a wedding cake, then please do get in touch.
Don't forget that all wedding cakes in Chesterfield have free delivery.
Hopefully you've all kept safe and well during these trying times.
I'm glad I decided to write this and keep up my typing skills.
I look forward to writing additional content on this blog as the rest of 2020 goes by.
​#weddingcakes #cakes #samples #cakesamples #freecake #freecakesamples #wedding #bride #groom #appointment #booking #chesterfield #weddingcakesinchesterfield #celebration #event