I have three things to touch on today...A couple of things that you can buy to improve your baking or your business, and one that will give you a chance to win a free Craftsy class.
First, we have a recipe/cookbook/guided cake tour written by Jennifer Bratko of Beyond Buttercream in San Francisco. Jennifer had posted her basic vanilla cake recipe online until recently, and got enough positive feedback that she decided to take it a step further. She took her recipe and wrote a thorough explanation of why it works, what to do to make it foolproof, and how to do variations on it to give you multiple versions and flavors.
(Now, I will mention that when Jennifer took the recipe down after having had it online, many people were irritated, to say the least. They were griping that since the recipe had been up it should continue to be free and available. As I mentioned, though, this isn't just the recipe, it has a lot more information included, and it's obvious that a lot of work went into it. So if you've ever complained that a customer didn't appreciate the amount of work that went into a cake and didn't want to pay what you thought your cake was worth, think about that before whining about it.)
The cookbook (I'll call it that because it's like a little baking textbook) is 20 pages long, has extensive notes about ingredients, and is extremely thorough. Well worth it, especially if you don't have a lot of baking knowledge and want to learn the basics as well as getting a good recipe to start out with. It's available on Etsy here: Beyond Buttercream's Base Cake Recipes by Jennifer Bratko
Next up is something that would be interesting for anyone who's interested in getting press exposure for their cake business, or who wants to submit photos to magazines. My friend Meghan Ely owns OFD Consulting and does PR for wedding professionals. She decided to put together a kit for people who want help with specific topics but who aren't ready to hire a full-time PR representative.
She has three kits available, one for press releases, one for real weddings submissions, and one for managing interns. If you're interested in how to market your business more effectively, the press release and real weddings kits can give you some insight into the process.
If you ever look at photos in magazines and think "How the $&#^*@ did that jerk get their cake in that magazine, mine are much better than that," you might benefit from finding out how to get published. There are definitely things that you can do to increase your odds of seeing your work in print, and the photo submission kit can give you the edge.
Here's Meghan's website, and the descriptions of the kits are there for your perusal: http://www.ofdconsulting.com/shop.html
And finally...a Craftsy class giveaway. Click the link to register your entry...You can choose your own class if you're the winner, and the contest ends on March 17th. I'll let Craftsy know to close out the contest when it's over, and they'll contact the winner directly. Good luck!
Click here for the contest: Enter To Win A Craftsy Class
Kara Buntin owns A Cake To Remember LLC, custom wedding cakes in Richmond VA, and is a Craftsy affiliate. She has no affiliation with Beyond Buttercream or OFD Consulting.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Lecture For The Day: Your Poop Does Not Deserve A Parade.
(Please be aware that this is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, so don't bother leaving any toilet training tips. I dealt with that years ago and have no desire to go through it again.)
I have a theory about why people don't want to be bothered with practicing anything these days, and it has to do with toilet training.
Bear with me on this...
I've been a work-at-home-mom since my kids were little, so I see lots of commercials during daytime tv. Many of these commercials are for products for young children, and since my kids are older teenagers now I've seen how diaper commercials have changed through the years. It also keeps me abreast of the trends in toilet training, which have really become ridiculous, if you ask me.
Apparently the new thing is to celebrate the "first flush" with a big party. Woo hoo, little Johnny figured out how to use the toilet! Let's celebrate and make a huge deal about it! Hooray! I don't remember this being a "thing" when my kids were little. 18 years ago we just bribed them with candy, not a celebration.
Now don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the fact that not having to change diapers anymore is a fine, fine thing. But making a huge deal about flushing the toilet seems like it would set a very bad precedent. I remember when they had that stupid commercial with people doing "the potty dance" where you were supposed to dance and celebrate when the child used the toilet. Well, what happens when little Johnny gets a big celebration the first time he poops in the right place? I'll tell you what happens, he starts to think that a basic, mundane bodily function is a super high achievement and that his poop is super special.
This will result in doom, I tell you...An entire generation of potty dancing children are being raised to think that their poop is an accomplishment. No, it's poop.
This potty dancing, poop celebrating thing is probably an outgrowth of the "everybody gets a trophy for showing up" movement that started in the 1980's. The idea that every child needs a trophy is really, really bad. All that does it teach a kid that showing up and making an effort is also super special and deserves an award. What we should be teaching kids is that showing up and making an effort is the basic requirement of living, and that they might actually be frustrated every now and then. But that IF THEY WORK AND TRY, they will get better and might eventually win a real award. And they they can feel like they accomplished something. (Most kids who are on those "an award in every hand" teams know that those trophies are complete BS, just ask them.)
People who are handed an award for showing up do not learn frustration tolerance.
Now how does this relate to cake decorating, you might ask. Or you might already see the connection. The connection is that people who are handed a trophy for showing up, or who are taught that their poop deserves a parade, do not end up thinking that they should have to make an effort, because that's just too frustrating and difficult. They want to be celebrated for doing the minimum, for just showing up. Nobody wants to have to work at something, they want to be able to try a new skill and get perfect results and praise for it the first time. They want a parade for their poop.
Now I'm not just targeting people who have grown up in the last 30 years, either. I'm saying that anyone who takes the fake praise seriously that they get from family and friends telling them that their cakes are awesome, when they really look like a pile of poop, needs to get a reality check. Just because you have a group of people trying to give you a poop parade it doesn't mean that the parade makes any sense.
There are plenty of people who don't want to work, they just want to buy (or get for free) a tutorial that will magically make them an expert. And when you tell them that they have to work at it...oh nooooooo. Not that!
There are certain things in cake decorating (and in life) that just require practice. You can whine about not having the right equipment, or the right tutorial, or the right icing, or the right cake, but even if you do have all of that you'll need to practice. Practice, practice, practice some more. If you don't want to practice you won't get the hang of the skill, and you'll never be able to do it. It can be frustrating, but you won't die from frustration.
I once saw a video of a woman decorating a cake in her crappy kitchen with tools like a bent spatula, a piping bag made from a paper towel, and a rusty piping tip. I swear she had the worst equipment ever, but she was doing an amazing job with what she had. She had obviously practiced A LOT and was able to get good results because of it. I bet nobody threw her a poop parade the first time she picked up the paper towel piping bag, either.
That season of American Idol that had Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard on it is another good example...It was interesting to me, because those two were the ones who would listen to the judges critiques and really work on what they said. They didn't get defensive and reject the judges for being "haters" or for not giving them a poop parade if their performance wasn't great that week. They would listen to the feedback and come back the next week after practicing and working on those things. They both did that, and they both ended up doing fairly well on the show, if I remember correctly.
So the next time you try something new and it doesn't come out the way you want it to, don't blame your equipment, don't blame your lack of a tutorial, just keep trying it until you figure it out. You're not going to be able to get everything right the first time, so don't expect that you will. Don't expect that minimal effort expended will earn you a parade, because it shouldn't. Keep working until you actually have something that's worth throwing a parade for.
Kara Buntin owns A Cake To Remember LLC, custom wedding cakes in Richmond VA
I have a theory about why people don't want to be bothered with practicing anything these days, and it has to do with toilet training.
Bear with me on this...
I've been a work-at-home-mom since my kids were little, so I see lots of commercials during daytime tv. Many of these commercials are for products for young children, and since my kids are older teenagers now I've seen how diaper commercials have changed through the years. It also keeps me abreast of the trends in toilet training, which have really become ridiculous, if you ask me.
Apparently the new thing is to celebrate the "first flush" with a big party. Woo hoo, little Johnny figured out how to use the toilet! Let's celebrate and make a huge deal about it! Hooray! I don't remember this being a "thing" when my kids were little. 18 years ago we just bribed them with candy, not a celebration.
Now don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the fact that not having to change diapers anymore is a fine, fine thing. But making a huge deal about flushing the toilet seems like it would set a very bad precedent. I remember when they had that stupid commercial with people doing "the potty dance" where you were supposed to dance and celebrate when the child used the toilet. Well, what happens when little Johnny gets a big celebration the first time he poops in the right place? I'll tell you what happens, he starts to think that a basic, mundane bodily function is a super high achievement and that his poop is super special.
This will result in doom, I tell you...An entire generation of potty dancing children are being raised to think that their poop is an accomplishment. No, it's poop.
This potty dancing, poop celebrating thing is probably an outgrowth of the "everybody gets a trophy for showing up" movement that started in the 1980's. The idea that every child needs a trophy is really, really bad. All that does it teach a kid that showing up and making an effort is also super special and deserves an award. What we should be teaching kids is that showing up and making an effort is the basic requirement of living, and that they might actually be frustrated every now and then. But that IF THEY WORK AND TRY, they will get better and might eventually win a real award. And they they can feel like they accomplished something. (Most kids who are on those "an award in every hand" teams know that those trophies are complete BS, just ask them.)
People who are handed an award for showing up do not learn frustration tolerance.
Now how does this relate to cake decorating, you might ask. Or you might already see the connection. The connection is that people who are handed a trophy for showing up, or who are taught that their poop deserves a parade, do not end up thinking that they should have to make an effort, because that's just too frustrating and difficult. They want to be celebrated for doing the minimum, for just showing up. Nobody wants to have to work at something, they want to be able to try a new skill and get perfect results and praise for it the first time. They want a parade for their poop.
Now I'm not just targeting people who have grown up in the last 30 years, either. I'm saying that anyone who takes the fake praise seriously that they get from family and friends telling them that their cakes are awesome, when they really look like a pile of poop, needs to get a reality check. Just because you have a group of people trying to give you a poop parade it doesn't mean that the parade makes any sense.
There are plenty of people who don't want to work, they just want to buy (or get for free) a tutorial that will magically make them an expert. And when you tell them that they have to work at it...oh nooooooo. Not that!
There are certain things in cake decorating (and in life) that just require practice. You can whine about not having the right equipment, or the right tutorial, or the right icing, or the right cake, but even if you do have all of that you'll need to practice. Practice, practice, practice some more. If you don't want to practice you won't get the hang of the skill, and you'll never be able to do it. It can be frustrating, but you won't die from frustration.
I once saw a video of a woman decorating a cake in her crappy kitchen with tools like a bent spatula, a piping bag made from a paper towel, and a rusty piping tip. I swear she had the worst equipment ever, but she was doing an amazing job with what she had. She had obviously practiced A LOT and was able to get good results because of it. I bet nobody threw her a poop parade the first time she picked up the paper towel piping bag, either.
That season of American Idol that had Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard on it is another good example...It was interesting to me, because those two were the ones who would listen to the judges critiques and really work on what they said. They didn't get defensive and reject the judges for being "haters" or for not giving them a poop parade if their performance wasn't great that week. They would listen to the feedback and come back the next week after practicing and working on those things. They both did that, and they both ended up doing fairly well on the show, if I remember correctly.
So the next time you try something new and it doesn't come out the way you want it to, don't blame your equipment, don't blame your lack of a tutorial, just keep trying it until you figure it out. You're not going to be able to get everything right the first time, so don't expect that you will. Don't expect that minimal effort expended will earn you a parade, because it shouldn't. Keep working until you actually have something that's worth throwing a parade for.
Kara Buntin owns A Cake To Remember LLC, custom wedding cakes in Richmond VA
Sunday, March 2, 2014
How To Make Money From Your Cake Business Part 3
Next in the series of interviews with home-based bakers who are actually making a profit is Cindy from Cindy's Cakery in Hayes, VA.
How many cakes do you do per year and is that “enough” for you? In other words, are you as busy as you want to be?
Last year I did 31 weddings and twice that in celebration cakes. Financially I could use a few more, especially in the off-wedding season but physically and mentally I am busy enough.
Do you do cakes because it’s a business for you or because you think it’s fun, or a combination?
It is definitely a business but I really like my job, except washing dishes.
What’s your opinion of social media for business?
I believe they have their uses. They are very fickle in nature and seem to require consistent and constant work to keep people's interests.
Do you think that people are too concerned with being online and how many likes/followers/contacts they have?
Definitely for some but I think there are those that naturally like the spotlight. Unfortunately, I do feel a lot of pressure to have amazing and wonderful things to post everyday but cake decorating isn't really all that glamorous and actually a lot of really hard work.
Do you think that social media sites are beneficial to businesses?
Yes but it's not perfect. People expect a business to have a fb page and I think that Twitter and Instagram are next on the list. I personally feel a website has more credibility and think less of a business that only has a fb page and no website.
Do you belong to any networking groups or professional organizations for your business?
Yes, Peninsula Wedding Professionals and Peninsula Cake Club.
Do you actively pursue publication opportunities?
No, but I try not to turn down an opportunity. It is kinda exciting to be in print or featured on a blog but it is not at the very top of my list of things to do.
Do you want to have a lot of media mentions for your business?
I think some is nice and it can be good for your business to get your name out and grow your business but I do not plan on trying to become "famous". I don't think having a zillion fb fans translates into more money in the bank.
Do you know off the top of your head how much your profit margin is overall?
No and I know that is bad. I am not an accountant or number cruncher.
Do you pay attention to business finances so that you know where you are financially?
I know when I have money in my account and when I don't.
Do you pay attention to people online who give business advice? If you do, do you know if they’re successful or not?
I read what they have to say and see if it makes sense or if it could work for my situation. I will also do some research about them to see if they are on the up and up.
What do you think is the most effective way to get cake orders?
Make your clients happy. Also, networking with other local wedding vendors and venues who can refer you, however, I will not pay to have my business referred.
Do you have sales or financial goals for your business each year?
To fill my baking schedule and make enough money to pay for all my business expenses and to help support my family.
Do you have a website that you maintain on a regular basis?
Yes, definitely, www.cindyscakery.com
What’s your opinion about people who spend a lot of time online giving business advice?
I ask these questions...How did they get this expertise? Is it their informed or uninformed opinion or is it things that are tried and true and worked for their business? Are they a journalist or are they an actual business owner? If they do have a business how do they have time to be online all the time? Who is running their business? Things that make me go hmmmm.
Do you pay attention to your local competition or not?
Yes, a lot in the beginning stages of my business but I honestly do not have the time now. I hear things now and again from friends, clients and fellow vendors. Sometimes we even see each other at bridal shows or vendor blenders. I have several in my area whom I respect and whose work I admire a lot. Some I do not know how they stay in business. I believe there is enough business to go around. I can't make everybody's wedding cake nor do I want to.
Do you have any advice for people who are starting out?
Absolutely check into all the local laws and requirements that apply to you. Study, take classes, read books and practice practice practice your techniques and don't ever stop learning. Decide who you want your target client to be and hone your skills and customer services towards them. Have in place a way to keep paperwork and your schedule organized. Be prepared to have it take over your life and home if you are going to be home-based. Pans and tools take up a lot of space and have to be kept separate so get that organized before you get busy. Everywhere you go pass out business cards and give them to friends and family to pass out too. Also, get to know other vendors (planners and venues especially) in your area. Schedule an appointment to stop by and introduce yourself and take them samples. Take free samples to your bank, school, to dr.'s appointments, etc., folks love that.
Where do you think is the most useful place to advertise your business?
Have a good looking, informative, and easy to navigate website. Then have a good rapport with local venues and other wedding vendors like bridal shops, event planners, catering companies, florists, and photographers.
Thanks, Cindy. Next week I'm going to summarize, since it seems that I'm seeing a lot of the same patterns from the people who have answered my questions so far...
Kara Buntin owns A Cake To Remember LLC, custom wedding cakes in Richmond VA
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Piped Lines and Pearls Wedding Cake
Kara Buntin owns A Cake To Remember LLC, custom wedding cakes in Richmond, VA
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
How To Make Cigars For A Cigar Box Cake
A quick look at how to wrap gumpaste cigars so that they don't look like hot dogs or poop.
Kara Buntin owns A Cake To Remember LLC, custom wedding cakes in Richmond VA
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