Whilst Nanny Sam relates to the cake industry these thoughts most likely resonate with many small businesses and specialised services - the delicate topic being “Pricing” of which everyone has an opinion As a wedding supplier producing luxury bespoke wedding cakes I am a member of many wedding based social media groups, today I was blown away by what I was reading 😔 The post was in a bridal group and the bride was complaining about the price she had been quoted for the cake she wanted for her big day - whilst I appreciate that people are entitled to an opinion wow manners and understanding are also very important from both the author and those responding
The post was complaining how a baker had quoted in their opinion an extortionate figure for a cake, as the comments progressed additional details were disclosed to explain that it wasn’t just a cake and the cake maker was being expected to complete over 120 mile journey to deliver the cake etc
What drew me to write about this was the response and how disrespectful fellow brides were in effect to small businesses, some comments included
no-one eats cake anyway - total waste of money
get a cheese one much cheaper
Whilst I understand that planning such a big day can be stressful and budgets can be tight but perhaps if this bride had an idea of what bespoke handmade cakes cost she wouldn‘t have been so shocked and felt the need to lash out in the manner she did!
I saw this photo and it speaks a thousand words….
Someone I know tagged me into a post which I thought was kind of them and also illustrated how some do appreciate how hard it is for a small business
I will not apologize for my pricing.
No small business should.
My pricing allows me to make a profit but a very small one. (my pricing is extremely competitive)
Which allows me to pay my bills.
Which also allows me to stay in business.
My pricing allows me to pay myself for the countless hours I work. I’m truly never “off the clock”.
My pricing keeps a roof over my head and food on my table.
My pricing allows me to be able to donate to charitable organizations.
My pricing allows me to create a place for people to go when they need to pick up a gift
I own a small business. One where the CEO personally packs up orders. One where the CEO knows your name and truly cares about you.
I am not a big conglomerate
(a 50 million dollar company).
I’m unable to provide things at the “lowest price”, order millions of units, and still stay in business.
Im not the “cheapest”. I’m also not “the most expensive”.
My pricing is what it is to allow my small business to keep going which allows me to keep making a positive impact.
I will not apologize for my pricing.
No small business should.
Perfect post - I know that I am not the cheapest and you will likely receive cheaper quotations for cakes elsewhere. I will not compete with supermarkets and I will not undersell myself either. When considering a price quoted - it is more than the ingredients you have totted up in the supermarket, with a professional baker you are paying for high quality ingredients, packaging including boards, boxes, candles, gas / electric, equipment required, training, insurance, time to quote for the job, time to bake and create your cake, the paperwork required for every cake as a registered business, the time to raise an invoice, the time taken to chase payment, the banking charges from the bank etc….
So if you find yourself ever cringing about a price or it is out of your budget why not speak further with the supplier and see if there is anyway of reducing the cost sometimes as easy as reducing the finish or design (wedding cakes you will find silk flowers will reduce the price compared to handmade sugar ones)
We are here to work with you and by looking after you we hope to see you again 💕 but please be kind with opinions - most small businesses are just normal people trying to make a living - we are human like you xxxx