Making cakes is not just about food. It’s an art, and a passion, and sometimes we put so much of ourselves into a design, that we can hardly bare to think of it being chopped up. Some clients are a breeze to work with, but many just leave us wondering why we fussed so long, worked so hard to be completely flawless, and don’t seem to understand just how much we do.
So customers, here’s what I want you to know..
If you only knew how many times I get to bed at 3am because I won’t sleep until everything is perfect. I will re-do half the cake if I’m not 100% satisfied. I care more about your cake than anyone should really care about a piece of food. I put my heart and soul into every cake I make.
If you only knew that, since you took so long to pay for a deposit, I had to wait until my kids went to bed, and drive to the store at 9pm. I baked until eleven, then sat in my dining room for half an hour waiting for the cakes to cool, while everyone else, including you, slept soundly.
If you only knew that after making your cake I thought “Wow! I must be getting pretty good at this, because that cake turned out awesome”. Your order made my confidence soar.
If you only knew that, even though you told me my initial quote was “ridiculous! I can’t believe you are still in business.” , I worked on your cake just like it was for my own child.
If you only knew that I took three attempts to make that topper, that your child grabbed off the cake during pick up. Then you asked if I had a spare. Of course I hadn’t kept the rejects. Do you keep your failures? While you paid, you complained that you shouldn’t have to pay full price for a topper that never left my house, and that it was unprofessional not to have a back up. After you left I locked myself in the bathroom for half an hour and cried.
If you only knew that the fact that you sent a mass email to all the cake decorators in our town was rude. Cakes are not equal, and I am not a number. We are all good at different things.
If you only knew that I remember every single cake, and it makes me so happy to know that I helped you have an amazing party. Your cake wasn’t a number to me.
If you only knew that it took an hour just to come up with a design to email to you, and then you didn’t even have the decency to respond to say you got it.
If you only knew that I spent more time on your cake than I did on my own child’s birthday cake during the same week. And when your husband came to pick up the cake he barely said thanks, let alone said he liked it.
If you only knew that, when you changed your mind two days before pickup you wasted an extra hour and a half on my time. I had to go to the cake shop to grab more fondant, and then colour it, and yet if I tried to ask for an extra $20 you most likely would have cancelled the order.
If you only knew that I took an hour getting that perfect shade of pink buttercream. At first it wasn’t right, and then it went too dark, so I had to add fresh buttercream, and in the end I still wasn’t sure it was perfect. I didn’t stop mildly panicking until you picked it up.
If you only knew, that I spent a total of 2 hours responding to your emails, design changes, and your inability to pick a cake flavour. Trust me, those two hours were not included in the price.
If you only knew how your order means everything to me, because it means I get to do what I love, and I’m grateful for every client I have, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Share your “If you only knew..” stories. x
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