What do you think?

[panini]

Anna,
Probably the most akward part of the business is the cold call. I will usually do homework on the property. The amount of weddings or business they do, have my wife ask questions of a perspective bride having her reception there. Oh yea, ask my Sysco salesman if he knows anything about them. Next I contact the event or wedding planner and see if I could drop by some information and samples. I promiss not to take any of their time, the info will be self explainatory. I usually take samples of our 4 top sellers and a cover letter stating our mission statement, bio, items, liability insurance, client base, etc. I never talk business at this time, I always state in the cover letter that we are a family business and will be very flexible in how we structure an agreement that will be beneficial to both parties.
Most people you talk to will not be able to talk $$ anyway. I follow up in three days. If it has gone a week to ten days with no responce I do the same proceedure with the general manager or owner. I get a bite from step one about 30% of the time and from step 2 20% of the time. I change the cover letter of step 2 to excuse the non responce from step one as not to step on toes, using, I'm sure they were to busy to respond. Rejection is part of the game. SORRY for being long winded.
2nd ?.
My wife has been in advertising all of her career and has just left to join me full time at the bakery. It was just to much for her to be doing both. She has gone from director of international advertising for a fortune 50 to being my boss. ha ha.She would have left sooner but for benefits, she and I are both cancer survivors. We finally got tired of waiting and said the heck with it. Our cobra now exceeds our mortgage and tuition payment together!!Can you believe that?
Anyway, I started doing cakes 7-8 years ago out of a rented kitchen. I did not take salary and elected to buy the place. I turned that location into a production kitchen. Finding the need to have a more stable income I ventured into retail. We opened one small shop in a very upscale area, and we produce from the first location for that. We now have a full crew at the production and my wife and I run the retail with some help. 50% of our business is retail and the rest is wholesale. I make myself available to you for questions if your thinking of doing something like this. There is quite a bit of hidden cost involved to do it legal and right.
Jeff
BTW Its hard,tiring,stressful etc. but we love it. especially closing at 3pm to pick up our son, a little homework and some great family time.