Went to a few shopping malls this week.
and almost every one that I went to, had a fondant cake shop, selling fondant cupcakes, decorated ones, nicely sitting in the display shelf... part of me was like "WOW SO NICE!!! OOO I WANT TO TAKE PICTURE!!" and another part of me was like "oh damn.. this industry is getting tight"
Indeed, over the recent years, customised cakes and pastry, with the help of social media has blossomed and flourished with many home bakers setting up shop. Competition is indeed tough and I'm really thankful for the customers who have stuck around all these years! Mainly thankful to God... for His abundant Grace in leading us to where we are today :) Now I need a lot of trust and faith that He will continue to guide this humble cakeshop to bigger things :)
Cakes are getting pricey and I wouldn't deny that our prices have shot up over the last 6 years. I used to sell $40 for a 1kg cake - completely decorated with figurines etc. but sometimes I look back at the old photos and laugh and think what was I actually doing - the cakes don't even loook pretty :( :/ Now, a 1kg cake would cost at least a $100 for a fully decorated one and I can be a little proud to say that it might not look SUPER FANTASTIC but at least there's some standard to it :)
Quality is exactly the next thing I need to keep up with! Taste and decoration goes together. Look good, taste good. Simple logic, but it's hard to achieve. Consistency is what we're looking for... but it doesn't always happen. Shit happens and humans make mistakes - the theory of the world. There are soooo many good cakeshops out there and sometimes I huddle in my blankie and wonder what's left in store for Charlotte Grace. lolol. Practice to perfection - something Jon taught Ellie and I a while ago, I guess we just have to keep on going on.
Apart from feeling demoralised at the reality of the industry, I am super happy that more people are bringing good cake to the scene. Not just the looks but the taste too... everything is exciting, fresh and changing for the better.. I hope everybody gets a good piece of cake and everybody who's baking and decorating are enjoying every moment of it too! :)
Cheers to cake and everything else.
love,
Jia
and almost every one that I went to, had a fondant cake shop, selling fondant cupcakes, decorated ones, nicely sitting in the display shelf... part of me was like "WOW SO NICE!!! OOO I WANT TO TAKE PICTURE!!" and another part of me was like "oh damn.. this industry is getting tight"
Indeed, over the recent years, customised cakes and pastry, with the help of social media has blossomed and flourished with many home bakers setting up shop. Competition is indeed tough and I'm really thankful for the customers who have stuck around all these years! Mainly thankful to God... for His abundant Grace in leading us to where we are today :) Now I need a lot of trust and faith that He will continue to guide this humble cakeshop to bigger things :)
Cakes are getting pricey and I wouldn't deny that our prices have shot up over the last 6 years. I used to sell $40 for a 1kg cake - completely decorated with figurines etc. but sometimes I look back at the old photos and laugh and think what was I actually doing - the cakes don't even loook pretty :( :/ Now, a 1kg cake would cost at least a $100 for a fully decorated one and I can be a little proud to say that it might not look SUPER FANTASTIC but at least there's some standard to it :)
Quality is exactly the next thing I need to keep up with! Taste and decoration goes together. Look good, taste good. Simple logic, but it's hard to achieve. Consistency is what we're looking for... but it doesn't always happen. Shit happens and humans make mistakes - the theory of the world. There are soooo many good cakeshops out there and sometimes I huddle in my blankie and wonder what's left in store for Charlotte Grace. lolol. Practice to perfection - something Jon taught Ellie and I a while ago, I guess we just have to keep on going on.
Apart from feeling demoralised at the reality of the industry, I am super happy that more people are bringing good cake to the scene. Not just the looks but the taste too... everything is exciting, fresh and changing for the better.. I hope everybody gets a good piece of cake and everybody who's baking and decorating are enjoying every moment of it too! :)
Cheers to cake and everything else.
love,
Jia
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