Joined: Sep 25, 2006
Posts: 1830
Location: Chicago
Posted:
Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:03 pm
For Cakeboss to really be an advantage, how much business are you doing per month? I just do cakes on the side while till working full time.
ccr03 Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 16, 2005
Posts: 1382
Location: Independence, MO
Birthday: Jan 31
Posted:
Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:33 pm
I am so not the most organized, but I keep a regular notebook w/me at all times and as soon as someone calls I start taking notes - even if they are just inquiring. Ever since I started doing this it's been great! I can easily flip through the notebook and see the original inquiry and then I'll highlight it if I booked it.
Sundays are supposed to be my day to catch up on all the paperwork - including invoicing and all that good stuff.
If I have three or more orders in a weekend, then I use this Excel spreadsheet I created to keep me organized
drowsyrn Junior Member
Joined: Apr 09, 2008
Posts: 48
Location: Oklahoma
Posted:
Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:40 pm
Right above the main table I do all of my decorating, I have 7 small clipboards (5x7) with the days of the week above them. All the cakes for that day go in the order of time on the clipboard. I then have a small desk holder for future orders. Each week they go up to the clipboards when they are due for that day of the week.
littlecake Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 18, 2006
Posts: 1390
Location: the fine line between genuis and insanity
Birthday: Nov 21
Posted:
Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:46 pm
drowsyrn wrote:
Right above the main table I do all of my decorating, I have 7 small clipboards (5x7) with the days of the week above them. All the cakes for that day go in the order of time on the clipboard. I then have a small desk holder for future orders. Each week they go up to the clipboards when they are due for that day of the week.
me too....near the phone, that's how they did it at every bakery i ever worked for......kinda like duff but smaller
CakeGrlPA Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 04, 2007
Posts: 236
Posted:
Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:49 pm
ccr03 wrote:
I am so not the most organized, but I keep a regular notebook w/me at all times and as soon as someone calls I start taking notes - even if they are just inquiring. Ever since I started doing this it's been great! I can easily flip through the notebook and see the original inquiry and then I'll highlight it if I booked it.
Sundays are supposed to be my day to catch up on all the paperwork - including invoicing and all that good stuff.
If I have three or more orders in a weekend, then I use this Excel spreadsheet I created to keep me organized
I use a notebook too for daily inquires, once I get the order I put the contract, emails, pictures, etc. on a clear plastic folder and then on a ring folder organized by the event date.
As soon as book an order I put it on my calendar so I know the date is taken.
MichelleM77 Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 06, 2005
Posts: 2770
Location: near Akron, Ohio
Birthday: Jun 01
Posted:
Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:38 pm
I have Cake Boss (love it), but I also need to flip through pages and see things. I'll die if they ever stop printing magazines and newspapers because I need to hold it in my hand, highlight and circle things, and dog-ear pages. I also like having it on Cake Boss, but I have to use both in order to feel organized. It's just the way I am, I guess.
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 13513
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:50 pm
Everything is on my laptop, which is ALWAYS with me!! I also have a standard book-calendar where I just notate bride's name ("Smith Wedding 4:30 delv"), so I can do a quick flip to see if that date is booked. All conversations, orders, details, etc., are confirmed via email, so all records are electronic.
As it gets closer and I start working on the wedding, I print off my order forms from the computer and put them in a clear plastic folder that is a bright green..... easy to find this brightly colored folder in the paper clutter, in the equipment at the reception, etc.
Mine is virtually just like Indydebi's. I make a file in Excel of the contract and then print it off and place it in a slash pocket colored folder and in a date ordered binder. It is also placed in a datebook with the name of the bride, her cell phone, venue and delivery time.
I also place it on yahoo's calender and it reminds me via an email.
For small orders they go into my datebook with the same info as a bride.
littlecake Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 18, 2006
Posts: 1390
Location: the fine line between genuis and insanity
Birthday: Nov 21
Posted:
Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:56 am
does this stuff work with multiple orders in one day?
i have like 20 orders every saturday...i (think) i need something to "hold on to" that i can put with every cake...or how can you keep em straight, with all the info on the computer?
OCakes Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 16, 2005
Posts: 326
Location: Sonoma, California
Birthday: Jan 28 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:16 am
I'm adding the "binder for each Bride" idea - thank you! And I'm going to purchase the Cake Boss soon! Currently though, incase it helps anyone, I have individual e-mail folders & put everything in there, titled with the date & then the name & description of the cake. So, I know everything's there if I need it - but on Monday's, I print-out a spreadsheet which I created to keep myself on task. I tape this to my wall, so I can keep track of my progress visually. The first column is for the cake description/flavors/due date/ph#/price. The following columns are the most important for me though: "special decorations created"/"baked"/"assembled/crumb coated"/"final coated"/"decorated"... and I check them off as I go. This really helps me to have a visual incentive, either to get working, or that my work for the week is almost done. Each week has become a marathon now that Summer has started! It's too crazy & I can't wait to get Cake Boss in order to organize even further. Thank you to everyone who posted, because I got great ideas or affirmations from all of you! =)
Vicki614 Junior Member
Joined: Jan 31, 2006
Posts: 27
Location: Tennessee
Birthday: May 15
Posted:
Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:37 am
I use the carbonless Sales order books. I buy them at Sam's Club. I have a cork board hanging in the kitchen, when I take an order I just tear out the yellow copy, write the day it's due on top with a red sharpie & hang it up. I put them in order of delivery date & time. Then just take the one down that I'm working on to reference the order, when that order is done I tape the yellow copy to the box for the customer.
jessieb578 Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 22, 2006
Posts: 674
Location: Catskill, NY
Birthday: Jan 05
Posted:
Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:25 am
I work full time and do orders on the side, apparently compared to a lot of people I don't have a lot of orders but 8 cakes just on a weekend is tough when working full time for me!
Anywho....CakeBoss isn't that time comsuming to me once I have all of the ingredient and recipe information in there. The orders are super simple and take minutes to put in there.
Kelley - if you read this (and I'll email you as well) I'm wondering if there were a slideshow or powerpoint tutorial that you could do to show people how to use CakeBoss?? Some people (me, me, me) are very visual and for some reason I'm still not getting the pricing part - price/cost, etc. I make it work, but it's strange sometimes because I don't always price per slice if I have added costs in there.
I would say even with the smallest amout of cakes, it's worth it to keep organized and also know exactly how much I'm making for when I do make this a full time gig!
OMG you are scaring me. Just the thought of that makes me shiver. LOL I do usually one wedding cake and grooms cake and perhaps a shower/birthday cake.
I work from home by myself. There is NO way I could do that so my hat is off to you.
Back to keeping it straight though....
I would have each order in a binder with a sheet protector. At the beginning of the week pull out the orders for that week/day and post them on the wall with clips so that they are visable and nothing gets left behind. Check off each one as it is completed with a dark marker and place in the "orders completed" binder.
jessieb578 Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 22, 2006
Posts: 674
Location: Catskill, NY
Birthday: Jan 05
Posted:
Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:21 am
Ohh, orders completed binder - good idea. Although CakeBoss does have a way to seperate out the completed orders from new.
OCakes Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 16, 2005
Posts: 326
Location: Sonoma, California
Birthday: Jan 28 Gallery Supporter Member
Posted:
Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:43 am
[quote="jessieb578"]........................for some reason I'm still not getting the pricing part - price/cost, etc. I make it work, but it's strange sometimes because I don't always price per slice if I have added costs in there. "
I just wanted to reply to this, that I charge by the slice, however if they add something extra which isn't something I normally include (such as if I have to purchase sugar flowers, which I don't make yet), then I charge what I paid & no more. I could charge a bit more for those things, but I figure that I pick them up when I'm at the supplier & it keeps my customers more happy to know that I only charge actual costs.
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