Have you ever wanted to tell a client "oh no not that style again"

I would feel exactly the same Mandy; I would not enjoy repeating designs because caking is my hobby and who wants a hobby that is repetitive but I suppose when a hobby becomes a thriving business things shift and the customer becomes the person to please and as everyone knows ’ the customer is always right’(!!). That probably wouldn’t stop me trying to persuade them to try something more original though :-D x

I always try and persuade the customer to change the design somehow but keep them happy with original concept… So often (and sure you relate) I get photos of other people’s cakes sent to me and I find that easier to dissuade as I refuse to copy another’s design. So far it’s worked… This was my one (and ONLY) time I practically repeated a design I did for two different clients… Two differnt camera models…. Never again!!! I hated every moment of doing the second one . Yes, Julia I agree… Persuade them to go original. It most time works x

Glad I am not the only person that feels this way, as to me each cake I make is a “one-off” and I put my all into making it special for that client. Still I have a year in which to persuade them to maybe alter a few things.
Must say though Calli, the camera is great and I can see why, although that would be a difficult one to change.

Yes Mandy you can’t change this… And I won’t be doing any more either and have diplomatically turned down queries for them … Fiddly little blighters they were hahaha

A few years ago I took the “Big Bird” class from Mike McCarey. Us students were discussing how nice it must be to be in Mike’s position where we could do these grand, exciting cakes every week instead of hum-drum Swiss dot cakes. Mike piped in and said, “Oh, very few customers, even my customers, will pay for a cake like this. I enjoy doing these fantastical cakes as much as anyone, but ‘Swiss dot’ cakes pay my rent every month.”

It really changed my mind about doing cakes a a business. I have had a blast making some of the sculpted cakes, but if I only did those I would have been out of business a long time ago. If you want a design I just did last month or last week? Will that be cash, check , or credit card?

I can totally see where you are coming from Jenniffer, and admit that I do say “yes I can do that” and think of the money. As you say if we only did the ones we really wanted to we would not have many customers.
The only thing that gets me through these is the fact that it is for their big day, and I want to make it as special as possible, so I give them a cake as beautiful as possible even if it is a similar design to one I have already done.

You could try a different medium for the roses like wafer paper or gelatine? Or a cascade but of different flowers like lillies or orchids, and use some patterned wafer paper on some of the tiers… Sometimes small changes can still result in quite a different cake x

I usually just do what the customer asks, I may suggest a different way to go but usually they have in mind what they want. It is not as fun to do the same design but I want people to get what they want, (with in reason). A happy customer is a repeat customer. I know it will be beautiful and have a blessed day.