Cake! magazine by Australian Cake Decorating Network May 2014 | Page 90

2. How did you find the confidence to start your own business? Do

you have any suggestions for our readers who are thinking about

starting a cake business?
Peggy: I would say my confidence has come gradually with my successes; I worked in the industry before setting up my business so I was experienced and new what I was getting into. My
advice to somebody thinking about starting their own business is before anything else, to study
business, to get a good grounding and understanding in order to formalise their company from
the outset... I would say that one should be prepared for a lot of hard work and should always
have a plan and a business basis before they start. A lot of patience, dedication and resilience
are also essential for success!
Margie: When we founded Planet Cake in 1996, we were amazingly optimistic. We had the desire, with creative freedom, to boldly go where no cake shop had gone before. We had a passion
for what we did and an enthusiasm to share it with our customers (and everyone else) and for
them to share theirs with us. Enjoy what you do.
Faye: I was not confident at all when I started. I really fell into this latest business by accident
and then it developed a life of its own and has continued to grow. As a shy person, I thought I
would struggle with sales and meetings in particular, however I was lucky to have had a lot of
industry experience behind me and clients had respect for my knowledge and skills. My only
suggestion is to dive in and give it a try. Don’t wait until everything is perfect because it never will
be. Be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them.
Janet: I live by the philosophy that we can be and do anything we truly desire in life.. We just
need to put ourselves and our ideas out there and see what presents itself.. If the demand is
there a business can be born!
Be organized! Have a weekly routine and stick to it! Don't look at your competition but pour all
your energy and time into your own business model. Use Facebook and forums in moderation..
Get a website, register a business and domain name, have a google presence, do classes either
online or in person.. But most importantly believe in yourself, read the market and be willing to
change.

3. What social media tools do you use in your business? What are the best

ways you think cake decorating businesses can get the most out of social

media to boost their business' presence and gain potential customers?
Faye: Social media is great for cake businesses because there is a high level of engagement among
our followers. There are a few different approaches and it’s just a matter of finding the right one for your
business. I like to run my Facebook page as a professional folio. I commit to regular posting, but I don’t
have time to run it as a discussion forum or a cake decorating community.
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