bakingbuyer - October 2011 - (Page 56)

cake (keyk) n., v. Floral Techniques Floral decorations offer a colorful and creative way to make your decorated cakes really blossom. Awardwinning cake decorator Peggy Mize from BakeMark demonstrates several simple techniques to decorate a cake with flowers that will help you really stand out from the crowd. On the Baker’s Workbench video “Spring Floral Techniques” from BakeMark (visit www.bakingbuyer. com and click on the Cake section of Baker’s Workbench videos) Mize demonstrates how to make five types of flowers in icing: a wild rose, a traditional rose, a daffodil, a daisy and a pansy. First you start with a small instrument called a “rose nail,” which you hold between two fingers. As you add icing, turn it away from you, so you have continuous motion. You never have to stop or break, according to Mize. Trendy colors for the spring are bright and vibrant colors, bursting with life and optimism. This trend evokes happiness and represents revitalization and hope during a time of economic uncertainty. Create product designs that will do the same. Use bright pops of colors and offer designs that give your customers the moment of happiness that they are craving. Blossoming flowers, butterflies, lady bugs, bumble bees and birds of fancy are some of the design icons that will also represent new beginnings this spring. Get creative with these fun designs and bring life to your showcase. Focusing on seasonal designs rather than holiday specific designs is one way to create products for multiple occasion use. A great spring floral design can be used all season for everyday occasions, as well as Easter, Mother’s Day and birthdays. You can customize the design by writing an inscription for the particular event. As customers’ needs change, bakeries are innovating their product offering to match. In some cases, this 56 · BAKING BUYER · OCTOBER 11 C means offering new, lower cost options, such as cupcakes, mini cupcakes, cake slices, cookies, 5” cakes or two-layer cakes rather than three layer cakes. The same high-quality product is offered, but in more affordable sizes. In other cases, it means offering more high-end options such as stacked cakes for everyday occasions and products in unique flavors. Change is essential to growth. If you have a product offering that is not working for you, stop offering it and try something new. This is a great opportunity to bring a fresh new look to your bakery showcase. Remind your customers early in the season about how your bakery can serve their holiday needs. Display signs with special holiday promotions or featured products. Give customers lots of idea, and even include coupons with orders during the weeks leading up to a holiday. Have dummy cakes on display for graduation or other holidays to showcase your creative ideas. Try something different, and create a buzz for your bakery around the major holidays. Also promote fun and unusual holidays such as Eat What You Want Day (May 11), and offer appropriate desserts such as a special cake sold by the slice, cupcake flavor or decoration that signifies the event or individually wrapped cookies. Just about every day of the week has a “holiday” that will get customers in the celebratory spirit. http://www.bakingbuyer.com

bakingbuyer - October 2011

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