We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

New venture-cake stands

Options
mwa
mwa Posts: 364 Forumite
Hi all,

I am just starting to find my feet with crafting, both my parents were crafters and made their living this way. I never thought I was any good at anything crafty but having been on maternity leave for the last few months I have really got stuck into learning new things and am finding out I can do more than I ever thought!

I have had an idea to have a go at making and selling shabby chic/vintage style cake stands. I have sourced the fittings and plates and am just waiting for my special drill bit to be delivered next week so I can start experimenting. I hope to start selling them at local craft fairs in the new year, if they turn out ok!

Can I ask, how much would you pay for a 2 tier cake stand? I have an idea of what I'd like to charge but want to see if I am near the mark. :)

Mwa

Comments

  • Kevie192
    Kevie192 Posts: 1,146 Forumite
    Depends if they were branded plates or not...

    If not, probably £5 max tbh.

    K x
  • Got any pics of similar to what you are thinking of? Depending on the quality and size I think u could get £15-20
  • mwa
    mwa Posts: 364 Forumite
    edited 14 November 2013 at 9:55PM
    Thanks for your feedback - the fittings and plates cost around £5 so would be looking at charging £15 for a 2 tier and £18 for a 3 tier.

    http://www.daisygreenmagazine.co.uk/lifestyle-main/daisy-picks-living/bespoke-vintage-cake-stand/

    I hope the image above works!! This is the type of thing I had in mind.
  • Kevie192
    Kevie192 Posts: 1,146 Forumite
    Will they be new plates or second hand/vintage?
  • mwa
    mwa Posts: 364 Forumite
    Thanks Kevie- do you think this will matter to people? The thought had crossed my mind whether it would bother people. I had envisaged a bit of a mix. The prettier older plates would be second hand but I have also sourced some new ones which are more of the modern shabby chic style.
  • Having made these myself for selling, thought I might add some notes!

    My dad is a experienced metal worker so he was my go to for drilling the plates. Be aware of a allowance for breakages, drilling on the slightest ankle or a cracked glaze can result in a broken plate!

    I bought a bulk lot of fittings which worked out at £2 ish each and collected vintage plates and sold them between £8 and £15. At craft fairs it was the £8-£10 ones that sold the best.

    Handy hint.... Look for plates that have a rim at the bottom and not flat or they will not sit flat on a table once fittings added.

    I have found sales have nearly stopped this year, I am a wedding cake designer mainly and source and sell cake stands to sell at fairs and online, Sales have swapped from tiered cake stands to large single tier cake stands with clean lines.
    I can see from the upcoming cake designs that The vintage trend is fading away to be replaced by Art Deco/1920's.

    I hope that is helpful and not too negetive sounding!
  • mwa
    mwa Posts: 364 Forumite
    Thanks for the tips code-a-holic! Very much appreciated! The area that I live in is only just getting into vintage/shabby chic as we are usually 3 scats behind the rest of the country but interesting to know about the emerging Art Deco trend... I have bought 10 fittings for £1 each so will start off with attempting 10 stands and seeing how I get on..... My husband predicts lots of breakages, did your Dad recommend using masking tape to secure the drill bit and stop it from slipping as that's what I heard helps?

    One more question-did you dismantle them for people when they bought them? Was pondering the best way to securely package them for people. Only way I could think of was to dismantle and layer plates between bubble wrap and package in a strong carrier bag with fittings in a small bag inside...
  • I think it depends on which part of the country you are in for price - we had pre-existing stock from a business we took over and they are priced at £14 - not a single one has sold.

    I personally think that people are not happy to pay more than £8 for them HTH
    [/COLOR]
    2024 Challenges
    Live in the moment more and appreciate the small things
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 256.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.