The Business of Cake Making Podcast: Recent Episodes

thebusinessofcakemaking

The Business of Caking Making is for cake makers who run a business. Hosted by Bronya and Sammie from Daisy Cake Company we delve into all aspects of running a Cake Business, with some expert guests.

UK Based podcast.

The Business of Cake Making is changing!

After 5 years we are entering Season 2 of the Podcast.

This tiny-mini ep is an appeal fr new Co-Hosts. Bronya will be continuing the podcast and is inviting you to come and co-host an episode with me. If you think you have a topic or an expertise that will interest and help the listener please get in touch. Slide into the DMs or go and fill out the Co-Host Pitch Form here:
https://daisycakeandco.com/be-a-business-of-cake-making-co-host-pitch-an-episode/

This week we're back with an apology for being absent, and a great chat about Boundaries.

Boundaries are like picket fences we put up to protect ourselves in our businesses. We have both been in business a long time and have made mistakes by not having boundaries, or not enforcing them. We now have clear and firm boundaries and in this episode we chat through them and explain what they are and why we have them.

For the Bigger Slice over on Patreon follow: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

We thought this week we would share our routines and schedules. We both work very differently in our businesses now than when we when we first started. We have learnt the hard way to be careful and structured with our time. We hope our experience can help you on your business.

Head over to Patreon to get the Bigger Slice Episode:
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheBusinessofCakeMakingPodcast

Today we are revisiting a subject we tackled back in February 2021 - our favourite bits of equipment.

A lot has changed in 5 years and we're seeing if we're still using the same things or if we've changed things up.

There is also our either/or question - Plain or Self-Raising Flour. Which do you use?

For our Top Tip, Product of the Week, and Bronya's Egg experiment head over to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This episode we are chatting about The Comparison Trap. Sammie recently had a session with Bee from Episode 173. Afterwards Sammie realised that we needed to chat about this very important topic, so here we are.

Do you repeatedly compare yourself to other cake makers and bakers. We chat about what happens to us when that happens and how we deal with it.

Foe more chat, Product of the Week and Top Tips head over to The Bigger Slice episode on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week we're chatting about Cake Trends. We're not only talking about what is trending in 2026 in terms of looks, flavours and accessories. But we're also talking about if you should follow trends, when you should pick them up and when you shouldn't.

What's going to be big in 2026 and will you be making it?

For the extended episode head to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

To sign up to The Baker's Bulletin follow: https://daisycakeco.substack.com/

We're starting 2026 with positivity and have invited Bee from Zala Coaching to come and talk to us about Mindset.

What is mindset and how can it help you in business?

Bee has a wealth of information, hints and tips to help you in 2026.

For more information, or to work with Bee head to https://www.zalacoaching.com/zalamindset https://www.instagram.com/itsbeewallis/

For the Bigger Slice episode with more content, Top Tip and Product of the Week head over to: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This is our last podcast of 2025, so we are doing a round-up of 2025 to see how many goals we set back at the beginning of the year.

We also set 2026 goals and chat about where we'd like our businesses to go.

We return on January 5th with a guest, which we are very excited about.

If you'd like to listen to the longer Bigger Slice episode head over to Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/c/TheBusinessofCakeMakingPodcast

This episode we are chatting about the podcasts that we like to listen to. We include some of cake making a,d cake businesses, small business and small business advise, as well as a few others that we just generally enjoy.

We went on quite a journey with these so we hope you enjoy our picks. If you have any podcasts of your own that you listen to then please let us know!

To get the Bigger Slice Podcast and hear our weekly Product of the Week and Top Tip head to: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

In this episode Bronya and Sammie share their thoughts on the 2025 Cake International and Bake International. There are interviews with Molly Robbins, Jenny Chambers and the development team at PME.

Also, Sammie went shopping and shares all the bits and pieces she bought at the show.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this years Cake International. Did you enjoy it? Was it better or worse than previous years? Did you compete and how was the experience?

For the full Bigger Slice Episode sign up to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

Back in March, the much loved app Bake Diary closed it's doors. It sent the cake world into turmoil, and our Sammie nearly had a breakdown over it.

After a very stressful summer Sammie was nearing the end of her tether. That was until Bake Genie was launched!!

A new app with all of Bake Diary's functionality and a whole lot more. Today we are chatting to founder Annabel Fletcher on the trials of bringing the Bake Genie app to the market with such speed, whilst running her own business, in order to help the desperate cake community.

She chats about what Bake Genie can do right now, and new developments she hope to bring to the app in the coming months.

For more information, head over to https://www.bakegenie.co/ and sign up for a free 14 day trial.

For the Bigger Slice episode of The Business of Cake Making, head over to Patreon now:
https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week we are chatting about Allergens with Natalie Stanton and Caroline Benjamin.

Natalie is The Safety Expert, a chartered EHO, and Caroline is from Food Allergy Aware. This week they answer our questions, and some of yours, all about allergens and food intolerances, and best practices to keep your customers and yourself safe.

For the full Bigger Slice Episode head over to our patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

Links for the episode:

The Safety Expert: https://www.thesafetyexpert.co.uk/

Food Allergy Aware; https://foodallergyaware.co.uk/

Level 2 Food Allergen Awareness in Catering Course: https://www.thesafetyexpert.co.uk/level-2-food-allergen-awareness/

Get Certified: https://foodallergyaware.co.uk/grow-your-business-allergen-management/get-certified-allergen-management/

Allergy Pal: https://allergy-pal.co.uk/

On this weeks episode we are talking all about Bake Diary and it's demise. Sammie has always been a huge fan and is now looking for a new app to use. Here she talk about the research she has done to swap to something different.

We are also taking Questions from our listeners and answering them as best we can. We talk about everything from bulging cakes, to cream cheese frosting, to Paperwork for your food hygiene inspection.

Don't forget to send us you suggestions for The Friday Afternoon Bakelist - listen along here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3U3mVw08Wakd5bODeaLxEq?si=8ZXmBDS4TEO6dPEsiLCdKA

Join The Baking Club here: https://daisycakeandco.com/membership-levels-2/

And listen to a Bigger Slice of the Podcast over on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week both Sammie and Bronya were inspected for their Food Safety by the Environmental Health Department.

They chat all about it on this weeks podcast - what they did before hand, what they were asked, what the EHO looked at etc.

For the Bigger Slice Episode head over to patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

For a free Month in The Baking Club visit here: https://mailchi.mp/daisycakeandco/y1bwe0xick

Today we catch up on Sammie's new venture - her Waffle Horsebox. She talks us through everything that's been going on recently as she progresses with her plans.

If you want to follow her on Instagram you can do so at https://instagram.com/waffleygoodevents

If you want to hear more including Product of the Week and Top Tip head over to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheBusinessofCakeMakingPodcast

Apologies for the sound quality in this podcast. We, unfortunately, had very intermittent internet reception which effected the recording.

This week we return with more Baking Hints and Tips. Last episode we re-released an episode from 4 years ago. We have learnt and grown a lot since then, and are coming back with new and updated hints and tips for you.

If you would like to listen to a Bigger Slice over on Patreon follow this link:

https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week we are re-releasing an old episode. We decided we wanted to do an updated episode of baking hints and tips, and in the process listened back to Episode 29. We both enjoyed it so much, and know you can't get hold of it on Spotify anymore, that we thought a re-release was needed.

Our updated episode will be released next week.

For access to our Patreon Episodes follow the link: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week, after a little chat and catch up, we are talking abut ways that you can be more productive without too much effort.

There are times when it all seems like a little bit too much like hard work, so listen to some of hints and tips to make your baking and business life a little easier.

To sign up to The Baking Club with the discount code WAITLIST00 before March 31st for a month free follow this link: https://daisycakeandco.com/membership-levels-2/

Sign up to a Bigger Slice on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast

This week Bronya and Sammie chat to Cake Business Coach, Kate Tynan.

After being a successful cake maker in her own right, Kate has now moved onto helping other cake businesses to thrive.

In this episode we chat through everything from how The Cake Business Club works, to pricing and salaries, to her new Foundations course, competition and awards and so much more in between.

For more information about her Foundations course click here: https://thecakebusinessclub.myflodesk.com/foundations

The Cake Business Club: https://www.thecakebusinessclub.co.uk/

The Cake Business Club on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecakebusi

nessclub/

To listen to our Patreon episode, The Bigger Slice, head to: https://www.patreon.com/c/TheBusinessofCakeMakingPodcast

This week Bronya and Sammie celebrate International Women's Day by highlighting some amazing women in the Baking and Cake industry.

To here the full episode on Patreon follow the link:

https://www.patreon.com/TheBusinessofCakeMakingPodcast

The Baking Club Waitlist:

https://mailchi.mp/a9021b33d2af/the-baking-club-waitlist

Nadiya Hussain:

https://www.instagram.com/nadiyajhussain/

Kitty Tait

https://www.instagram.com/kittytaitbaker/

https://www.instagram.com/the_orangebakery/

https://www.instagram.com/breaducating.britain/

https://www.breaducatingbritain.com/

https://glutenmorning.substack.com/

Luminary Bakery

https://luminarybakery.com/

https://www.instagram.com/luminarybakery/

Molly Robbins

https://www.instagram.com/mollymakescakes/

https://mollymakescakes.co.uk/

https://www.mollyscreaturecreator.com/

Sylvia Weinstock

https://www.instagram.com/sylviaweinstock

This week's episode is with Carol from Cakes by Carol.

Bronya and Sammie have met Carol a few times and have wanted to get her on the podcast for a while.

Carol has been in the business for a while, is the mastermind behind The Straight Edge Smoother, and has a thriving community of cake makers all supporting one another.

Hang around after the music to hear when Bronya and Sammie realised who Sammie was looking like this week.

For extra info about her community as well as our Product of the Week, and Top Tip, head over to our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

To follow Cakes by Carol head to:

https://www.cakesbycarol.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/cakesbycarol/

This week Sammie and Bronya are chatting about their favourite Instagram Accounts.

From accounts to less than 2k followers, to those with a couple of million, they describe who they follow and why they follow them.

In this Bigger Slice episode over on Patreon they also chat about how to get your feed back to showing you what you really want to see. There are also 2 bonus Instagram accounts to follow as well as the Product of the Week and Top Tip.

To get the Bigger Slice Episode join here: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

Instagram Accounts Mentions:
@mattadlard
@thepurplecupcake_
@cakeinnovations
@minetterushingcakes
@lenniescakes
@servingcakebristol
@cbcakedesign
@jessicasalecakedesign
@yolanda_gampp
@numberninecakedesign

This week Bronya and Sammie review their favourite books.

From cake decorating books, to cookbooks, to business books, these are our go to books.

Bronya reviews:
Sift by Nicola Lamb
The Kew Book of Sugar Flowers by Cassie Brown
The Digital Marketing Handbook by Alice Benham

Sammie Reviews:
The Art of Royal Icing by Eddie Spence
Book One: Sugar Flowers and Book 1 1/2 Colour by Natalie Porter

In the Patreon Bigger Slice Bronya reviews the Get Baked Cook Book by Rick Myers, and Sammie reviews Start a Cake Business from Home by Alison Mcnicol. To listen to a Bigger Slice, sign up with 7 days free here: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week we are chatting about our top 10 and bottom 10 cakes to bake. Why we like to bake them. How they fit into baking for business. And which ones we love to eat!

We'd love to hear your top and bottom bakes, please let us know!

We've also got some interesting discussion points about how to bake sustainably, and seasonally.

If you'd like to listen to a Bigger Slice on Patreon sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week Bronya and Sammie are talking trends in 2025. But they're not doing the usual, what's in and what's out. They're looking at other ways to sell your bakes and what bakes to sell, and how they see that going in 2025.

They talk about viral bakeries, mail order, shop fronts etc.

They do, however, talk about what's and what's out in the Bigger Slice over on Patreon. Sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This episode was recorded before Christmas, but the sentiment is still the same.

Happy New Year!!

It has become traditional the Sammie and Bronya review their goals for the previous year and set new ones for the coming year.

In this episode they go back over what happened for them in 2024. There were some hits and some misses. Listen to see if they think they thought 2024 was a good year for them.

They also chat about what they want to get done in 2025. there are lots of new things ahead in both of their businesses. Listen to see what's in store.

If you want to listen to Sammie's Product of the Year, and Bronya's Tip for 2025 head over to our Patreon Membership. There is a free 7 day trial available:

https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

Here to wish you a very Merry Christmas,

If you would like to sign up to our Patreon Membership and get a Bigger Slice Episode you can do so here:
https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

In this weeks episode we are chatting to our podcast pal Natalie Stanton. Natalie is a Chartered Environmental Health Officer. We chat about her 2 courses Level 2 and Level 3 Food Safety and Hygiene in Catering.

We also asked you, the listener, to submit your questions, which we put to Natalie. It's always great to have her on the Podcast and get the facts from a real life EHO!

For the extra Bugger Slice Episode head over to Patreon to sign up for our monthly membership:

https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week we are at The Cake and bake Show.

We interviewed Matty Edgell (GBBO 2023 winner), Farley Berry from Lady Berry Cupcakes, Eric Lanlard, KitchenAid, Amy from Sweet Stamps and David from The Happy Pear.

It was a great show this year with lots to see on the demonstration stages - including us!!

If you would like to listen to The Bigger Slice of the episode sign up to our Patreon membership: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week we are chatting about Bronya's Cake Shed. She talks about what a Cake Shed is and how it's transformed her business.

The Cake Shed is an honesty box attached to the side of her house. She talks about why its such a refreshing change from other things she's done in her business.

She has recently launched a 'Start Your Own Cake Shed' course and chats all about what's in the course and where to find it.

If you want to listen to more sign up to A Bigger Slice over on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week we are chatting about getting your cake business ready for Christmas.

Christmas is a busy time already, so how can you make things easier with your business. We chat about everything from planning your supplies, social media, marketing and scheduling.

If you want to listen to the extended episode 'A Bigger Slice' become a member at: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

In The Bigger Slice we also talk about whether you should charge extra over christmas. Sammie brings you a Product of the Week, and Bronya presents a Tip of the Week. We also catch up with Sammie's trip around Europe.

This week we are catching up with Sammie and all the things she ate whilst she was travelling in Europe.

This episode also includes a great interview with Emma from Madame Spoons.

Become a Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/thebusinessofcakemakingpodcast/membership

This week we are at the 2024 Cake International. It's the shows 30th anniversary and it did not disappoint.

Below are the time codes for each interview if you want to skip to anyone in particular. However, we recommend sitting back and taking in everyone we chatted to.

2.23 - Natalie Porter, Immaculate Confections

6.50 - Karen Davies

12.21 - Dummies Direct

15.17 - Cakes by Carol

22.09 - Emma Jayne Cake Design on Elizabeth 1st

28.25 - Renshaw

34.47 Suzanne Thorpe, The Frostery

41.15 - Sandra Farmhouse

44.04 - Jenny Chambers, Sugar Screams

53.56 - Miriam Pearson, Sweet Creations

56.46 - Christina Georgiou, Tasteful Cakes

1.01.10 - Molly Robbins

1.06.28 - Emily Hankins

We are having a few weeks off, whilst Sammie is travelling around Europe. We thought it would be the perfect time to dip back into our back catalogue, which after 4 and a half years is quite extensive.

This week is one of Sammie's Choices - Running a Cake Business from Home.

In this episode we talk about the practicalities of running a cake business from home. Running your own business is hard enough - running a cake business can be next level with the amount of space that is needed.

Sammie and Bronya talk about their experiences and how they make their working lives easier by being organised, setting a routine and most importantly helping their families understand the pressures on them and their work.

We are having a few weeks off, whilst Sammie is travelling around Europe. We thought it would be the perfect time to dip back into our back catalogue, which after 4 and a half years is quite extensive.

This week is one of Sammie's Choices - Eric Lanlard

This week Bronya and Sammie are very excited to speak to world renowned patissier Eric Lanlard. After baking in the French Navy he came to London to learn English and never left.

He has many TV appearances to his name, as well as 8 books, and regularly teaches at his South London Boutique Bakery and School, Cake Boy. He is still very passionate about his craft and is always looking for new and exciting flavours.

We chat to him ahead of his appearance at the Cake and Bake Show at The Ideal Home Show Christmas.

Buy your tickets to the 2024 show by following the link below https://cakeandbake.seetickets.com/tour/cake-bake-show?OfferCode=CABCAKEMAKERS

We are having a few weeks off, whilst Sammie is travelling around Europe. We thought it would be the perfect time to dip back into our back catalogue, which after 4 and a half years is quite extensive.

This week is one of Sammie's Choices - Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

This episode is NOT our strong point, but we have tried to tackle it anyway. We are talking Google Analytics Today!

As a cake maker what are the analytics you need to look at and how do you get there?

Google Analytics changed from Universal Analytics to GA4 on July 1st, 2023. So what do you need to be doing to get the best out of your website.

We are having a few weeks off, whilst Sammie is travelling around Europe. We thought it would be the perfect time to dip back into our back catalogue, which after 4 and a half years is quite extensive.

This week is one of Bronya's Choices - The Ultimate Guide to Putting Flowers on Cakes.

It's a topic that we are all a bit fuzzy around the edges on, so we went straight to the experts and got our information from the Food Standards Agency! The email we got back was from @food.gov.uk - you can't get much more official than that!

Who's responsibility is it if you get given a toxic flower from a florist? Who responsibility is it to put the flowers on the cake correctly? What happens if you do it wrong? How do you do it right?

Also, rumour has it that there is a food safe florist tape on the market - we investigate.

This is a crucial episode for anyone adding fresh flowers to their cakes!

We are having a few weeks off, whilst Sammie is travelling around Europe. We thought it would be the perfect time to dip back into our back catalogue, which after 4 and a half years is quite extensive.

This week is one of Sammie's choices, and she brings you Maddy Shine, the Visibility Queen.

Getting discovered by your customers always feels so hard. Maddy chats about how and what we should be putting out on our marketing, and encourages us to be authentically us.

So many tips, so much information, and so much enthusiasm, you're gonna love her!

We are having a few weeks off. Sammie is travelling around Europe, and Bronya is having a couple of weeks in Scotland. We thought it would be the perfect time to dip back into our back catalogue, which after 4 and a half years is quite extensive.

This week is one of Bronya's choices, and she brings you the most recent episode that we'll be re-listening to from this time last year.

Cake International is an important event in the cake calendar and we were delighted to have Organiser, Melanie Underwood, and Head Judge, David Close on just a couple of weeks before last years Show.

This is a fascinating episode with so many hints, tips and behind the scenes insights.

This is the last in our 6 part mini series bout Cake Business Fundamentals.

This week we chat about the journey you take your customer on from when they first find you to when you deliver their cake. How so you communicate with them, what language do you use, how do you manage their expectations and do you follow up after they've had their cake.

We will now be taking a 2 week break.

This is the penultimate episode of this 6 part series on Cake Business Fundamentals.

This week Bronya and Sammie chat about Branding and Marketing in your cake business. They talk about the breadth of both topics and how they both very closely relate to your ideal client.

There are also 2 great top tips this week!

We continue our Cake Business Fundamentals Series with Part 4 all about pricing and financials.

We talk about paying yourself a decent wage, deciding on your profit margin, Making sure you put money away for tax and national insurance, as well as taking deposits and family and friends discounts.

This is a very important subject that so many people shy away from. Don't it's why you're in business!

This week we continue our series on cake business fundamentals with Ideal Client.
Who are you selling to? And why being specific with your ideal client is incredibly important if you want to be making the cakes you love for the price you need to be charging.
For more information on Niche Market and Ideal Client take a look at our Audio Workshop with workbook: https://daisycakeandco.com/product/aw1-niche-market-and-ideal-client/

This week we continue with our 6 part series about Cake Business Fundamentals with finding your Niche.
Having a Niche and really leaning into it will bring you confidence and custom as you will be seen as the expert.
We chat about what your niche can be, what niche's we've had mistakes we've made by not having one.
Next week in Part 3 of our series we chat about Ideal Client.

This week we start a 6 week series on Cake Business Fundamentals. These are the things that will set you up for success in your business. They provide focus and direction and help you to keep your business on track.

This week we are chatting about having a Business Plan. We're not talking the scary type you take to a bank manager with graphs and pie charts. We're talking about a clear plan with defined goals for you to follow for business success.

Next week we'll be honing in on Niche Market.

https://daisycakeandco.com

This week we do our irregular feature where we answer your questions.

We have all kinds of questions from baking brownies, to wedding fairs, to getting your home kitchen registered.

This is the last episode for a couple of weeks. We will be back on July 29th 2024.

In this episode Bronya and Sammie chat about feat of success. Obviously, this isn't something people plan on having, as when you go into business, you plan to succeed. But the human brain is a dark and foreboding place and can sometimes develop irrational fears.

The fear of success can be debilitating and cause self sabotage or procrastination to set in.

We chat about our experience with fear of success, and talk about how we and others have overcome it.

Following Bronya's recent success on Instagram, this episode is all about marketing on Social Media.

We chat about when and what to post, and the things that's Bronya has found successful when posting about her cake business on Instagram.

She talks about the algorithms, the times to post, why you may not be getting engagement and what happens to your reach when you don't get engagement.

Follow Bronya on instagram at @DaisyCakeCo, and follow the podcast at @TheBusinessofCakeMaking

We are very excited to be chatting to Marketing Expert, and soon to be published author, Alice Benham.

Alice talks about marketing in a way that is straight to the point, but not intimidating. She understand small businesses need to move forward and in our chat she talks about what a marketing strategy is but how it's not a scary business thing. She talks about, in her words, taking messy action.

Alice also talks about her book, The Digital marketing Handbook, which is published June 20th - this coming Thursday.

This week we revisit a topic we did back in Episode 28 - Time Management.

things have moved on a lot in the world since we last talked about this and we have got better at planning our time.

We talk about planning, preparation, boundaries, routines, distractions and being tidy.

This week we are talking about how to SAY NO!!

Cake Makers, as a group, are notoriously bad at saying no. We chat about why you should say no, when to say no, and how to say no.

Saying no is empowering and will definitely reduce the stress levels in your cake business.

Today we chat to Suzanne Esper - or we should say Doctor Suzanne Esper!

Scientist and highly acclaimed cake maker and teacher - hear how she changed her life, pivoted her business to make it right for her, and what she is doing now.

It was such a wonderful chat it could have lasted for hours. Also, listen out for the competition she has set for our listeners.

This week we chat about our favourite apps to use in our Cake Business. #From graphics, to videos and photography, to finance and taxes there is an app for everything. Here are our top 10.

Summer is coming and for cake makers it's often the busiest tie of the year. Are you ready?

In this weeks episode we chat about preparing for summer, going to fair, markets and festivals and fitting all that in around your usual baking schedule.

We share hints and tips about how we've done markets in the past and what we've learnt along the way.

This week we tackle the subject of Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity within your cake business. Many of us are sole traders who aren't sure how we can address this topic in our businesses. Just because we don't employ anyone, doesn't mean we shouldn't be thinking about it.

Martin talks us through what it means to be inclusive and how we can show our customers we are taking things seriously.

He mentions a calendar at the end, and as promised here is the link:

https://www.gottabeethnic.co.uk/resources/2024-ethnic-calendar/

This week we are tackling a subject that often trips us up. And to prove a point we did get a little confused but get it all sorted in the end!

We talk about Revenue, Gross Profit, Net Profit, Break Even Cash Flow and many many more. These are all terms that big businesses use, and often confuse us as smaller business owners. In this episode we relate all these terms back to running a small cake business.

This week we are chatting about the different Sales Models there are for your business.

These can include 'on demand' such as bespoke cakes and 'stock holding' such as fairs and markets.

Hear how we've done a bit of both. Find out the Pros and Cons and which ways we prefer to sell our cakes.

We also have an update of the proposed Guidelines for attaching Fresh Flowers to cakes from the FSA.

This podcast is available to view on YouTube

This week it's Easter Monday, and the clocks have just changed so the world is a bit snoozy!

We have just and 2 weeks off the podcast and have been super busy. Therefore we catch-up and fill you in on all the things that have been going on.

Back to normal transmission next week.

Find this episode as it was broadcast LIVE on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/8rEU_2kzJdA?si=GqkBu8Lt8c9iiFjD

Sorry - sadly we have no episode today but we will be back in a couple of weeks. Have a great Easter and see you soon.

We love a good Q&A and this week that's what we've recorded!!

We asked the listener for their questions. They are a mix of cake business queries, questions about our cake businesses, questions about what we've learnt and how we work together.

This week we chat about being yourself and why it's important in your cake business. In the week when Iris Apfel passed away, a lady who was 100% herself and nothing else, we use her as inspiration as to why you should follow in her footsteps.

Being yourself in business will keep your creativity fresh, will help from becoming burnt out, will attract your ideal client and will generally make your business more sustainable.

This week Bronya and Sammie chat about doing a business audit.

Are you doing things in your business because you've always done it that way, or have you thought that there may be another more efficient or cheaper way?

Bronya and Sammie chat about some of the practices you can audit to check your running your business as efficiently as possible.

This week Sammie quizzes Bronya about Styled Photoshoots.

Sammie is arranging a photoshoot for her cake business and other sustainably friendly wedding suppliers. Bronya has attended and been a part of many (over 15) photoshoots.

Today they chat about what they entail and how they can benefit your business.

This week we bring you the guest that every cake maker running a business wants to chat too.....The Safety Expert, Natalie Stanton.

Natalie is a former EHO and a Chartered Food Safety Expert. We ask her as many food safety questions as we could fit into 1 episode. We talk about hand washing sinks, fridge temperatures, pets, certificates and much more.

Let's face it, if you're not a cake maker you probably won't understand our excitement.

This week we've mixed it up a bit by having the guest at the end of the episode - all will become apparent when you listen.

We chat about Seasonal Baking, specifically Valentines, Mothers Days and Easter.

We are then joined by Eric from the cake supplies wholesale business, Cake Craft Group. We hear insights as to how they plan their products, new products that are coming in and a special Guest Product of the Week!

This is our last episode for 2 weeks.

This week Bronya and Sammie are delighted to chat with Cassie Brown this week.

Cassie started her cake career when she was young at The British Sugarcraft Guild. She is now a flower and airbrush expert who is a teacher, published author and has many videos on YouTube.

For more episodes visit https://daisycakeandco.com/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast-player/

This episode is also available to watch on YouTube

This week Bronya and Sammie chat to the wonderful Keith Barron from the 2023 Season of the Great British Bake Off.

He share his experience of the interview and audition process, what it was like meeting Prue and Paul and how his life has changed since being on the show.

Happy New Year for 2024!!

This episode is all about Goal Setting for the new year. We are reviewing the goals we set last year.

What we achieved, what we didn't achieve and why? We are then setting Goals for 2024 to make ourselves accountable.

This is our final episode of the 2023.

We are chatting all about planning our social media content. We are well know for being a bit rubbish on Social Media, so we are chatting about our Social Media Goals and plans for 2024.

Come back in a couple of months to find out how we got on!

This week Bronya and Sammie are chatting to 2023 Bake International, Best in Show winner Miriam Pearson.

Not only did she win Bake International Best in Show, she also won gold for her flower entry for Cake International.

Hear how she designed her pieces, transported them from Ireland and set them up on the black table clothes in Birmingham.

This week we have a 2 part episode. Bronya and Sammie had a ball at the Cake and Bake Show and were tucked away in the Press Office where they chatted to lots of wonderful cake and baking friends.

Listen to Part 1 straight before this to hear more from the Cake and Bake Show 2023.

Below are the timecodes for Part 2 so you can jump straight to your fave guest if you'd like.

Cake and Bake Show 2023 Part 2
00.00.55 Isabelle, Zaza Marcelle Cakes
00.14.34 The Ingredients Bar
00.17.09 Jane Ushbrook
00.29.22 Molly Robbins
00.43.23 Richard from Wright’s Baking
00.46.56 Christina Georgiou, Tasteful Cakes
01.05.12 Cake and Bake Show Round-up

This week we have a 2 part episode. Bronya and Sammie had a ball at the Cake and Bake Show and were tucked away in the Press Office where they chatted to lots of wonderful cake and baking friends.

Listen to Part 2 straight after this to hear more from the Cake and Bake Show 2023.

Below are the timecodes for Part 1 so you can jump straight to your fave guest if you'd like.

Cake and Bake Show 2023 Part 1
00.02.11 Eric Lanlard
00.11.19 Lisa Marley
00.15.22 Em’s Bakehouse
00.19.47 Cherish Finden
00.25.17 Kendra Groves, Wildchild Cakes
00.37.39 LissieLou
00.47.10 Natalie Stanton, The Safety Expert

This week Bronya and Sammie are podcasting from Cake International 2023.

Timecodes for the following features:
00.06.45 Cakes by Carol
00.11.15 British Sugarcraft Guild
00.14.39 David Brice from CakeFlix
00.19.19 Cassie Brown
00.23.33 Christina Giorgiou from Tasteful Cakes
00.30.34 Emma Jayne Cake Design
00.36.41 Fractal Colours
00.40.19 Inspired by Gabrielle Coco Chanel with Mish Pattinson
00.50.41 Emily Hankins on Inspired by Gabrielle Coco Chanel
00.56.09 Noreen from Katie Sue Designs
01.00.11 Natalie Porter from Immaculate Confections
01.03.45 Zoe from Zoe's Fancy Cakes
01.06.18 Paul Bradford Demonstration on the Colour Mill Stage
01.07.25 Shelley from Devon Maid Cakes
01.09.33 Sam from Sugarcraft Junkies with Gwen talking about their collaboration competition piece
01.12.35 Our thoughts and favourites from the competition

Sammie and Bronya have been to Cake International. This episode is short and sweet whilst they grab a coffee in Birmingham.

Sammie chats all about entering this year and how her prep went. And they chat about a few of the products they've bought.

A fell episode with interviews and observations will be available next week.

This week Bronya and Sammie are chatting through their cake decorating processes.

They have been baking and making cakes for a long time and have developed their techniques through wisdom, experience and making lots of mistakes.

Listen and learn as they share their secrets to decorating in the easiest and stress free way.

This week Bronya and Sammie are excited to chat to Cake International Organiser Melanie Underwood, and Head Judge David Close.

They chatted about all things Cake International, from how the show started, to competing, how the judges are put through rigorous training, to how feedback is given, and all the features that will be at the 2023 Birmingham Show in a couple of weeks.

Bronya and Sammie will also be there with Microphones, so if you see them tap them on the shoulder and say hi!

What is a policy and why should you have them?

Policies are there to set out your business operations. Together they are your values, principles and mission statement.

Bronya and Sammie discuss the policies they have in their businesses and where they are written. Some are in their terms and Conditions, others are verbal, and others are in their marketing.

From pricing policies, payments policies, returns policies, friends and family policies, sustainability policies and everything in between. Listen to how you can introduce different policies to your business to get a clear understanding between you and your clients.

This week we are celebrating our 100th episode, with not 1 but 3 guests!!

We invited you, our listener, to write in or even come onto the podcast. We have had an amazing 100 episodes and wanted to celebrate with you and your businesses. Thank you for sticking with us and listening for 100 long episodes. We look forward t the next 100!!

Back in May 2020 we released episode 5 all about cake consultations. The world has changed hugely since then so we thought we should do an update episode about what we do now, post-covid.

Sammie and Bronya chat through their process of consultation, design and booking, including supplying sample boxes and whether they invite clients to their houses or not.

Next episode is episode 100 and we want to hear from you. Voice note us, message us, come and chat. We want to celebrate you and your business while we celebrate ours!

This week Bronya and Sammie talk about why you shouldn't be scared to put your prices out there.

They talk about how it will save you time, how it will position you in the market and how it will help to make you value yourself.

This week Sammie and Bronya chat about how you can use you cake making skills to make money in other ways.

You have skills that people want, and that doesn't always include making wedding or birthday cakes. What else can you do in your business?

For 2 totally un-technically minded people, Bronya and Sammie did a good attempt about using AI in your cake business. It's a rollercoaster but keep with it.

AI isn't going anywhere soon, and there are actually lots of tools that can help you in business. Sammie tried loads, Bronya tried a few, and here are their opinions of what was good and what was bad.

We're back this week with another great guest.

We first met Christina at the Cake and Bake Show last year, and then Sammie went to one of her classes and we said we just had to get her on for a chat.

She talks about how she got into cake making, and more importantly model making. She is passionate about her art and believes that everyone can and should be able to make models.

Hear about all the new things she's got coming up.

This week we are talking about putting fresh flowers on cakes.

It's a topic that we are all a bit fuzzy around the edges on, so we went straight to the experts and got our information from the Food Standards Agency! The email we got back was from @food.gov.uk - you can't get much more official than that!

Who's responsibility is it if you get given a toxic flower from a florist? Who responsibility is it to put the flowers on the cake correctly? What happens if you do it wrong? How do you do it right?

Also, rumour has it that there is a food safe florist tape on the market - we investigate.

This is a crucial episode for anyone adding fresh flowers to their cakes!

This week we're chatting about making cakes. Specifically, what happens once the cake has come out of the oven and we're ready to fill and decorate.

We chat about everything from ganache, buttercream, using a dam, centre dowels and we have a long chat about flowers.

Visit our blog for more baking and cake decorating tips: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast-player/

The working title for this episode was actually - What to do when life goes tits up!

We've all been there, we're trundling through life and business quite happily and then something happens that wasn't planned. What can we do to protect ourselves and our business when things don't go as we excepted it to?

Sammie and Bronya chat through their recent experiences and how they dealt with things, and if there was anything else they could have done differently.

This is a super quick episode this week because Sammie it off having fun somewhere Greek and gorgeous.

Bronya is talking you through a few affirmations that can help in your cake business. Running a business is hard and we should all look after ourselves. Affirmations are a way we can be kind to ourselves and positively move our businesses forward.

Back to normal next week, see you then.

This episode is NOT our strong point, but we have tried to tackle it anyway. We are talking Google Analytics Today!

As a cake maker what are the analytics you need to look at and how do you get there?

Google Analytics changes for Universal Analytics to GA4 in July 1st. So what do you need to be doing to get the best out of your website.

For anyone who's finding it a little confusing, this episode will be made into a blog post. Join our mailing list to be informed of when the post is live on our website: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/j7z9q9

We return after out 2 week break with an IN PERSON interview with Rob from Mr Baker's Cake School.

Rob invited us to his stunning school in Fareham in Hampshire and we sat and talked about how he got into the business and how his cake career has developed to owning and running his own school.

He's had an interesting journey, different from most cake makers, which with a lot of hard work has got him to where he is today.

In the last couple of weeks Bronya has done a 180 on her decision to stop making client cakes. In this episode we discuss why she's made this decision and what she is having to do to become a Cake Business again.

This is the last episode on this 6 week series. See you in a couple of weeks.

Sorry, due to a family bereavement there is no episode today - 22.5.23.

Be back next week

Today we interview Enrique from Have Some Cake. After listening to one of our episodes after Bronya said his work 'wasn't romantic' he proved her wrong with an instagram post with some of the most beautifully romantic cakes you've ever seen. However, his cakes are not 'classically' romantic. He describes his style as anti-romantic.

His cake are striking, structural, flowing and organic all at the same time. He explains his background and how he developed his style. He tells us about is favourite flavours. He also tells us about the classes he'll be teaching this year.

In this episode we are delighted to chat with Kate Tynan, founder of The Cake Business Club. We touch on all the business basics as well as talk about pricing, confidence and social media.

If you would like to join Kate's free Facebook group you can here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3106920142867780

For more Podcast Episodes or to check out our blog visit: http://daisycakecompany.co.uk/

We are inviting back one of our first ever guests to the podcast this wee - Rachel Emma Waring.

Rachel is a Creative Consultant and an expert in Content Marketing. Bronya has often raved about her and her work, so we are delighted to get her on to chat about the great things you can do with your content.

From tips with video, finding your style and bringing joy to your content, Rachel is here to help.

For more information go to https://www.rachelemmawaring.com/

For more about The Business of Cake Making go to https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/

We are THREE!! And so are The Sugarcraft Junkies.

In this, slightly chaotic, episode we chat with Sam and Erica of The Sugarcraft Junkies about having a podcast and what it's taught us. It's a slight move away from the usual episode, with a lot of laughs and a lot of fun - just like a birthday party should be!!

This is part 2 of a 2 part collaboration - Part 1 can be found at The Sugarcraft Junkies: https://shows.acast.com/the-sugarcraft-junkies/episodes/happy-3rd-birthday-to-us-with-the-business-of-cake-making

This week we are answering your questions. Questions asked on Instagram, Facebook and Emails are all answered as honestly as we can.

If you ever have a question for us please send it over. We will be doing a Q&A every 6 months.

This episode Sammie and Bronya chat about Routines. We know, it may sound a bit boring, but it's good to have routines in your life! They are good for your mental health, for your stress levels and they help to keep your business on track.

Join us for our first LIVE podcast. You can also watch it, if you feel that way inclined, on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/p/CqAXnP3KGfd/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

This episode is long....that's because we've done a LOT of things wrong and learnt a lot of lessons!

This is out 3rd anniversary episode. When we started we wanted to bring you a podcast to help you in your business so you don't make the same mistakes we did. So this is very definitely a full circle of learning from our mistakes.

We chat about the small stuff to the big stuff. The nightmares we've had and the things we've learnt from them. Lot's of scary flashbacks later, we hope we can help you on your cake business journey

This episode Bronya and Sammie chat to Michelle from the Sustainable Wedding Alliance.

This episode is very long overdue, but Michelle is fantastic to chat too about being more sustainable in your business.

She chats about the Sustainable Wedding Awards and the Sustainable Wedding Alliance Summit, as well as giving great hints and tips for your business.

This Episode, Bronya and Sammie finally tackle branding with Aiza from Studio Coya.

Aiza is an expert in branding food businesses, so was the perfect person to chat too. They talk about everything from the foundations of Brand Strategy to what your clients see with your visuals.

It's taken a while for us to get here, but we're pleased we finally did. Branding is such an important part of your business and this is a great episode to get your started.

This week Bronya and Sammie chat through the cake trends we're seeing for 2023. From Comic 2 D cakes to tall structural wedding cakes, from colours to flavours, they chat through everything they se as being popular this year.

They also explain what to do if a trends isn't your 'thing' and how to make them commercially viable so you're not out of pocket.

Also, the cake maker that uses stencils that Sammie couldn't remember the name of is Angela Morrison!

Visit the blog for more cake maker business information and recipes:https://www.daisycakecompany.co.uk

This episode Sammie and Bronya discuss setting Goals and Intentions in 2023. Listen as they chat about what intentions they have for the coming year and what they've learnt about how to set goals since being in business.

No-one is taught how to run a cake business, but don't let that stop you. Life, it's experiences and your other/previous jobs will all give you skills which will help you going forward.

In this episode we chat about the jobs we have done and how they have helped us. Some have been in catering, some have been in hospitality, some it would seem would have no relevance what so ever, but we chat through how they have all helped!

Bronya has Covid so there is no episode this week. See you next week.

This week we are talking about a very big subject - should you get Premises for your cake business?

Having a little cake shop is a lot of peoples dream, as it was for Bronya. Although she no longer has her shop she, did have one for nearly 5 years and she definitely has the experience and knowledge to be able to talk about it and give you lots of information.

Bronya and Sammie chat about everything from havning staff, the legal requirements, expenses and generally what to expect from life when running a cake shop.

Happy New Year!

We're starting the new year with an episode on Learning and Courses.

The New Year is a time when we evaluate our business and set goals. At this time we may realise that we are lacking knowledge in some areas that would be beneficial. In this episode we chat about the courses we have done, why we did those at that particular point in our businesses, and how we chose the ones we did.

To finish the year we are doing something slightly different this episode. Wwe are doing reviews of the products we've been sent over the past year. Listen to what we thought of them, where you can get them, and if we'd buy them again.Products include: Magic Sparkles, Karen Davies Sugarcraft Marshmallow Fondant, Wright's Flour Cake Mixes, Plamil For Professionals Chocolate, Sugar Valley Stencils, Magic Colours Choco Colours and Magin Icing, Sprinkles from CAke Craft by Charlotte and May, and Cherries by Luxardo.

Thank you for listening this year. We'll be back on Jan 9th 2023.

This episode we are chatting to SEO and Visibility Queen, Maddy Shine.

Getting discovered by your customers always feels so hard. Maddy chats about how and what we should be putting out on our marketing, and encourages us to be authentically us.

So many tips, so much information, and so much enthusiasm, you're gonna love her!

If you want to grab her amazing 'Does Google Know I Exist?', follow the link below:

https://maddyshine.co.uk/does-google-know-i-exist/

Fresh from winning Best at the Show at Cake International 2022, we are chatting to Jenny Chambers.

She chats about her whirlwind of a year including travelling to Canada to be in a TV Cake Competition, and just a month ago winning Cake International with her sculpted cake.

We find out why she chose the design she did, how she made a hole in a cake without any supports, and if she'll be entering again next year.

And on top of that, she is just the loveliest person and we could have chatted all evening.

In this episode Bronya and Sammie chat about things that could make your life easier in your cake business. From knowing how to make buttermilk if you haven't bought it, to using Google Maps to see where the traffic jams are on your delivery route.

We've been in this business a long time and have learnt a lot of tricks to make our lives quicker and less stressed. These are the things that if you don't know them, who is going to tell you? Us, that's who!!

This year Bronya and Sammie were privileged to be invited to podcast live from the Cake and Bake Show. Held over 3 days they interviewed loads of guests. These are the Guests from Day 3

It was a busy and noisy show, and they have done their best in the edit to muffle some of the background noise. If you wish to jump to a specific interview just follow the time codes below:

4mins, 19secs - Chigs Palmer, GBBO 18mins, 55secs - Freya Cox, GBBO 28mins, 43secs - Paul A Young 46mins, 25secs - Paul Wayne Gregory 58mins, 37secs - Christina, Tasteful Cakes 1hr, 09mins, 05secs - Holly Stringer, Visiting Member of the Public 1hr, 10mins, 39secs - Product of the Day 1hr, 17mins, 10secs - Jemma Melvin 1hr, 30mins, 45secs - My Baker 1hr, 42mins, 19secs - Ashprint 1hr, 47mins, 00Secs - Cake Craft by Charlotte and May 1hr, 51mins, 50secs - Sugar Valley Stencils

This year Bronya and Sammie were privileged to be invited to podcast live from the Cake and Bake Show. Held over 3 days they interviewed loads of guests. These are the Guests from Day 2

It was a busy and noisy show, and they have done their best in the edit to muffle some of the background noise. If you wish to jump to a specific interview just follow the time codes below:

3mins, 14secs - Lisa Marley 10mins, 27secs - Sweet Doris 17mins, 57secs - Eric Lanlard 27mins, 34secs - Paul Jagger, GBBO 35mins, 47secs - Phil Thorne, GBBO 42mins, 20secs - Kendra Groves, Wild Child Cakes 56mins, 55secs - Oli the Choc 1hr, 10mins, 30secs - Bell, Bella Sugarcraft 1hr, 22mins, 35secs - Product of the Day 1hr, 28mins, 52secs - Molly Robbins 1hr, 40mins, 09secs - Skinny Slabs 1hr, 52mins, 40secs - Lilium Cakery

This year Bronya and Sammie were privileged to be invited to podcast live from the Cake and Bake Show. Held over 3 days they interviewed loads of guests. These are the Guests from Day 1

It was a busy and noisy show, and they have done their best in the edit to muffle some of the background noise. If you wish to jump to a specific interview just follow the time codes below:

2min, 30secs - Richard, Wrights Flour 15min, 05secs - Rosemary Schrager 27min, 55secs - Christine Jenson, Black Box Cakes 55min, 55secs - Karen Davies Sugarcraft 1hr, 0min, 45secs - Cherish Finden 1hr, 14min, 0secs - Britt Box, She Who Bakes 1hr, 29min, 54secs - Julian, Plamil Chocolate 1hr, 45min, 49secs - Rosie Cake Diva 2hr, 02min, 55secs - Natasha, No Cakes R Better and Bakeulator 2hr, 14min, 05secs - Guy, DTM Print

https://www.thecakeandbakeshow.co.uk/

In this episode we talk about the practicalities of running a cake business from home. Running your own business is hard enough - running a cake business can be next level with the amount of space that is needed.

Sammie and Bronya talk about their experiences and how they make their working lives easier by being organised, setting a routine and most importantly helping their families understand the pressures on them and their work.

For more information go to https://www.thebusinessofcakemaking.co.uk

This week Bronya and Sammie chat about how you can continue to have a thriving cake business even though there is an economic crisis looming on the horizon. Both of them have lived through recessions before and come out the other side. With a bit of careful planning, targeted marketing and working smart with your customers there is no reason why you should have to close your order books.

Today we chat to Brette, from Hobblecreek Cake Company and The Out of Home Baker about how she changed her mindset around money to really charge her value and worth.

Brette decided to become the resource that she never had when she was starting her cake business, and she now coaches people to price their cakes correctly - and it's not just about the numbers. Hear how she talks about being able to serve your customers well, whilst still making a good living.

Also, listen to the story around the delivery of her most expensive cake to date - which she took up a mountain!

Get a special listener discount to her Pricing Masterclass by quoting BCM15 when you check out.

https://theoutofhomebaker.gumroad.com/l/uroig?_gl=1dcxjqt_gaNTQzMDE2OTQyLjE2NTUyNjUwMzE._ga_6LJN6D94N6*MTY2NDIxODk3NS4yNi4xLjE2NjQyMTg5ODAuMC4wLjA.

This week Bronya and Sammie are very excited to speak to world renowned patissier Eric Lanlard. After baking in the French Navy he came to London to learn English and never left.

He has many TV appearances to his name, as well as 8 books, and regularly teaches at his South London Boutique Bakery and School, Cake Boy. He is still very passionate about his craft and is always looking for new and exciting flavours.

We chat to him ahead of his appearance at the Cake and Bake Show in October where he's hosting 3 demonstrations as well as developing 8 pastries for his Cake Boy Cocktail and Cake Parlour.

Tickets to The Cake and Bake Show are just £10 by following this link: https://bit.ly/CABPODCAST

In this episode Sammie and Bronya chat to sugar flower expert Miriam Pearson.

Miriam has been making cakes professionally for over 20 years, and competing for much longer. She has lots of hints and tips to share when using showing sugar flowers.

She also has her amazing Sugar Flower Club for just 25 euros a year, where you can learn a new flower each month.

She is very giving with her knowledge and as Sammie said a voice like 'Blue Velvet', which makes this episode a great listen!

New Term vibes because we have a new intro, a new format and lots of new things coming up.

This episode we chat about our summers, catching up with all the things we've been up to. Sammie tells us all about the making and construction of her biggest wedding cake yet - it even had it's own gazebo, and Bronya talks about her last ever wedding cake.

Today Bronya and Sammie talk to someone with a different perspective on the cake industry, and that is Henry from LissieLou.

A family run business LissieLou produce modern cake decorating tools and supplies, as well have have their own school both in person and online. Henry talks about how they develop LissieLou's innovative cake products, their brand ambassadors, the cake school and how they bring their brand to the large cake shows that are coming up in the next couple of months.

It's a fascinating insight into a different side of our business.

Bronya and Sammie were ridiculously excited to chat to international cake artist, and Disney Foodtastic Judge Chef Benny Rivera.

From financial analyst to cake master, Benny has one an incredibly interesting story to tell. He explains how he got into cake making, how he had to give up the day job once his bakery became too busy, how his Manhattan Bakery and Store is run, and chats about behind the scenes on Disney's Foodtastic.

This is one you're not going to want to miss!!

Today we chat to Avalon from Avalon cakes who has so much going on in her business. Not only is she an internationally renowned cake artist, she also runs an online Cake School and designs and sells the Cake and Cookie Planner! She is coming to Cake International this year with the Sugar Screams Collaboration, where they will displaying their Haunted House.

She was also very generous to offer our listeners their first months premium membership to her Cake School for just $1 by using the Coupon Code DAISY22. Go to https://avaloncakesschool.com/

Full details can be found in our shownotes at: https://www.daisycakecompany.co.uk

This episode Bronya and Sammie are super excited to chat to Cake Artist Karen Portaleo. We chat about her career, her TV appearances, her teaching and the amazing products she has bought to the market that help other food artists bring colour to their work.

Sponsors for this episode are CreativeCakeDesign.com To enjoy a limited offer of 1 years Premium Access to Creative Cake Design for just $2 (usually $59) head to https://Go.CreativeCakeDesign.com/DCC where the discount will automatically be added.

This episode is super chatty as Bronya and Sammie tell you the 5 things they love and dislike about running a cake business. It's a light hearted chat about the things that get them up in the morning, and the things they'd rather someone else did for them

We'd love to hear what your loves and dislikes are so please get in touch!

Sponsors for this episode are CreativeCakeDesign.com To enjoy a limited offer of 1 years Premium Access to Creative Cake Design for just $2 (usually $59) head to https://Go.CreativeCakeDesign.com/DCC where the discount will automatically be added.

In this episode we open the floor to your questions. We asked on Instagram if you had any questions for us and we did our best to answer then from our own experiences.

Sponsors for this episode are CreativeCakeDesign.com To enjoy a limited offer of 1 years Premium Access to Creative Cake Design for just $2 (usually $59) head to https://Go.CreativeCakeDesign.com/DCC where the discount will automatically be added.

In this time of rising prices, we need to be extra careful with the costs involved in running a cake business. Whilst it's essential to raise your prices to accommodate for the rising costs, there is a concern that you'll price yourself out of the market. In this episode we chat about ways you can keep the day to day running costs of your business low, so you don't feel the squeeze quite so much.

Sponsors for this episode are CreativeCakeDesign.com To enjoy a limited offer of 1 years Premium Access to Creative Cake Design for just $2 (usually $59) head to https://Go.CreativeCakeDesign.com/DCC where the discount will automatically be added.

Full Shownotes can be found at https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Setting Boundaries will not only help you keep on track, but will help all those around you as well.

In this episode we discuss what has happened when we haven't set boundaries, what boundaries we now set and what we will consider doing in the future.

Sponsors for this episode are CreativeCakeDesign.com To enjoy a limited offer of 1 years Premium Access to Creative Cake Design for just $2 (usually $59) head to https://Go.CreativeCakeDesign.com/DCC where the discount will automatically be added.

Full Shownotes can be found at https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This episode we are chatting to Kendra Groves, owner of Wild Child Cakes, and Instagram and Tik Tok sensation!

She explains how finding her own style and creative genius led to her success on Social Media. She is fun, enthusiastic, colourful and amazing to listen to.

Sponsors for this episode are CreativeCakeDesign.com To enjoy a limited offer of 1 years Premium Access to Creative Cake Design for just $2 (usually $59) head to https://Go.CreativeCakeDesign.com/DCC where the discount will automatically be added.

Full Shownotes can be found at https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

In this Bonus Episode we are talking to Stafani Pollack, founder of Bake Fest. In it's 2nd year, Bake Fest brings together influencers and instructors for all aspects of the Baking World in a 2 day online event on May 21st and 22nd.

Stefani explain how Bake Fest works and who is going to be there.

For more information for to https://www.thebakefest.com/

For a 10% discount of ticket prices include the Discount Code 'BusinesofCake10'.

For full shownotes for this episode visit: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

There have been many forced changes over the last couple of years to how we run our businesses due to Covid. One that Bronya and Sammie think is a good thing is the acceptance of Zoom!

In this episode we talk about how we conduct consultations online, how we've come to be really comfortable with it and what both the advantages and disadvantages are.

After attending The Cake Professionals, The Regionals in this episode we do a quick round up of the day. It was an amazing day with so much to learn, and whilst we don't want to totally repeat everything from the day there were definitely a few stand out things that we wanted to share.

We can't wait until next year's conference in March.

Both Bronya and Sammie have experience of selling cakes and bakes to cafes and coffee shops. Sometimes it's been successful, sometimes not.

In this episode we talk about our experience of selling via a third party, and why we've sometimes turned contracts down.

Here us talk about the things to think about if you get approached to bake for cafes and coffee shops.

Show notes can be found here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This episode we chat to Magda and Aga from Rude Cookies. In business together for just 1 year, and never really expecting this to be a full flourishing business they are already looking to expand because they are so busy.

What they do is exceptionally niche and a lesson in why niching down can be so successful.

For full show notes go to: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This episode we have a returning guest. Christine from the Cake Professionals has come back to chat about The Regionals that are being held in March and April. However, like all good conversations, we also chatted about why cake makers should educate themselves about how to run a small business and value their worth as cake makers, as well as a few small hints and tips like putting your cake dummies in the dishwasher instead of the bath to clean them.

Ever wondered what goes into writing a cookbook? In this episode we speak to Lucy Burton who over lockdown sold bakes by post. Knowing this was a great idea she wrote a book proposal and her book 'Postal Bakes' is released this coming May - quite the whirlwind!

For shownotes visit: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This episode we talk about how we introduce new flavours into tried and tested recipes. Rather than starting afresh and having to trial every new flavour a client may want, having a basic vanilla cake that you can add extras to will help hugely.

For all the show notes visit: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

We know that as Cake Makers and Creatives, the thought of doing our Tax Return often fills us with dread. So, to debunk things and make life a little more understandable we invited Claire From Beyond the Oven to come and chat all things Tax and Finance.

Claire is an Accountant who specialises in dealing with Cake Makers, so know it's not a job we love, and knows how to explain things in a way that is fully understandable.

Shownotes and clink can be found here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Ahead of the start of Robert's first 3 week online sugar flower workshop, we chat to him about how he got to this point. He makes the most realistic sugar flowers and has taught his craft all over the world. Covid and the Pandemic put a stop to that, so he challenged himself to take his teaching online.

He also chats to us about the products he has bought to market, and the work and research that went into them. He's a fascinating man, and a truly interesting listen.

Show notes can be found here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

In this, the first episode of 2022, we're looking at ways you can refresh and reset your business for 2022.

From decluttering to getting out and getting new inspiration, we explore ways we find useful to pick up for the new year and move our businesses forward.

Shownotes can be found here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This episode we are speaking to Molly Robbins. Still only 30 she has been in the business over 11 years and has been on Channel 4's Extreme Cake Makers, has her own cake and product business and now teaches in her studio in Rossendale. She tell us all about how she got into the business, how she came to be on Extreme Cake Makers, the tragic story about the fire at her studio and how she pulled through to now have a studio and warehouse to house her amazing business. For all the shownotes visit: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Have you found 2021 tricky? We have!!

In this episode we give a round-up of all our highs and lows this year, and look forward to 2022.

Shownotes can be found here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

In this episode Bronya and Sammie talk all about the fun day out they had at Cake International - the first Exhibition for 2 years! They also chat about their experiences of entering competitions and if and how they can help your business.

Show notes can be found at here

In this episode we are talking to Caroline from Caroline Jax Cake School. Her school is unique in that it offers a Membership. She also has a Free Facebook Group, so we thought she was the ideal person to talk about Cake Communities and Community over Competition.

For the shownotes head over to: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

In this Episode Sammie and Bronya chat about Customer Experience. The journey a customer takes from the moment they find you, until when and even after they receive their cakes.

They discuss emails, phone calls, Social DM's, quotations, invoicing and collections and deliveries.

The also talk about their 2 products of the week

Are you thinking about using wedding fairs in your Marketing Plan? Today we have Paul and Karen from PMN Wedding Fayres to talk about wedding fairs from the perspective of a wedding fair organiser. At the end Bronya and Sammie give some advise that they've learnt over the years from doing wedding fairs themselves.

Wait till the end to find out what our Products of the Week are.

Today's episode is all about things we wish knew when we started running our businesses.

If you are just starting your cake business, or if you are struggling in your cake business then maybe us reminiscing about the things we wish we knew when we were starting our businesses will help you. Learn from the mistakes we made so you dont make the same ones.

This episode has been inspired by the Podcast by Vix Meldrew and Alice Benham, with the same title 'Wish We Knew'.

Also, we introduce a new feature today: Product of the Week!

Shownotes can be found here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Due to the death of Sammie's Mum we have not recorded an episode this week. However, we come baring gifts with some Freebies to help you in your Cake Making Business.

Please click on this link to get all the freebies: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/free-resources-for-cake-makers/

Clicking the links will get you onto our Newsletter Mailing List, if you sign up for more than one Freebie you won't be subscribed to the list more than once. We promise to only sign you up once and you can unsubscribe at anytime.

Following a couple of wedding cake disasters Bronya and Sammie have had, they decided to share their bad experiences and pass on the lessons they've learnt in this episode on Cake Construction.

Learn about everything from damming your buttercream, to ganaching your cake, to dowels and centre dowels.

Also, learn what to look out for when you deliver your cake to make sure everything will keep it upright until the customer cuts and eats it.

Full show notes and links here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

We had July off because the cake deliveries all went a bit nuts after the lockdown lifted. In this episode we have a catch up with how life is now weddings are allowed and cake deliveries are happening again.

This episode sees us talking about the cake deliveries, Sammie's collapsing cake, some of the wedding cakes we've made and what we've got coming up soon.

Full shownotes here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

We have managed to do 28 episodes and not once mention anything about baking! We've rectified that here in Episode 29 with our Top Baking Tips!

We give you a quick run down on the science behind baking before telling you all our tips to get a better bake.

We are taking a month off after this episode whilst 2020 orders catch up with us in 2021. We'll be back in August.

Shownotes can be found here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Our new free Weekly Cake Planner can be found here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/free-resources-for-cake-makers/

In an episode, beset with technical issues, Bronya and Sammie chat through Time Management.

Being busy isn't always a sign of success. Organising your time efficiently and effectively can free up hours for you to enjoy your business and your own self care. In this episode we talk about setting red lines, planning and prioritising, and tips to help you get the best out of your working time.

Shownotes can be found at https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This episode we invite Katie from Malarkey Cake School back to be a guest to discuss Valuing Yourself and Charging your Worth as a Cake Maker.

A subject close to all of our hearts we discuss how you can earn a living from running a cake business. It comes from actually knowing your costs, having confidence in your pricing and treating your customers, service and all your business practices as a whole.

Read all the shownotes and references here: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Recorded during Mental Health Awareness Week, we speak to Cake Maker and Mental Health Nurse and Educator Maria Ditch.

She delves into the problems we may face as Cake Makers, how to notice the symptoms and how we can help ourselves maintain better Mental Health.

This Epsiode is one Bronya and Sammie have been eager to do and cannot emphasise it's importance.

Shownotes can be found at: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

In this episode, Bronya and Sammie talk about Copy Caking. They cover everything from copyrighted and character cakes, to being asked to reproduce other cake makers creations.

They talk about their experience with Trading Standards, as well as how developing their own styles and not copying other cake makers cakes has bought them more work they enjoy and ultimately better job satisfaction.

Show notes can be found at: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This Episode we speak to the amazing Christine and Phil Jensen. Not only are the Channel 4 and Netflix stars with their incredible cake company Peboryon on Extreme Cake Makers, they are also organisers and hosts of Cake Professionals.

Here they tell us how they started in cake making and how the Cake Professionals came about. Their aim is to ensure cake makers strive and thrive in their businesses.

Show notes can be found at Show Notes

This episode Sammie and Bronya chat about where they find inspiration for their cakes.

Sammie comes at it from the angle of flavours - where she gets new flavours, how she learns to perfect her bakes and where her flavour inspo comes from.

Bronya chats about the look of cakes. Where to go to find the best inspirations - and it's NOT other peoples cakes.

Where do you go for your creative inspiration, we'd love to know!

Visit the shownotes at https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This episode we talk to founder of Cake Minds Rhu Strand, along with one of its teachers Sam Stringer.

Both Rhu and Sam are Cake International Gold Award Winners, with Rhu a previous Best in Show winner. Now they put their talents and experience to use with Cake Minds.

Cake Minds is a network of teachers with Rhu at the helm, guiding others with her expertise. There is a free magazine and classes currently online, but soon in person (just once all the Pandemic stuff is over).

Genuinely one of the best chats we've had. We felt like we met kindred cake spirits, which was only reinforced when Sammie and Rhu found they had literally been neighbours last year!!

https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This Episode we speak to Zoe from Zoe's Fancy Cakes. Zoe is an internet sensation in the cake world with a big following on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

We speak to her about how she started, what it's like working with her family, how the Pandemic has changed how she works and what are the plans for her business going forward.

For the shownotes, Social and Website links please visit https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

In this episode we discuss the bits of kit we wouldn't be without and why!. There is none of your fancy letter stencils or anything, just the basics that are in our cake toolboxes.

For the shownotes visit https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Possibly one of the most useful episodes we've ever recorded. It's a subject we get asked about the most, and that we see people in Facebook groups asking the most - What is the best way to photograph cakes?

Branding, Product and Wedding Photography Expert Beth Lavin joins Sammie and Bronya to share hints and tips which we can only describe as Cake Podcast Gold!

For shownotes and for Beth's blog post link head to https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

This episode we are joined with Gina from The Social Teacup to talk about Instagram. She gives us some great insights into how to manage your Instagram and how to engage with your audience.

For more information and for the shownotes visit https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Bronya and Sammie chat about goal setting and how it can help to move your business forward.

Sammie has her usual collection of soundbites, including one of the most important to remember in a pandemic 'set goals you can control'.

For the shownotes visit https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Note: this episode was recorded in December 2020, before Lockdown 3 was announced.

Following a short break, we have decided to dispense with the Series/Season numbers and just plough through Episode numbers from the start.

We've had good news on Covid due to Track and Trace, and Vaccines coming through. So we are looking to 2021 with new hope. Sammie does a round up of how to start planning for a post Covid world, whilst Bronya chats through an essential, but rarely done thing amongst Cake Makers - writing a Business Plan.

For Show Notes visit https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofcakemaking

We're just taking a little break whilst Sammie moves house. Bronya is here to tell you all about the other resources we offer to listeners of The Business of Cake Making.

For all the shownotes visit: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

For our Blog visit: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/blog/

To get 50% off everything in our shop use coupon code PODCASTNOVEMBER20. Visit: https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/shop/

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofcakemaking

We'll be back in a couple of weeks. See you then!!

In this episode Bronya and Sammie chat to the wonderful Emily Hankins. Known for her beautiful painted cakes, Emily explains why painted cakes became her thing, why she teaches her techniques to others and how her online teaching through lockdown has led to her launching her own school.

Emily is a great ambassador for the cake industry and was named one of Cake Masters Top 10 Cake Artists of 2019.

Sammie and Bronya share 5 top tips to work ON your cake business, whilst it's quiet and you're not working IN your cake business.

From reviewing your processes, to content planning, these 5 things will keep you focused and make your business work smarter for you when things are busy again!

Cake Fear is very real!!

After running Daisy Cake Company for over 10 years, Bronya and Sammie have learnt many ways to combat and deal with the fear and anxiety of cake making.

The Business of Cake Making ran a survey which a lot of fellow cake makers completed. In this episode we unpack the answers and offer and advise and techniques to overcome the very real anxiety that is Cake Fear!

Shownotes at https://daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

In this episode Bronya and Sammie talk about one of the most feared subjects - Pricing!!

It may be dull and dry, but its essential to ANY business. Do you know the difference between wages and profit? Do you recognise all the hidden costs and time in your business?

Bronya and Sammie don't tell you what to charge, but they give you guidance, from their experience, how to charge.

This is the 2nd part of a 2 Part Interview with The Indulgent Sugarplum, and Channel 4 Extreme Cake Maker, Nastassja.

We decided that the 1 and a half hour long interview was too long for one episode, and too interesting to cut anything out, so we've split it into 2 parts.

In Part 2 Nastassja speaks about her aesthetic, design process and inspiration. She tells us how she considers herself an artist, not jut a baker, and how Cake is her canvas. It is trully is a new way to look at the creative cake process!

In Part 1 she talked about her journey to becoming the cake maker she is today and what it felt like to get the call from Channel 4.

This is Part 1 of a 2 Part Interview with The Indulgent Sugarplum, and Channel 4 Extreme Cake Maker, Nastassja.

We decided that the 1 and a half hour long interview was too long for one episode, and too interesting to cut anything out, so we've split it into 2 parts.

In Part 1 Nastassja is talking about her journey to becoming the cake maker she is today and what it felt like to get the call from Channel 4.

In Part 2 (released 2 days later) she will be talking all about her aesthetic, design process and inspiration.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Business of Cake Making.

Episode 1 of Season 2 is all about Storytelling in you business, and how to use communication to make customers out of strangers.

Stacey MacDonald, The Modern Story Teller is a communications expert and explains how your stories can communicate your message to your clients.

For this episode Bronya and Sammie chatted to Paul Bradford and David Brice from the Multi Award Winning CakeFlix.

Paul and David openly discuss how their first retail business shaped their current online business, CakeFlix.

CakeFlix is an online educational resource which has changed and developed since it was first launched. This was recorded during the Covid 19 Lockdown, when free online resources were popping up all over. Paul and David have learnt to adapt their business over the years. Find out how they keep their business thriving by keeping on top of and reacting to change.

Sammie talks to Hannah, The Cake Illusionist. Hannah makes amazing sculpted and structural cakes.

In this episode Sammie talks to Hannah about how her personal struggle resulted in her having a career she truly loves. Also, how she find inspiration from, in her words 'staying in her lane', and how she wants to help other cake makers achieve their goals of earning their worth from this business we call cake.

Hannah's story and work ethic inspirational, and whilst there is no one topic for this episode there is still so much to take away.

Apologies for the technical difficulties that can be heard in this episode. It seems Covid 19 Lockdown is playing havoc with broadband and the internet

Note: This episode contains discussions that some listeners may find upsetting.

How have you been coping through the Covid-19 Lockdown? We have a catch up on where we are, how businesses can pivot and adapt, and what can we do to use the time to increase our skills.

We also bring back Katie lake Volcof and Lex Fleming to hear their opinions on how Covid 19 will effect their businesses and what they're doing during the Lockdown time.

It's a bit of a mish mash, but there are loads of little gems in here with all the links to be found in our shownotes.

This episode we move onto one of the more fun parts of business, Marketing, specifically Pinterest.

We invited Creative Content Coach, Rachel Emma Waring to join us to chat all things Pinterest, and why it's great for Creative Businesses. We pick up some great tips, and find out why and how we should be strategically pinning for our business.

Bronya and Sammie have conducted hundreds of cake consultations and delivered as many, if not more, large cakes throughout their career.

Hear how the mistakes they've made and their wealth of experience has taught them how to do this better. Get their top tips on Consultations and Deliveries.

Learn from their mistakes so you don't make your own!

Episode 4 is all about one of the most fundamental topics when running a business - Ideal Client. Lex Fleming, founder of The Wedding Breakfast Club, blows our minds with why we need an Ideal Client, how we get to know our Ideal Client, and how they can stop the anxiety of potential complaints.

For full links see our shownotes at www.daisycakecompany.co.uk/the-business-of-cake-making-podcast/

Katie Lake Volcof from Malarkey Cakes and Malarkey Cake School chats to Sammie and Bronya about building her business and the importance of finding a Niche in the market.

Are you setting up a Cake Business? Want to know the basics of setting up? This episode explains the fundamental differences between being a Cake Business and a Hobby Baker, and what you need to do to be a pukka, bonafide business......you'll be surprised it's not as hard as you think!

Bronya and Sammie, hosts of The Business of Cake Making, and owners of Daisy Cake Company, introduce themselves to the podcast world. Learn how they both got into cake making, and what they're doing now.