cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,444 
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Nov 15, 2019 12:37:08 GMT
For the past 7 years (this year marks the 8th year) I've participated in a Christmas house tour mid-November. Vendors donate their time and products to decorate homes, people buy tickets and tour the homes. The money raised goes to fund a food bank/hand up centre in the city the tour runs in. This year they raised $110,000.
I'm a food vendor, and hand out Christmas cookie samples - it boosts my cookie orders each year and has so far been worth it. But it is a lot of work, and I have to be in the house Friday evening and all day Saturday on my feet. It's exhausting for sure being "on" the entire time.
This year, I was waffling about doing it and decided "one more year".
So far, the free ad I get (the ticket book is a 5x7 magazine with a full page on each home plus vendor ads, 1500 tickets are sold) needed to be redone due to a new designer, so $50 there. And I was told "free ad or charity receipt" - this was never stated in previous years.
But last night was the final straw on the pile of straws leading to me doing this for the final time this year. The Thursday evening is a candlelight tour, and is followed by a reception with food & beverages. Always yummy stuff. It is the 15th anniversary of the tour, and there in the middle of the reception, was a 5 tier display cake. No sign of who did it though. But I know who did (we are FB friends and I saw it on her page today).
I've been a vendor for 8 years now, and ALWAYS have a cake display in the kitchen I'm handing out cookies in. It is known I'm the cake/cookie person - people who do the tour every year always comment on it. This person is talented, and the cake was really great. But I'm feeling quite put out that I wasn't even asked to create something for the event. This other person does not do this full time, is not from the town, has never been part of the tour, and does not work from a licensed kitchen.
I'm done....
**UPDATE**
I had emailed the committee chair yesterday morning already before posting. She did get back to me by the middle of the day. She said there was no excuse, completely 100% human error. The volunteer in charge of planning the reception said she knew somebody who could possibly donate a cake. In the fluster of planning the event, it didn't occur to anybody else on the committee to reach out to me. She apologized profusely, and not to make excuses but that it was human error. And asked forgiveness.
She also came to the house I was in last night to apologize in person. We had a good chat and I again expressed my concern that because I know this other person, I know she doesn't work in a health inspected space (which is mandated here if serving/selling food to the public). Turns out parts of the cake were real cake that they did serve. So she was going to make note of that as well. Had the health unit gotten wind of that there would have been hell to pay.
So all in all, I'm happy with the response, and will finish out my weekend of handing out cookies all day today. But I'm still going to be done this year. A friend and I are joining forces to plan something rather big for 2021, so all my energy will be turned towards that next year.
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 15, 2019 12:39:33 GMT
I validate you. That would be the last straw for me, too.
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smcast
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,321
Location: MN
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Post by smcast on Nov 15, 2019 12:48:09 GMT
Wow! That's a slap in the face.
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Nanner
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,969
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Post by Nanner on Nov 15, 2019 12:48:39 GMT
Yeah, I'd be pretty upset. And would no longer be participating.
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peppermintpatty
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea #1345
Posts: 3,842
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Post by peppermintpatty on Nov 15, 2019 12:50:34 GMT
I would be done as well. That is a lot of work and while I would do it for the exposure, it wouldn't be enough to justify the aggravation leading up to it. I get the "on" issue. I am a jewelry designer and doing events means being on the whole time. It takes me a day or two to get over a show.
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Post by leannec on Nov 15, 2019 12:51:38 GMT
I would be so pissed off ... yup, it would be my last year too  |
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Post by elaine on Nov 15, 2019 12:53:35 GMT
That really stinks! I’m glad that this is your last year.
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Post by christine58 on Nov 15, 2019 12:54:57 GMT
I might be done NOW>...that is a slap in the face and I'd be chatting with the powers that be
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400
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Post by ashley on Nov 15, 2019 12:55:18 GMT
Maybe she volunteered to do the cake for the reception?
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Post by roberta on Nov 15, 2019 12:56:48 GMT
Totally agree with you. Perhaps after the event you could ask someone in the know - why, but only if you really want to know.
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Post by peasapie on Nov 15, 2019 13:16:55 GMT
Thoughtless on the part of the organizer!
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peabrain
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,588
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Post by peabrain on Nov 15, 2019 13:22:57 GMT
That would piss me off. I hope you can get through this year.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Nov 15, 2019 13:24:37 GMT
I would ask about it, if only to be able to express my disappointment that a loyal participant and supporter like yourself was not asked first to showcase their work.
I might also caution to consider whether pulling out hurts them or you more. You said the event has been profitable for you in that it drove up your sales. It might be worthwhile to give them your feedback as a vendor regarding the ad costs and feeling snubbed about the cake to see how they respond. Unless of course you think the event has given you all the boost you need already and it's time to move on to something else.
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schizo319
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,030
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Post by schizo319 on Nov 15, 2019 13:25:36 GMT
Yeah, um, that would be enough for me to drop right out of the event for this year (although I know that might hurt business, so it probably isn't wise to do so).
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,444
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Nov 15, 2019 13:26:14 GMT
I might be done NOW>...that is a slap in the face and I'd be chatting with the powers that be If I hadn't already baked 1100 cookies to hand out I might consider it. And I've already emailed the chair of the committee. |
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lindas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,160
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Post by lindas on Nov 15, 2019 13:27:22 GMT
If you had been asked would you have had the time to make a 5 tier display cake on top of the one you always make plus all the cookies?
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,444
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Nov 15, 2019 13:28:32 GMT
Maybe she volunteered to do the cake for the reception? I've emailed the chair to inquire as to why I wasn't asked. I cannot even fathom how she could have volunteered - event is in Guelph, she is in Kitchener and works full time, cake is a side gig for her. So unless she in some way knows somebody who knows somebody on the committee, I can't see how she could have just offered. This event is run through a very large church organization, and I know this gal is not affiliated with it in any way. |
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,444
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Nov 15, 2019 13:32:03 GMT
I would ask about it, if only to be able to express my disappointment that a loyal participant and supporter like yourself was not asked first to showcase their work. I might also caution to consider whether pulling out hurts them or you more. You said the event has been profitable for you in that it drove up your sales. It might be worthwhile to give them your feedback as a vendor regarding the ad costs and feeling snubbed about the cake to see how they respond. Unless of course you think the event has given you all the boost you need already and it's time to move on to something else. Already emailed to see why I wasn't asked  And I'd already been waffling about participating this year, because it is just so much work. But my cookie orders have been steady the last few years - 80+ orders each year, and with social media ads I'm already at 24 orders before the show. The main reason I decided to do this year was I got a new computer last January and somehow my Christmas cookie email folder got lost in the shuffle, so I wasn't able to email past clients to remind them to order this year. So one more show to hit the tour people that always order and I'm done. Plus, I'm hoping to be on the preferred vendor list at a local venue that is rather swanky and does upwards of 10+ weddings each month. So if my cookie orders fall in number but weddings pick up, I'm totally ok with that! |
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~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,258
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
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Post by ~Susan~ on Nov 15, 2019 13:57:36 GMT
I don't blame you. It sounds like a lot of work. It would definitely chap my butt too about the cake and lack of communication.
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Post by katlaw on Nov 15, 2019 14:24:45 GMT
I will validate you. It will be interesting to hear her reply.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Nov 15, 2019 14:31:37 GMT
I certainly hope you receive a proper response. Often there is no way to understand why people do things, even to the point of slightly those who have been there to help in the past.
((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))
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Post by auntkelly on Nov 15, 2019 14:38:25 GMT
I would be furious if I found out they paid the lady to make the cake.
If they asked her to donate the cake, I’d be put out that they didn’t ask me first, but I might accept their explanation that they didn’t want to ask me to donate a cake on top of what I’m already doing. I would make it clear that as a curtesy, they should always talk to me first before seeking donations of baked goods. I’d also tell them they shouldn’t ever accept donations from an unlicensed baker
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Post by disneypal on Nov 15, 2019 14:40:59 GMT
I do not blame you at all...I know you will follow through with your commitment this year because that is the kind of person you are but I can totally understand why this year is your last.
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bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,531
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Post by bethany102399 on Nov 15, 2019 14:45:25 GMT
And I've already emailed the chair of the committee. Good, I'm glad you've emailed them. I can see why you'd be pissed, I would be too. So unless she in some way knows somebody who knows somebody on the committee Having worked not for profit before, I can see this happening. I can also see someone on the vendor committee being totally clueless as to why you might be pissed that they asked someone else to do it. This in no way invalidates your anger, and you're right to say what the what to them. I'm just saying I can see someone on the vendor committee having no clue that you make cake. Regardless of the fact that you advertise that you make cake. In the same way there's no card promoting her business on the cake itself, I'd bet someone knows her and when they needed a cake for the reception went oh yeah, I've got a cake lady. and one more thing got crossed off the list. |
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smcast
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,321
Location: MN
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Post by smcast on Nov 15, 2019 14:50:44 GMT
If you had been asked would you have had the time to make a 5 tier display cake on top of the one you always make plus all the cookies? Mute point in my opinion. It's the lack of allegiance to cakediva. |
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Post by MichyM on Nov 15, 2019 16:05:23 GMT
That STINKS. I’d be mad and ‘done’ too!
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Post by librarylady on Nov 15, 2019 16:05:47 GMT
Maybe she volunteered to do the cake for the reception? Even if she did, the OP deserved to have been notified.. "XYZ has offered to make a cake this year. You have done it for the past 14 years. Would you like a break, or would you like to make the cake this year?" Incredible rude of the organizer. I'd be done also....and tell them why. |
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ashley
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,400
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Post by ashley on Nov 15, 2019 16:09:55 GMT
Maybe she volunteered to do the cake for the reception? Even if she did, the OP deserved to have been notified.. "XYZ has offered to make a cake this year. You have done it for the past 14 years. Would you like a break, or would you like to make the cake this year?" Incredible rude of the organizer. I'd be done also....and tell them why. I read nothing to suggest Cakediva has supplied a display cake for the main reception in any previous year. She said she hands out cookies and has a display cake in her own kitchen, not the evening reception. |
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Post by femalebusiness on Nov 15, 2019 16:16:17 GMT
Yeah, that would be the last straw for me too.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Nov 15, 2019 16:21:08 GMT
That would seal my decision too. I’d be really upset that they didn’t even ask.
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