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| Stay Home and Bake |
A month or so back ( Feb, March 2021), we felt like the end of pandemic. Election campaigns, cheering crowds, festivities, family meets, holidays and events resumed to pre-covid times. We were under the assumption that the worst is over. Also, no one warned us that there was a tsunami rumbling on the way.
And then this wave hit us hard, real hard this time! We are caught unaware of the severity, and the lack of preparedness made it even more worse.
It was like a jolt to all. A wake-up call for our administrator and planners.
At this time, we are saddened by the plight of our people and worried by the things around us. But don't loose hope, things will get better. For now, let's go back to the old rules of lock-down. That's the only way to break the chain.
Avoid 24/7 News - Focus on Possibilities and Growth
If you're into baking, you can try new recipes. If you like reading, start with a new reading list. If you have an unfinished project, this is the time to set a deadline and finish it. Or if you want to think of a new income stream, then use this time to do online research to sort out possibilities and options to explore a second income path.
And if you know any person or family going through Covid, then you can send them food, or call them regularly and give support. It would means so much for people going through this phase.
Second Income from Baking
I know a lot of my students, who make good income from cake sales. And the good news is that few of them are online student who had attended the 12 day online class. It's gives me so much joy when they tell about the sales they are making and how they are confidently running a small biz out of their kitchen.
Home Baking - Where should you Start and Focus
Most beginners have this question on their mind about how to make an income from baking. So, just like any new project, first things is to get the basics right. Once you get the fundamentals right, it's time to perfect the looks. Here don't expect to make the super looking cakes you see on Pinterest or Instagram on the first attempt or even after a month or so. The cakes which you see getting hundreds of likes are a result of many hours of practice. So, at first be patient in your attempts.
At this stage, try new recipes, make different designs and borders on the cake. I'm sure, you'll face lot of disappointments, but don't be disheartened.
What to Focus and Specialize!
When it comes to baking, it's a vast area. There are many areas to focus or you can be generalist. Usually beginners set out to start with cake orders. The first order usually comes from friends or relatives who place them for b'days, or parties. The popular cakes are chocolate or vanilla, red velvet, caramel, cakes with fresh cream, etc. Here's the basic cake list every beginner should learn!
Apart from basic cakes, you can make theme cupcakes or cakes. The medium is mostly fondant or buttercream. Also, some people focus on wedding cakes or anniversary cakes. In Bangalore, I have seen quite a number of people making cakes for hen parties. They are bit bold in shapes and mostly done as per client's specification.
How Good is Your Digital Marketing of your Cake Biz
This is an area most home bakers ignore or don't spent much time. With an online presence ( Facebook or Insta), you can share your cake pictures to your friends and their friends too will see your work. This kind of network makes it easy for people to refer you and get more orders without spending much money.
I often tell my students to start a Facebook Page, an Instagram account, a website or a blog. These are the basics to start. Also, one mistake people make is that they start a Facebook Page, but it's hardly updated. Another common mistake is that the posts become very repetitive.
Do you have FSSAI Licence?
It's now mandatory for home bakers to take FSSAI licence. If you haven't taken it, try to apply it asap. I have given the steps and the FoSCoS site where you can apply it online.
Picture Perfect Cakes
Why are some cake picture so appealing to the eye, while some look lost it's sheen in the picture. This is where a good photography skills come to play. To become a better photographer, you need to learn learn few basic things, such as lighting, backdrop and placement. With these, you can start making your cake like a STAR.
Now VIDEOS Get All the Attention
More than picture, it's the videos that's catching everyone's attention. Not just plain unedited videos, but videos with text and music in the background. Again you can make such videos by learning few video editing skills.
Avoid 24/7 News - Focus on Possibilities and Growth
If you're into baking, you can try new recipes. If you like reading, start with a new reading list. If you have an unfinished project, this is the time to set a deadline and finish it. Or if you want to think of a new income stream, then use this time to do online research to sort out possibilities and options to explore a second income path.
And if you know any person or family going through Covid, then you can send them food, or call them regularly and give support. It would means so much for people going through this phase.
Second Income from Baking
I know a lot of my students, who make good income from cake sales. And the good news is that few of them are online student who had attended the 12 day online class. It's gives me so much joy when they tell about the sales they are making and how they are confidently running a small biz out of their kitchen.
Home Baking - Where should you Start and Focus
Most beginners have this question on their mind about how to make an income from baking. So, just like any new project, first things is to get the basics right. Once you get the fundamentals right, it's time to perfect the looks. Here don't expect to make the super looking cakes you see on Pinterest or Instagram on the first attempt or even after a month or so. The cakes which you see getting hundreds of likes are a result of many hours of practice. So, at first be patient in your attempts.
At this stage, try new recipes, make different designs and borders on the cake. I'm sure, you'll face lot of disappointments, but don't be disheartened.
What to Focus and Specialize!
When it comes to baking, it's a vast area. There are many areas to focus or you can be generalist. Usually beginners set out to start with cake orders. The first order usually comes from friends or relatives who place them for b'days, or parties. The popular cakes are chocolate or vanilla, red velvet, caramel, cakes with fresh cream, etc. Here's the basic cake list every beginner should learn!
Apart from basic cakes, you can make theme cupcakes or cakes. The medium is mostly fondant or buttercream. Also, some people focus on wedding cakes or anniversary cakes. In Bangalore, I have seen quite a number of people making cakes for hen parties. They are bit bold in shapes and mostly done as per client's specification.
How Good is Your Digital Marketing of your Cake Biz
This is an area most home bakers ignore or don't spent much time. With an online presence ( Facebook or Insta), you can share your cake pictures to your friends and their friends too will see your work. This kind of network makes it easy for people to refer you and get more orders without spending much money.
I often tell my students to start a Facebook Page, an Instagram account, a website or a blog. These are the basics to start. Also, one mistake people make is that they start a Facebook Page, but it's hardly updated. Another common mistake is that the posts become very repetitive.
Do you have FSSAI Licence?
It's now mandatory for home bakers to take FSSAI licence. If you haven't taken it, try to apply it asap. I have given the steps and the FoSCoS site where you can apply it online.
Picture Perfect Cakes
Why are some cake picture so appealing to the eye, while some look lost it's sheen in the picture. This is where a good photography skills come to play. To become a better photographer, you need to learn learn few basic things, such as lighting, backdrop and placement. With these, you can start making your cake like a STAR.
Now VIDEOS Get All the Attention
More than picture, it's the videos that's catching everyone's attention. Not just plain unedited videos, but videos with text and music in the background. Again you can make such videos by learning few video editing skills.
Recently, I started using InShot, a mobile app to take and edit short videos. It's easy to use and you can learn it make own videos with nice background music without much effort. Another popular video editing app is KineMaster - Video Editor. Try it out!
Practice Makes Perfect
If you're a beginner and wanting to become a baker, then here's one thing I have observed. It's about practice. It's only through practice, you learned to improve the looks, finish and create outstanding cakes.
Not All Who Start Baking, end up the Same
Do you know how some home bakers make that perfect sharp edge cake with lovely designs and writing?
What are some cakes looking very much average, while some bakers make that extra awesome cakes?
It's not just creative skills, it has to do with practice! Of course, some people who have been in artistic field gets a head-start, but that's not all. The more you practice a skill, improving day by day, you can reach the pinnacle of perfection. This is true in baking or in any other creative field.
While writing this I'm reminded of Kanika from Port Blair who attended few private baking classes with me in Trivandrum. She now posts her bakes on Facebook and on my online Whatsapp group. After seeing her beautiful creation, I must say that they are a class-apart.
Secret Sauce behind her Creations!
Even though she was blessed with creative skills, she spend long hours to perfect her skill. We all know it's not easy to make cakes as per client's specification. But, she took all these orders and worked really hard to create one-of-the-kind finishes on cakes.
All these perfect looks on cakes does not come easy. It's diligence, an eye for perfection and the desire to improve the quality of work -one cake at a time. Check below to see one of her recent cakes.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you're a beginner and wanting to become a baker, then here's one thing I have observed. It's about practice. It's only through practice, you learned to improve the looks, finish and create outstanding cakes.
Not All Who Start Baking, end up the Same
Do you know how some home bakers make that perfect sharp edge cake with lovely designs and writing?
What are some cakes looking very much average, while some bakers make that extra awesome cakes?
It's not just creative skills, it has to do with practice! Of course, some people who have been in artistic field gets a head-start, but that's not all. The more you practice a skill, improving day by day, you can reach the pinnacle of perfection. This is true in baking or in any other creative field.
While writing this I'm reminded of Kanika from Port Blair who attended few private baking classes with me in Trivandrum. She now posts her bakes on Facebook and on my online Whatsapp group. After seeing her beautiful creation, I must say that they are a class-apart.
Secret Sauce behind her Creations!
Even though she was blessed with creative skills, she spend long hours to perfect her skill. We all know it's not easy to make cakes as per client's specification. But, she took all these orders and worked really hard to create one-of-the-kind finishes on cakes.
All these perfect looks on cakes does not come easy. It's diligence, an eye for perfection and the desire to improve the quality of work -one cake at a time. Check below to see one of her recent cakes.
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| Kanikas Homemade Cakes Port Blair Ph# 9476019410 |
