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Original poster

Would you find this advert endearing and effective or a bit cringeworthy and too personal?

203 replies

bakingbaker · 20/08/2023 14:06

What would you think if you saw a baker advertise his products on FB or Instagram by talking about their struggles, how they stay out in the cold until they've sold everything, dropped out their high paying career, how they pull constant all nighters or how they still managed to deliver your box out of A and E after a car crash.

Would you think it is a good strategy or would you think it's a bit too much?

More specifically what would you think of a post like this? Would you post it or leave it?

"I deliver my cakes by hand. 10 on my arms, 10 on my shoulders, 10 on my back. My philosophy is that if we avoid getting tired, we cannot appreciate a night's rest. If we keep taking it easy, we cannot truly appreciate a glass of water or a hot meal. These are the little joys which make life worth living for me. I do not want it easy!"

or, a bit more personal:

"This business was meant to be co-run by two people - my ex-partner and I. I spent 2 years building up our bakery to the point that I was ready to share the journey with someone. So I rebranded for a fresh start for us this year. But they and I had different visions. I wanted to continue improving my baking, keep prices the same and pay myself the minimum salary while reinvesting most of the revenue back into my business. My partner prioritised delegating the workload to staff, increasing profits and cashing out. This isn't wrong in and of itself but my heart disagreed. It didn't make sense to harvest the first fruits when I could wait and harvest the whole rainforest. There is so much growth still left.

I've faced some tough choices on my journey. With the time commitments, I had to choose between my friends or my small business. Next it was my job or my small business. After that my academics or my small business. But this one really stopped me in my tracks: my partner or my small business. Do I love my business enough that I'd give up a future with someone? The double workload combined with the breakup left me empty. I needed to channel the negative energy into something positive.

This journey has taught me that nothing will happen unless you make it happen."

Thank you for your opinion

OP posts:
TiredandLate · 21/08/2023 08:28

Ugh, there is a local baker that is constantly posting drama on fb, saying they are victims of this and that, never sticks to its opening times because there's been some personal drama. Puts me off ever driving over there to try the food even though it looks good. Don't do it.

OriginalBin · 21/08/2023 08:38

SpidersAreShitheads · 21/08/2023 08:25

I would just like to pause for a moment to appreciate how even though it's a bakery, we're all focussing on cake here, and not bread.

Solidarity to my fellow cake-lovers.

They’re focusing on cake because the OP only mentions cake, with that ‘pity me’ bit about delivering cakes by hand — ‘10 in my arms, 10 on my shoulders, 10 on my back’.

Which, given the clarification later about the cakes being brownies or small cakes, is even more puzzling than the self-pity — how do you carry ten brownies ‘on your back’? Wouldn’t they get squashed in a backpack? Deliver to where? Do you actually get the OP at your door with an armload of brownies, delivering bitter monologues about his ex and giving up his friends and studies for these cakes of despair?

Elizabethwalton · 21/08/2023 08:41

Sorry but no..I haven't even read all the second one....I got bored

dahliadazed · 21/08/2023 08:45

I find sob stories on talent shows off putting, I certainly don’t want one with my cakes!

It would put me off.

EbiRaisukaree · 21/08/2023 08:53

  1. find a therapist, and say all this to them, instead of your would-be customers

  2. think about what makes your cake offering different from all other cake offerings

  3. market them using that USP.

If people buy a cake from you because of guilt, you will have sold one cake, and never see them again.

If people buy a cake from you because they can see it will be delicious, and it is, they will not only buy more and more cakes from you, but will also tell their friends and family, who will do the same.

Pity is not a basis on which to market your business. It will fail.

SpunkyGibbon · 21/08/2023 08:56

I’d think bollocks to that and pop to Sainsburys instead
too much drama

Traxz · 21/08/2023 09:00

"I deliver my cakes by hand. 10 on my arms, 10 on my shoulders, 10 on my back.

What even does this mean? Do you walk there on yur hands with your feet in the air???

I would be thinking oh they must be in trouble if they are posting all that

What are your cakes like? Thats what a cake buyer wants to know - we dont care about your struggles unless you have actual real disadvantages (and giving up a high flying career is not one)

ginghamstarfish · 21/08/2023 09:00

All of it is cringeworthy. Wouldn't read past the first sentence if I saw that on FB, so wouldnt buy anything.

Traxz · 21/08/2023 09:00

OriginalBin · 21/08/2023 08:38

They’re focusing on cake because the OP only mentions cake, with that ‘pity me’ bit about delivering cakes by hand — ‘10 in my arms, 10 on my shoulders, 10 on my back’.

Which, given the clarification later about the cakes being brownies or small cakes, is even more puzzling than the self-pity — how do you carry ten brownies ‘on your back’? Wouldn’t they get squashed in a backpack? Deliver to where? Do you actually get the OP at your door with an armload of brownies, delivering bitter monologues about his ex and giving up his friends and studies for these cakes of despair?

Show quote history

squashed and bitter with tears

hdbs17 · 21/08/2023 09:10

I don't want to be guilt-tripped into using a business and any business that pulls that stunt will be boycotted.

It's cake, not a charity donation.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 21/08/2023 09:14

No way I'm reading all that. I want a picture of your cakes and to see the reviews, I'm not interested in your struggles. If I saw that as an advert I'd be clicking off and looking elsewhere.

SirChenjins · 21/08/2023 09:16

Bloody hell, just no. You sound like the kind of business that would insist on pronouns and rainbows, and would spend more time focusing on your feelz than baking good products. I’d scroll past you asap.

doroda · 21/08/2023 09:23

I'd show the post to DH, have a good laugh, then swiftly unfollow so I didn't come across you again

Veracity23 · 21/08/2023 09:32

This sounds so much like the self-indulgent me, me, me newsletter our CEO sends out weekly to staff, evidently having been told of its effectiveness by our beyond bonkers Comms team. I'd never seen anything like it until I started this job. I think it's some bizarre nonsense the local universities must be teaching in the guise of journalism.

What cakes did you say you sold again? I'd be worried all that misery was going into the icing and be even less likely to buy....

BacktoBeginnersFran · 21/08/2023 09:32

It would put me off forever!

EmpressaurusOfCats · 21/08/2023 09:34

I tried a newly opened cafe near me, but while the coffee & cake I bought looked lovely, I couldn’t enjoy them because the owner sat down at my table (only customer) to tell me all about their history, what had led them to open it & so on, & I had to keep nodding & smiling & commenting. I haven’t been back.

A brief friendly chat at the counter while ordering, absolutely fine, but this was too much. I’d worry that I’d get this from your bakery, but cubed.

commonground · 21/08/2023 09:43

Waiting for the big reveal...

The ex with an eye on the profits?

It was......Mr Kipling.

Summertiempo · 21/08/2023 09:49

bakingbaker · 20/08/2023 14:06

What would you think if you saw a baker advertise his products on FB or Instagram by talking about their struggles, how they stay out in the cold until they've sold everything, dropped out their high paying career, how they pull constant all nighters or how they still managed to deliver your box out of A and E after a car crash.

Would you think it is a good strategy or would you think it's a bit too much?

More specifically what would you think of a post like this? Would you post it or leave it?

"I deliver my cakes by hand. 10 on my arms, 10 on my shoulders, 10 on my back. My philosophy is that if we avoid getting tired, we cannot appreciate a night's rest. If we keep taking it easy, we cannot truly appreciate a glass of water or a hot meal. These are the little joys which make life worth living for me. I do not want it easy!"

or, a bit more personal:

"This business was meant to be co-run by two people - my ex-partner and I. I spent 2 years building up our bakery to the point that I was ready to share the journey with someone. So I rebranded for a fresh start for us this year. But they and I had different visions. I wanted to continue improving my baking, keep prices the same and pay myself the minimum salary while reinvesting most of the revenue back into my business. My partner prioritised delegating the workload to staff, increasing profits and cashing out. This isn't wrong in and of itself but my heart disagreed. It didn't make sense to harvest the first fruits when I could wait and harvest the whole rainforest. There is so much growth still left.

I've faced some tough choices on my journey. With the time commitments, I had to choose between my friends or my small business. Next it was my job or my small business. After that my academics or my small business. But this one really stopped me in my tracks: my partner or my small business. Do I love my business enough that I'd give up a future with someone? The double workload combined with the breakup left me empty. I needed to channel the negative energy into something positive.

This journey has taught me that nothing will happen unless you make it happen."

Thank you for your opinion

I would think that owner is too full of themselves.
Your philosophy of not tiring enough = not appreciating a night sleep makes me want to🙄
10 cakes boxes on arms, 10 on shoulder and 10 on back???😱 Is it even possible? S

I don't want to buy a cake from this disillusioned baker. Stop taking yourself so seriously if you want to run a decent business. And there are no fruits in rainforest.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 21/08/2023 09:50

I deliver my cakes by hand. 10 on my arms, 10 on my shoulders, 10 on my back

Can't help thinking a van would be easier. As would therapy, rathen than unloading on potential customers.

Summertiempo · 21/08/2023 09:56

I need to see 10 boxes on back

CakeIsNotAvailable · 21/08/2023 09:58

Summertiempo · 21/08/2023 09:56

I need to see 10 boxes on back

This! Pics or it didn't happen!

Joking aside, surely this must be a reverse? Is it your ex posting this drivel, OP, or just somebody you know and don't like?

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 21/08/2023 10:04

Perhaps it's a business rival and the OP is watching and thinking of what Napoleon said - never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake.

Ariela · 21/08/2023 10:13

I would find that too much and it would put me off completely - your products are not selling so why launch into a whole 'woe is me tirade', your products clearly are not selling because they're likely to be crap!

What WOULD make me consider buying your cakes is tempting photos. And simple but effective text eg

I know you can't smell how wonderful this chocolate cake is, but here's a close up photo so you can just imagine that rich chocolatey smell just as you sink your teeth into that soft crumbliness of chocolatey cake, with rich dark chocolate melt-in-your-mouth ganache. Order HERE!

Doesn't that make you WANT to sink your teeth into a luxurious chocolate cake right now?

Ariela · 21/08/2023 10:16

(sorry no photo, I ate the cake )

BarbaraV · 21/08/2023 10:21

We all have struggles. No one cares really they just want cake.

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