specialty store vs what the customers want

[viola]

I'm not sure if this is the right section to post this?

I am looking for some advice on my cake & coffee shop, we have set out to just be cake and coffee specialty store (those words are in our name even) but the demand for cafe style food has overwhelmed us, it must be the area we are in..

but we are not chefs, not even pastry chefs at that - we make our cakes from home and don't claim to be professional cake makers, but everyone loves our cakes anyway - we don't have the time to make food on site, make sandwiches etc the way that everyone wants them..

over the weekend our busiest period was at lunch and we were struggling to meet the demand for food. we are getting in frozen quiches/pies/lasagnes etc etc from a wholesale catering company for this. I just am wondering should we continue to bow to the pressure of what people want even though we are not fitted out for it? or should we just stick to our guns and what we know best and become famous for being a cake specialty store???

[pendelton]

I would say go with the money, if the customer wants it, get it. It sounds like your business has taken off great, and, there is nothing to changing your name to reflect the different services. Just give the customers plenty of warning that you are doing it so they don't just show up and see something different, you could lose them.

This is the exact reason I have always mentioned to keep business plans flexible and not be rigid with them. Do not consider it bowing to the customers demands, consider it keeping the customer happy and yours.

Do not get stressed, cater to those you can, and if you can not, or it will take a while to get something, tell the customer that it will be a bit.

Congrats on having it take off so well.

[Fergal]

Sounds like your business has got off to a great start and congratulations with that.

Like pendelton has suggested you will probably be better off giving your customers what they want and demand, not what you want to give them. The demand for a cake speciality store in your area might not be great enough to keep your business afloat.

You do need to be careful with your product offering, however. You mention that you are not "properly fitted out" for the demand you are getting. What will happen if another business person recognises this and the demand and proceeds to open a fully kitted, custom business to compete directly with you?

If you do decide to offer what your customers are demanding, you will need to commit to that decision and work hard to ensure you deliver excellent food and services to your customer. You obviously can't afford to get a bad reputation in your area.