We will ensure that you have a smooth Onboarding on The Custom Bake. While it may seem like a long process, following this guide will ensure that you are set up for success in less than 30 minutes.

Product Creation Help

What kind of products can I sell through The Custom Bake?

You have the flexibility to sell two types of products:

1. Signature Creations: These are your perfected products like Chocolate Mousse Cake or Apple Pie that don’t require customization. Customers can order these as they are, enjoying your established, delicious creations.
2. Customized Creations: These products cater to specific customer requests, such as unique designs, flavors, or dietary restrictions for occasions like Baby Showers or Birthday parties. Each order is tailored uniquely to fulfill individual preferences or needs.

How do I add products to my store on The Custom Bake?

Here is a step-by-step process describing the product creation process. Differences for Customized Creations are in Italics.

Field	Description	Tips for Updating	Example
Title	Name of the product visible to customers	Use a semi-descriptive name	Sugar Cookies, Tall Round Cake, Sponge Cake   Custom Cake, Custom Cupcakes
Product Picture	Visual representation of the product	– Use good lighting and multiple angles – Select a product cover image
Price	Customized Creation	Mandatory field; ensure a price is set	$80   Use $1 for Customized Creations
Product Category	Category filter for customers to find products	Select the single correct category else it will result in your products not showing up when the customers filter.	Cake, Cupcake, Cookies, Pies
Product Description (Short and Long)	Description visible to customers   Short Description: visible under the product title and next to your product image   Long Description: visible in the description tab on your product page	Describe the product, ingredients, servings, and kind of styles you generally use.   For Customized Creations tell customers of some of the best combinations of flavors/ icing/ filling that work in your experience or things unique to your custom cakes.	Indulge in meticulously crafted cakes with diverse flavors
SEO	Search Engine Optimization	–	–
Customised Creation	Choose if the product is a signature product or customized creation	Check the “Remove to Add to Cart” options and Check the “Hide Price” from your product. This will prompt the Admin to enable “Request a Quotation” for your specific product.	–

---

Do I need to add every aspect of my products such as size per flavor?

Deciding whether to include every aspect of your products, like size or flavor as a unique single product is up to you. Think of it like ordering a burger with extra fries – those fries are add-ons that alter the burger’s price. Similarly, for pizzas, customers choose the size, toppings, and extras they want.

1. For your store, we encourage using Product Add-Ons in your Dashboard’s Settings. <Link>
2. Define options (like flavors, sizes, dietary preferences along with any additional charges) applicable to different product categories.
3. Customers then choose these options to fully specify their order details before checkout (These fields become mandatory once added)

This feature streamlines customer choices, ensuring they define their desired product details before placing an order. This clarity helps manage orders more efficiently.

---

Utilizing Product Add-Ons Feature from The Custom Bake

How do I use Product Add-Ons to simplify the product creation process?

Let’s take two different examples – a simple one to help you with the basics and then a complex one which will explain that the Add-On process can still keep things simple and organized for your store. Use our Product Add-Ons Charting sheet to help you plan what you will need to create. We also have a step by step guide here.

Example 1: Let’s talk about a hypothetical Carlo’s Cake Shop. He sells three cake flavors (Chocolate, Vanilla, and his specialty Lemon Blueberry) and he also offers his customers an option to make the cakes eggless. However, all of Carlo’s cake ($60) is a standard 6” round cake.

Carlos would just need two Product Add-ons for his product “Carlo’s 6-inch Cake”.

#	Suggested Add-On Name	Applicable Categories	Fields to add in the Add-On
1	Cake Flavor	Cakes	Chocolate (no extra charge), Vanilla (no extra charge), Lemon Blueberry (+$15 extra)
2	Dietary Preferences	Cakes	None (no extra charge), Eggless ($10 extra)

Just by defining this – Carlos has created many versions of his cake that customers can easily buy:

Cake 1:	Vanilla Cake, no dietary restrictions	Priced at $60
Cake 2:	Chocolate Cake, no dietary restrictions	Priced at $60
Cake 3:	Lemon Blueberry Cake, no dietary restrictions	Priced at $75  ($60 + $15)
Cake 4:	Eggless Vanilla Cake	Priced at $70  ($60 + $10)
Cake 5:	Eggless Chocolate Cake	Priced at $70  ($60 + $10)
Cake 6:	Eggless Lemon Blueberry Cake	Priced at $85  ($60 + $15 + $10)

Example 2: Now let’s take an example of a Baker Natalie who specializes in Cakes, Cupcakes, and Cake Pops. However, Natalie offers many different options, as shown below:

Product Category	Sizes (Examples of what Natalie’s business supports)	Flavors (Examples of what Natalie’s business supports)	Supported Dietary Needs (Examples of what Natalie’s business supports)
Cakes	6” round, 8” round, 12” round, Half sheet	Vanilla, Blackforest, Carrot, Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Funfetti, Lemon n Berries	Eggless, Vegan, Nut free, Gluten-free
Cupcakes	Set of 6, Set of 12	Vanilla, Chocolate, Red Velvet, Funfetti	Eggless
Cake Pops	Set of 12	Vanilla, Chocolate, Funfetti	Eggless

To create the above – Natalie can either create the 100’s of different products or she can use the Add-Ons Feature of The Custom Bake. Here are the 8 Add-Ons that Natalie would need to create just one time for all the above combinations:

#	Basis for Addon	Suggested Add-On Name	Applicable Categories	Fields to add in the Add-On
1	Size	Cake sizes	Cakes	6” round, 8” round, 12” round, Half sheet
2		Cupcake Packs	Cupcakes	Set of 6, Set of 12
3		CakePop Packs	CakePops	Set of 12
4	Flavor	Cake Flavors	Cakes	Vanilla, Blackforest, Carrot, Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Funfetti, Lemon n Berries
5		Cupcake Flavors	Cupcakes	Vanilla, Chocolate, Red Velvet, Funfetti
6		CakePop Flavors	CakePops	Vanilla, Chocolate, Funfetti
7	Dietary Preference	Cakes – Dietary Preference	Cakes	None, Eggless, Vegan, Nutfree, Glutenfree
8		Cupcakes and CakePops Dietary Preference	Cupcakes, CakePops	None, Eggless

With this – all the combinations will automatically be created on the Product Detail Pages.

Here is some more for you!

While creating the above “options” for each Add-On – you will be able to price them “additively” to the product.

For example, if your Signature Round Cake is Priced as $80 and that is a 6” cake. Then you could create prices as:

#	Fields	Type of Price	Value	Expected Result
1	6” round	Flat Fee – applied once after the product value is calculated as Price x Qty	$0	Price of a 6” round cake will be $80 + $0 = $80 Price of two 6” round cakes will be (2x$80) + $0 = $160
2	8” round	Flat Fee – applied once after the product value is calculated as Price x Qty	$20	Price of an 8” round cake will be $80 + $20 = $100 Price of two 8” round cakes will be (2x$80) + $20 = $180
3	12” round	Quantity-based – applied for each Qty of the product bought	$25	Price of a 12” round cake will be $80 + $25 = $105 Price of two 12” round cakes will be (2x$80) + (2*$25) = $210
4	Half Sheet Cake	Percentage Based – applied for each Qty of the product bought	30%	Price of a half sheet cake will be $80 + (30% of $80) = $104 Price of two half sheet cakes will be 2x($80 + 30% of $80) = $208

Replicate the same for “Flavor” and “Dietary Preference”.  

Pro Tip: Always make sure that at-least 1 size and 1 flavor is included in your base price and others are available as an “Add-On” to the base price.

Pro Tip: Make sure you add a field of “None” if you are making an add-on for Dietary Needs (to cater to customers who do not have any restrictions).

---

What fields do I have to specify when setting up Product Add-Ons?

The Custom Bake’s product add-ons creation is quite easy once you have charted what you need (take hints from the table above). Here is a step-by-step process:

---

Managing Your Schedule and Availability on The Custom Bake

Utilize the ‘Calendar’ feature within your Dashboard to streamline schedule management. This tool ensures seamless planning, eliminating the need for responding to conflicting customer dates or unfulfilled leads. Two Key Aspects of Calendar Management:

1. General Availability: Set your regular work hours and availability for order placements.
2. Personal or Professional Blocks: Block out time for personal or professional commitments, such as vacations, special events, or fully booked days.

Defining and Customizing availability through your Dashboard

Access the ‘Calendar’ section in your Dashboard, located in the “Store Schedule” area. Tailor your store schedule by selecting specific days and time slots for order placements. Customize these hours to inform customers during checkout for pick-up or delivery scheduling. Select specific hours or designate unavailable periods, ensuring consistency throughout the year across all weeks. For example, block off Saturdays and Sundays’ first half for personal commitments or reserve daily time slots, such as 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, for personal activities by only choosing 8:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm as store hours.  

---

Managing Exception Days on The Custom Bake

Easily communicate your availability status to customers by adding vacation days, planned offs, or fully booked periods with a custom message. Customers visiting your store or product page will view your set message for unavailable dates, streamlining expectations and preventing confusion.

---

Enhancing Customer Experience

This system streamlines the booking process, offering a smooth experience for both you and your customers. By using this scheduling tool, avoid turning customers away or dealing with last-minute cancellations. It provides flexibility for effective schedule management, ensuring a positive customer experience.

---

Delivery and Pick up services on The Custom Bake

Is Delivery Service Mandatory?

Offering delivery services isn’t compulsory on The Custom Bake. However, bakers who provide delivery options, even with nominal charges, tend to attract more customers. While Free Local Pick-Up is always available, enhancing order rates can be achieved by offering additional delivery services:

1. Flat rate based on order quantity
2. Flat percentage fee of the order value
3. Flat percentage fee of the order value with a minimum and a maximum defined for the fees.
4. Distance based fee

Note: Delivery fee is solely paid by the customer to the baker as a service offered by the baker.

---

How do the different delivery fee calculations work on The Custom Bake?

Let’s take Carlo’s Cakes as an example. Assume an order of two cakes totaling $160, with the customer located 22 miles away. Here’s how various fee calculations could apply:

1. Flat Rate Delivery Service based on order quantity: If Carlo chose to charge $15 per cake for delivery then this order would have a delivery fees of $15 x 2 = $30.
2. Flat percentage fee of the order value: If Carlo chose 15% of the order value as a delivery fee, then he would charge 15% x $160 = $24
3. Flat percentage fee of the order value with a minimum and a maximum service fee: Consider the same scenario as above but with minimum fees set at $25. Since the calculated fee of $24 is less than the minimum fee of $25 set by Carlo, the final delivery charge will be $25.
4. Distance-based delivery fee calculation allows the bakers to set a distance range (from their address) to offer a delivery service. Carlo could specify a Base Rate (starting price) and charge a fixed amount per mile of the distance between his location and the delivery address. Let us assume that Carlo only wants to deliver up to 40 miles and has set a base price of $5 and wants to charge $1 per mile. The delivery charge in this case will be: $5 + (22 x $1) = $27.
5. Carlo could also configure the rules to say that he offers Free Delivery for under 10 miles and charges a base fee of $5 and a per-mile fee of $1 for deliveries between 10-40 miles. Now the calculated delivery charge would be: $5 + ($1 x (22-10)) = $5 +($1 x 12) = $17

---

How do I set up the Delivery Fees in the Dashboard?

Let’s get you all set up! Here is a step-by-step process:

1. In your Baker Dashboard, go to Settings>Shipping and over there you will see a “Zone Name” which has United States (US) written under it. As you hover the mouse over the United States, you see an edit option. Click it.  
2. You will now see a Zona Name and a Zone Location pre-written as United States but under it, you will see the option to Select States. Please select only your state here. For example, Washington.
3. There is an option to limit Zipcodes (but since most of us don’t have the technical knowledge of every single area covered in a zipcode, we recommend not to choose this option)
4. Next, click the “+Add Shipping Method” button, and from the drop-down choose what shipping method you would like. For anything based on a Flat Fee or a Flat Percentage – choose “Flat Rate” and for a Distance-based charge choose “Distance Rate” and click the “Add Shipping Method” button.
5. If you chose Flat Rate in the previous step, you should now be able to see a Flat Rate Method with its toggle on. Go ahead and point the cursor to it. You see options to Edit / Delete. Click Edit.
   • For the “Title,” we recommend you write “Flat Fees”
   • For the “Cost” we recommend you copy-paste the text below in Red but just make the replacements as guided:
     • 10.00 * [qty] where you replace 10.00 with XX.XX based on wht you want to charge per quantity.
     • 0.05 * [cost] where you replace 0.05 with 0.XX where XX is the two-digit (for example 05, 07, 20, etc) percentage of order value that you want to charge for delivery fees.
     • [fee percent=’10’ min_fee=’15’ max_fee=’30’] where you replace:
       • 10 by the percentage fee that you want to charge such as 5, 7, 20
       • 15 by the minimum delivery fees you want to charge regardless of order value
       • 30 by the maximum you want to charge for delivery regardless of order value; leave delete the 50 and leave as ‘’ if you don’t want to set a cap.
6. If you chose Distance Rate in Step 4, you should now be able to see a Flat Rate Method with its toggle on. Go ahead and point the cursor to it. You see options to Edit / Delete. Click Edit.
   • For the Title we recommend “Distance-based Delivery Fees”
   • For the Shipping Address – please add the address from where you want to start calculating the distance. In the table below the address, click “Add Distance Rule”.
     • In the Min and Max columns, specify the minimum and maximum distance ranges that this rule is applicable to. For Carlo’s example of free delivery till 10 miles and then $5 base charge and $1 per mile for 10-40 miles, we would write 0 as Min and 10 as Max and leave the Base Cost, Cost Per Distance, Handling Fee all as 0.
     • Then since he wants to collect a delivery fee only if the distance is greater than 10 miles, we will need to add another rule. Click “Add Distance Rule”. This time we will write Min as 10, max as 40, Base Cost as 5, and Cost per distance as 1.
   • Now click “Update Settings”. The page will refresh, and you will be able to see your provided address pointed on a map and the distance rules that you created.
   • Scroll back to the top of this page and click “Back to Zone”.
7. Congratulations! You have now configured the Delivery fees for your store/business. Please note that at a time, a baker can only choose one type of fee – either Flat Rate or Distance Based.

---

Pricing and Quotation Process for Custom Products

How Customers Request Prices for Custom Products on The Custom Bake

At The Custom Bake, we’ve streamlined the process for both customers and bakers when it comes to custom product pricing. Our “Request for Quote” form, available for every custom product, simplifies communication by capturing crucial details:

1. Expected Delivery Date
2. Event Details: Including color schemes or themes
3. Servings Required
4. Flavor Preferences: Choose from popular options or specify others in Additional Details
5. Filling/Icing/Frosting Preferences: Select from popular choices or provide specifics in Additional Details
6. Allergens/Dietary Restrictions
7. Additional Information
8. Design Inspiration
9. Delivery Address (if requested)

Customers input these details, aiding bakers in understanding their needs precisely. Simultaneously, bakers can specify details they’ll provide through the quotation process in their dashboard, ensuring clarity in expectations.

---

Customization and Clarity in Quotations

Bakers utilize this information to offer quotations tailored to the customer’s requirements. For instance, when a customer requests a cake serving 20-30 people, a baker might propose a 35-serving, 10″ round tall cake. This detailed specification provides customers with a clear idea of what to expect in terms of servings and size. Another example can be of flavors: if a customer requests Lemon n Berries cake with Lemon Custard filling, a baker might propose a Lemon & Blueberry cake with Lemon buttercream. The detailed specifications provide customers with a clear idea of what to expect in terms of servings, size, flavor, etc. These details are specified in the Baker Response column next to the Custom Request column.

---

The Custom Bake Quotation Process Overview

Once a customer requests a quote for a custom product, the process unfolds seamlessly:

1. Dashboard Navigation: Quotation requests appear under the “Request Quotes” tab in your Baker Dashboard.
2. Review and Response: “Edit” the quote to specify details aligning with customer requests, ensuring transparency. Enter your values in the “Baker Response” column, aligning as closely as possible with the customer’s needs. Once done, click “Save Table”.
3. Price Input: Set the price in the ”Product Details” section.
4. Quotation Generation: Use the “Generate Quotation” to generate the quotation. Next use the “Preview”, “Send” and “Download” button to do the specific actions. It is advisable to preview before sending to a customer. While sending you will be able to able to edit the Subject of the message to the customer as well as add a custom body of the message where you can capture any other detail you may want to.
5. Customer Response: Customers can “accept” and proceed to checkout, or “reject” with a reason from their dashboard. Their actions are instantly visible in your dashboard.
6. Revising Quotations: If required, make necessary changes to the price or the other specifications and re-save. Next, regenerate the quotation, and resend based on customer feedback with a relevant message to explain the changes.

This streamlined process ensures a frustration-free experience for both bakers and customers, fostering clarity and satisfaction.

---

The Custom Bake Quotation Status Glossary

Here’s an expanded explanation of the different statuses within the quotation process:

1. Requested: The initial status when a customer submits a request for a quotation. At this stage, the baker hasn’t responded or provided a quotation yet.
2. Saved: The baker has generated and saved a quotation in response to the customer’s request but has not yet shared it formally with the customer. This status indicates that the quotation is prepared but not yet communicated to the customer.
3. Sent: The baker has sent their last quotation version to the customer but has not yet received a customer response. It reflects the stage where the quotation is officially shared with the customer for their review and consideration.
4. Accepted: The customer has reviewed the quotation and accepted it. They are proceeding to checkout or have confirmed their intent to proceed with the order. This status indicates the customer’s agreement with the provided quotation and their willingness to proceed with the order.
5. Rejected: The customer has reviewed the quotation but decided not to proceed with it. They might provide reasons for the rejection, which can help the baker refine their offer. This status signifies that the customer is not proceeding with the quoted offer.
6. Expired: Quotations often have validity periods. If the customer takes too long to respond, the quotation might expire. This status indicates that the provided quotation is no longer valid due to the expiration of the offer’s validity period.

These statuses provide a comprehensive overview of the different stages a quotation undergoes in its interaction between the baker and the customer, facilitating effective tracking and management of the quotation process.

---

The Custom Bake – Order Dashboard

Where can I see all the orders that I have received on The Custom Bake?

Ordering Dashboard enables you to efficiently manage your orders, streamline processes, and enhance your overall experience. Your Ordering Dashboard is the central hub where you handle all incoming orders, each uniquely identified for easy tracking. Here, you’ll find essential order details and a range of actions to manage and organize your orders effectively.

Key Features

1. Order Preview:
   • Each order is tagged with a unique ID for quick identification.
   • The preview displays crucial order details: Order Total, Order Earning, Order Status, and Date of Placement.
   • An action button allows quick access to order details.

2. Filtering:
   • Easily filter orders based on dates and statuses, simplifying the view to suit your preferences.
   • This feature helps organize orders efficiently, letting you focus on specific timeframes or statuses.

3. Bulk Actions:
   • Perform bulk actions on selected orders, streamlining the management process.
   • Change the status of multiple orders simultaneously, reducing time spent on repetitive tasks.

4. Order Details View:
   • Dive deeper into each order by clicking into its details.
   • Access comprehensive information about customers, products, delivery details, and payment specifics.

---

What can I see and edit in the Order Details?

The Order Details page is structured into several sections, each providing specific information crucial for order processing and customer communication. Here’s a breakdown of these sections:

1. Ordered Items:

2. Delivery Details:

Pro Tip: If there’s a need to modify the delivery time (e.g., changing from 5:00 pm to 4:00 pm), promptly update this section. Timely communication ensures a smooth experience for the customer. Frequent changes in delivery details may lead to dissatisfaction, so managing these changes through your calendar availability in advance is advisable.

3. General Details and Status Updates:

• Customer Details and Order Date: Provides essential details such as the customer’s name, contact details and the date the order was placed.
• Order Status: Critical communication area enabling order status updates. Options include:
  • On Hold: Pending further action or clarification.
  • Completed: Order successfully fulfilled.
  • Cancelled: Order cancellation initiated.
  • Refunded: Order payment refunded to the customer.
  • Failed: Unsuccessful order processing.
  • Draft: Order yet to be finalized.

Pro Tip: Regularly update the order status to reflect accurate progress, keeping customers informed about their order’s status changes.

4. Order Notes:

• Communication Channel: Facilitates communication between you and the customer regarding order updates or inquiries.
• Private Notes: If needed, jot down private notes or reminders for your reference by changing the note’s visibility to “Private Note.”

Enhancing Order Management

• Status Transparency: Utilize the Order Status section to provide clear, up-to-date information to customers about their orders.
• Effective Communication: Use the Order Notes section for transparent communication with customers regarding any changes or inquiries.

The Order Details page serves as your comprehensive toolkit for managing order specifics, customer communication, and delivery expectations. Utilize these sections effectively to streamline order processing and enhance customer satisfaction.

---

Viewing a week or month’s planed orders

Managing Your Orders: Week and Month View

To get a comprehensive overview of your week or month’s order schedule, head to the “Delivery Time” tab. This dedicated section showcases your calendar in multiple viewing options: month, week, day, or list format. It’s your personalized organizer!

1. Calendar Flexibility: Choose how you want to view your schedule, whether by the month, week, day, or in a list format.
2. Order Overview: Every order is listed, allowing you to distinguish between delivery and pick-up orders easily. You can even filer between these to view only one type.
3. Effortless Planning: Need details on an order or want to plan your baking schedule? Simply click on an order to access its specific details.

Streamlining Your Workflow

With this feature, bid farewell to missed deliveries or the hassle of managing orders via spreadsheets. The Custom Bake acts as your assistant, offering a centralized platform to streamline your order management, plan baking schedules, and organize your supplies hassle-free.

---

Discounts and Coupons on The Custom Bake

Does The Custom Bake allow coupons for discounts and promotions?

The Custom Bake offers two types of coupons: Marketplace and Store-level. Vendors can create and control their coupons in the Dashboard’s Coupons section. You get complete customization options for defining your coupon details.

At the Marketplace level, coupons don’t deduct from your payout but rather come from the Marketplace’s service fee. This allows for flexibility and helps vendors to craft enticing discounts and promotions for customers.

---

How can I offer great deals to my customers? It’s a new platform, I want to get the attention of the customers.

As a baker, you can create and manage these coupons within your Dashboard’s dedicated Coupons section. These customizable coupons allow you to create enticing discounts and promotions for your customers.

#	Name	Description	Example
1	Coupon Title	Use a descriptive title for your reference	New Customer Discount
2	Description	Elaborate on the purpose of the discount coupon.	Offering New Customers a 10% coupon code to help gain new customers.
3	Discount Type	Choose from: Percentage discount: on the order value  Fixed Cart Discount as a specific amount on the overall cartFixed Product Discount as a fixed amount off on a specific product / product category	NEW10: Offering a 10% discount to all new customers.NEW20: Providing $20 off the entire cart value for any customer. COOKIE10: Providing $10 off a packet of special early bird discount on Valentine cookies.
4	Amount	Define the discount percentage or monetary value based on the discount type.	10% or $20 off
5	Email Restrictions	Exclude specific customers from using the coupon.	List of excluded emails.
6	Usage Limit (of the coupon)	Apply COOKIE20 on all cookies category products Apply NEW20 to all products	Let’s take two examples: 100 usages for Earlybird Discount on Valentine’s Cookie SetUnlimited for an ongoing discount
7	Usage Limit per User	Control how many times a user can use a specific coupon code.	1 usage per customer
8	Expiry Date	Set an expiry date for the coupon beyond which it cannot be applied if other conditions are met.	Feb 1 for the early bird Valentine’s cookie discount
9	Exclude Sale items	Choose whether the coupon applies to items already on sale.d sale price by adding a coupon or not.	Exclude additional discounts on post-Valentine cookie sales
10	Minimum Amount	Define a minimum value requirement for the coupon.	$200 minimum for the NEW20 Coupon Code
11	Product	Control which products the coupon applies to	Apply COOKIE20 on all cookies category products Apply NEW20 to all producs
12	Apply for New Products	Automatically apply the coupon to new products.
13	Exclude Products	Exclude specific products from the coupon.

Pro Tips

Tailoring your strategy: Coupons are powerful marketing tools. Strategically design them to promote specific products, incentivize purchases, or attract new customers. Use these controls to stay within your budget while attracting more orders with attractive pricing.

Informing Customers: Make the most of your Biography section in Settings>Store to keep potential customers informed about running coupons. Encourage more orders by letting customers know about ongoing promotions..

By harnessing the control and flexibility in coupon creation, you can effectively market your store offerings while ensuring a budget-friendly approach.

---