The Perfect Lovely Cakes team have held off making any statements on Covid 19 as the situation is changing daily/hourly even!  As we link up with government advice, our suppliers and fellow cake makers we are working hard to ensure our clients are supported to the best of our ability. 

In this bulletin we wanted you to see the approach we are taking, by answering some early questions. 

1. Is it safe  for us to continue to make cakes for clients?
   Answer: Yes! - There is no evidence that Covid19 is transferred through food production. Most of the hygiene practices remain the same for us. A 5* Hygiene rating from my local authority means we operate at the highest standards, for cleanliness. Washing hands continues as a standard practice when handling any client order, we have increased Antibacterial Cleans and steam cleaning of appliances and surfaces. So we are ready to assist you where we can, and continue to follow industry advice closely. 
   
   
2. Are the products and packaging that we use safe of the virus.
   There is no evidence that a infection with any type of coronavirus is possible through contact with objects or packages. However, all packaging used on your order is virgin packaging, meaning it has not been used before. For the time being, we will not be reusing any packaging. Unused packaging will be recycled as normal.
   
   
3. What if a member of Perfect Lovely has the virus? 
   We have procedures in place with fellow cake professionals to cover outstanding commitments in the event of sickness. We are talking through each order with clients and we are planning what work we can do now, in line with the dates.  In turn we can plan with our backups what level of help we may need by week.  It's a time where the cake industry and professionals are pulling together to make sure we survive as businesses  and our clients succeed in celebrating safely. 
   If you are concerned please email admin@perfectlovely.co.uk to schedule a call.
   
   
4. What if I (the client) has the virus and the cake is due for collection or delivery? 
   We advise that if you are in Isolation/Quarantine, that you arrange for someone clear of the virus to collect, or that we schedule a delivery with very specific terms to maintain safety of our staff.  These details will be sent by email. 
   
   
5. My special event looks at risk of being cancelled.  What can we do? 
   Our job here is to support you in the best and most professional way possible. We appreciate that this can be a really stressful time, equally as a business we need to ensure we do not break ourselves.  Our approach will be as follows: 
   
   

• ​​​​​For existing orders. 
  We are making calls on all existing bookings to ensure we check what the scenario is, so we can look at how best to adjust your current order with us. Every situation can have different results so we will discuss with you and work out solutions for you to consider. 
  
  Our advice: Try to make your decision as early as possible. Government guidelines  are encouraging us to take responsibility for Self, Guests and the community. If you leave it to  the week of the event - we will have already completed the bulk of the work and incurred the costs, leaving fewer options. 
  
  
• ​For new orders not yet placed.  
  Our advice is to continue to celebrate but keep it small and selective. We will share ideas and approaches that could work.  We can make arrangements for collections and delivery locally subject to social distancing advice, within government guidelines. 
  
  
• Large Events & Wedding clients
  In addition to the above,  for large functions where dates are often far out. We plan to schedule  regular checkpoint calls/emails  so we are clear on what impact if any has happened to your plans.  We will support reschedules subject to availability. 
  
  Until now if you have paid a Wedding Consultation Fee that remains non refundable on cancellation as it covers the work completed until now. It will be deducted from the final cake  invoice if the date is rescheduled and we make the final cake. 
  
  If you have paid a deposit and decide to cancel outright,  we will review what level of work has been completed, to advise what solutions we can suggest to avoid any unnecessary loss to either party. We truly believe that working together is the best way to ensure your event is successful. ​
  
  This is a fast changing environment so we will post updates in the News Section for you. 
  Wishing you all a safe journey through the next few months. 
  
  ​​Thank you for reading. and please contact us if you have any concerns or feedback. 
  
  

Almost three years into this wonderful inspirational industry I thought I would share what it means to Perfect Lovely Cakes to be nominated and make top 3. 

In 2015 I entered the world of Small Business a stark contrast to the comforts of large enterprises where Sales Marketing, IT , HR, Production were all at the end of an IM or phone. I spent many years helping clients navigate organisation and processes. In May 2015 all of those functions were ME!

Past commute meant I knew very few people locally - seriously outside of my immediate neighbours - I could count on one hand my local contacts!! Searching local groups to begin to see what was out there, stumbling across Maidenhead Business Girls, run by Amanda Ayres, a fledgling group of business women. It is now known as The Business Girls Network.

Very soon the monthly meetups and the online forum became my sanity and connection to a new world. Supportive women with referrals, advice and learning opportunities. As the group evolved, I  learnt that networking is very different in small business, it takes a long while for you to be remembered, I had lots of opportunity to help others with the skills from past roles. 

I have invested in education, showcasing my work at the first Inspire Conference last year made a real difference to conversations, as people realized its not JUST a Cake its a whole lot more. 
Different blog for next time! Here are a few examples of what I have been up to. 

As you set up a business you can often feel alone, where your gremlins can knock confidence. So to have access to people from the baking industry or in local businesses you soon feel you have an extension to your team with invaluable experiences, and support. The nomination is feedback that whatever it is that I am doing is resonating. 

I am up against two very highly regarded professionals with very different creative businesses, which makes me so proud of the quality and standard I am being measured against. The icing on my cake journey...  to win would be the Cherry on my Cake journey so far. 

With only 48 hours of voting left. People are voting from all over the world,
I would appreciate every support possible. Click below to place your vote. 

If you are considering jumping from one career to another, 

My Top Tips so far .. cos I don't have the answer... and OH Boy! YES  this is a journey!
​
1. KNOW YOUR "WHY...?"
without it there's NEVER ENOUGH MOTIVATION.
I had a great career in the IT Industry, that included experiences of fabulous people, places and projects. A fair share of successes and failures and No two years felt the same. However underneath it my reason for being was always centered around being a mother and being part of a family.  

Sometimes my previous career was a means to an end, sometimes a source of sanity to the rollercoaster life threw at me. It challenged my WHY on many occasions.  Don't get me wrong I think you can be a mother and be in the IT world - so many examples in my life of fabulous women doing great things in my IT network.. I personally couldn't do what I do today without changing my approach to my work.  I still work late into the night but my hours are completely built around my priorities. 

2. FOLLOW YOUR PASSION vs BEING PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT YOU FOLLOW. 
I truly believe if you choose to be somewhere, be in that moment completely.
Those who have known me for the past 20 years would use words like - Dedicated, Passionate, Operational, Logical, Detailed, and in the corporate it could often feel like a handicap. 

Sometime circumstances present that do not allow you to take bold steps. When I realised how stifled I was being passionate about what I was doing, instead of doing what I was passionate about a fog lifted. 
It  was easier to take a bold step. Occasionally! I do miss my monthly pay cheque but I couldn't trade that for the time I have now. Don't worry those moments soon pass! 

My passion: helping people create and enjoy special memories. 

3. NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK
- you simply haven't met the right clients or colleagues. 
As the Micheal Buble Song goes -- "I  just haven't met you yet" echos in my head when the order books are not as full as I would like. As you start out in your business finding clients can be the hardest thing to find time for. So many things to do and networking could be the most daunting thing on the to-do list.  

For any introverts out there - I am an extrovert that has a daily crisis in confidence. Networking for yourself was actually quite a scary prospect. I did try networking in my corporate world, it was not half as fulfilling as it has been for my own business. It opens you up to so many opportunities  for exploring and learning, to collaborate with other businesses, and of course to sell. Clients begin to arrive through recommendation.  Why..? People by from People. If you are in the moment, your passion for YOUR business will shine because you come across as genuine. 

My starting out advice : Give it a go! ... There are great learning experiences ahead!

This is my first BLOG post - the journey is on! 
​
1. Join my journey by following me on Social Media
2. Like and share my Facebook page - a recommendation could be the start of something special!
3. Need a cake! - Let Perfect Lovely Cakes help you create a #perfectlovelymoment