NEW CAKE SHOP IN SYDENHAM opening soon

[Nigel]

Angie is 100% Sydenham and a complete star .
I love her flower stall and her lovely way with people and her flowers - I bought mrs Nigel a bunch of longifolium lillies to go with the socket socket and chocolates I bought her for her birthday .
They were delivered bang on time and were perfuming our house nearly 3 weeks later . Also they cost less than a quarter of what I paid for the socket set .
Seriously I appreciate Angie and her hard work and we are lucky to have her in or high street .
A very good afternoon
Nigel

[Pally]

How lucky we are to have Angie's wonderful flower stall on Sydenham Road. It looked beautiful yesterday. I bought hyacinths but wanted everything! She works so hard and it certainly pays off at times like this with Mother's Day tomorrow. Well done Angie. You are a treasure (and no shop front required!)

I agree about Angie. Brilliant place. But her stall is a type of shop front with the way the flowers and plants are displayed etc!

[Nigel]

Pally
Agree, especially today in the run up to mothers day - it looked fantastic . I wish i had taken a photo .
A very good evening
Nigel

[Cherryandice]

Hi New Cake Shop,

If you read this Forum, a very hearty welcome from Cherry & Ice. We do hope that Sydenham, as a whole, receives you well. It won't be easy but with hard work its achievable. Sydenham is a great place, regardless of the picture that this Forum sometimes convey (because of poor choice of words by the mighty a few).

William & D

[mosy]

It would help me to know where it is, i.e. postcode or a "next to" or "opposite" locator as I've no idea where the old butchers was being from t'other end. Am I looking for Aga's Little Deli and Cafe or is that being shown as an example of a different frontage that works?

It's too cold and damp to go a-foraging, especially if it's not open yet. Hopefully someone will post when it does open, yes?

Or better still, the owners might start a new thread with "splash" details of name, location, opening times, typical cakes to be offered etc

Meanwhile, I wish them well in their setting up.

[Nigel]

Thumbs up and welcome from me too .
I think on the whole we are very supportive of new business and I don't see what is wrong with constructive criticism - as someone said , if not free consultancy which it often is , it is a consumer survey that new business woud probably never afford to do .

Anyway - I too hope there is some nice bread as well as cakes
A very good evening
Nigel

[P1971]

As another local shop owner although in Forest Hill not Sydenham I'd like to wish the cake shop the very best of luck with their new shop.

Also as signage has been touched on I'll add that mine cost £80, with a bit of hard work you can achieve in my opinion good signage for not much cost.

Personally I agree with Chris's earlier post, I tend to shop in local shops that are friendly and welcoming regardless if the signage is good or not.

Have a good week all

Pauline

[JPART]

I have re-joined STF to contribute to this thread and the ‘Sandwich’ one.

My response to both here:

It can sometimes be beneficial to everyone to set up business ‘off piste’ – novel, cheaper, helps to regenerate an area. But the same underlying business rules apply and these include:

• A cohesive concept and meet local needs
• You definitely don’t want to try and compete and do the same as more established businesses just up the road. There is an etiquette too
• The exterior is vital. It represents who you are – first impressions – this should consistently follow through to all branding/ aspects of the business.
• I fully agree that signage doesn’t need to cost a fortune
• Good service

Quote from Louise Brooks (SEE3) here:
‘’TSR Marketplace was based on the idea that putting the right business/proposition in an under-used space can bring it back to life. Just take a look at Alexandra Nurseries which on paper shouldn't work (because it isn't on a high street, and has relatively little footfall), but is now a destination.’’

In my opinion Alexandra Nurseries should work, it has got so many vital elements right and it has an uniqueness, originality about it:

• Destination shop which suits the type of business well.
• Have renovated an extremely attractive property
• Key: specialise in what they know well
• It’s a really lovely setting to enjoy their many events and café plus locally sourced products
• Informative, friendly, excellent service

Clearly passion and enthusiasm is important but I think to have a sound business strategy, a cohesive concept is the main foundation. Well researched so that you can provide a service which meets local needs.

Some of you will know that I run Pop Up Galleries – fine art and design is my background. Creativity obviously comes into day to day but mainly focuses in on/ wraps around a business model.

One which needs to be constantly reviewed and adjusted. This is largely informed by listening to critical feedback. This often involves me needing to go back to the drawing board. But without the feedback – includes positive and negative – I wouldn’t know how to improve, develop the business, which direction to take it next.

Here’s a few useful links for Start Ups:

http://www.startuploans.co.uk/ (they are extremely helpful – get back to you promptly – the process takes 4-6 weeks)
http://www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/tax-rel ... investors/
http://www.startupdirect.org/

Here’s my info – I’m always on the lookout to form working Partnerships:

www.JPArtConsultancy.com
www.facebook.com/JPArtGalleries
@JPArtGallery1

Joanne

[Whiftoff]

Anyone been to the cake shop? I walked past on the way home tonight and it looked more like a cafe. Looked quite nice I thought.

[biscuitman1978]

So, has anyone been? It's getting some fantastic reviews on Twitter - https://twitter.com/myfrontroom/with_replies

I must check it out...

[The Clown]

I'm not a fan of cake but I love a pastry and healthy savoury eats, so if there is a more extensive menu, wonderful

[Whiftoff]

Nice new frontage on the cake shop. Cool name as well 'My Front Room'