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1. 

   Bharat Ahirwar May 14, 2013, 11:17 am

   For all the Bakers & Cakehunt.com we can help you get the delivery sorted anywhere in Mumbai, we are already working with a list of bakers all over mumbai. our website : http://www.getmypeon.com

2. 

   Ashish Parik May 14, 2013, 12:33 pm

   Dear Bharat, thanks for the interest. Will contact you if any support is required in Mumbai.

3. 

   Ashish Parik May 15, 2013, 6:05 am

   Dear Abhishek,

   Thanks for the feedback. Your inputs are really valuable to me. I needed feedback from customer point of view only.

   1. So as to keep the “ask” concise, i have not elaborated the logistic part. The deliveries will be executed by us only. Moreover we will support bakers to execute home deliveries of products sold at their end.

   2. We take orders at short notice of almost 2 hours. Delivery time across the city is max 40 mins.

   3. There are few bakers who have separate baking units. So the there are cut offs for placing orders. We have 2 renowned bakers who give us the desired products in max 2 hours.

   4. Yes, the point to go with standard bakers is to give additional business to bakers through alternate channel.

   5. Rates: Bakers sale at rates which are much cheaper than the existing online stores. So we will be giving that advantage to customers. As e-commerce is more of comfort shopping accompanied with discounts and deals. In the time to come we may roll out some combos to attract customers.

   6. About retention, we breathe services. Though we will be selling products here, we treat these products as feelings and not commodity. Delivering feelings delicately.

   Thanks once again, looking forward for more inputs. Regards, Ashish

4. 

   Perzen Darukhanawalla May 15, 2013, 6:32 am

   Hi Ashish,

   Being a bit of a baker myself and considering whether I should start selling, first a big bravo for coming up with such a cool idea – think it’s definately a good one. Here are my 2 -3 cents:

   • Feel where you add the most value will be to small artisan bakers who do a damn good job but who’s reach is often limited to the area that they operate in. This is in comparison to a Moshe’s, Monginis, Birdy’s etc who already have quite a strong presence. From a customer POV, if I wanted a cake from those guys I can go get it myself (yes the home delivery part is great but it’s not a huge value add for me). However, some of the really good bakers just do it part-time and you would get some really good traction if you targeted those guys or even the artisan bakers such as the woman who has started selling cookies in a white nano
   • There are portals like this that already deliver cakes in under 2 hours which are disguised as gift shops or bouquet e-commerce stores. I see strong value in just focusing on cakes and perhaps the assorted perphernalia around that like cookies, brownies, get well soon chocolate packages, chocolates – I am not sure if bouquets and gifts fit into this at all and whether it is a good idea to diversify. If you diversify I feel that your value add may diminish and it’s quite easy to become a crowded site with too many options (this is the main reason why I often look at bouquet sites but never end up buying online as there are just too many choices)
   • You will find that cakes are quite a specialised thing and most people order in advance unlike a Dominos pizza which is an impulse buy, the cake is a pre-planned buy in most cases. Therefore, while the 2 hours delivery is great – if this means I only get cakes from a Monginis rather than good artisan bakers then that’s of no value. For eg. for a customised birthday cake even Theobroma (the God of cake shops) takes a 48 hour notice period. 
   • Lastly, if you focus solely on bakers, feel that you could use a lot of their lol promotional word of reference clout to get a lot of new customers. Rather than diversifying I see more value in spending time to incentivise them
   • Being a baker myself, I see a strong connect so if you want further customer opinion both from a baker or a eater POV let me know – happy to connect offline 🙂

5. 

   Perzen Darukhanawalla May 15, 2013, 7:38 am

   Hi Abhishek,

   When you say Cakes are a 1-year affair I guess you mean birthday cakes. But, the new cupcake, brownies, cookies fad already exists and the number of cupcake only shops in Mumbai itself are a testimony to this statement. 

   I am not sure making cake an alternative to pizza is very ethical from a health perspective haha but hey that’s another topic of discussion altogether. 

6. 

   Ashish Parik May 15, 2013, 9:13 am

   Hi Perzen & Abhishek,

   While going through your feedback,

   1. Abhishek : I was feeling like i am sitting next to Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari. Full of excitement. It has rushed too much adrenaline in by blood and soul. Thanks for all your wishes and feedback.

   2. Perzen : You were also there who fastened the seat belt. Your every word of caution and suggestion have gr8 value.. By branded I don’t mean only Monginis and other big stores. The source of production should be known to people. The people who do it from home based bakeries, are more concerned about the quality. So definitely I will approach them.

              Again, Bouquets and gifts are supplementary things on site so that the customer is not required to go to another site, if in case he/she need it. Will try to incorporate other products as mentioned by you like cookies and brownie. The only problem then will be logistic issue with small value products. 

   Perzen, will connect to you shortly. Will request you to kindly share some ideas about the FB page of cakehunt. What people like to read and view on such pages.

   I am very much happy with the inputs from both of you…. Thanks once again.

7. 

   Ashish Parik May 15, 2013, 9:35 am

   Dear Abhishek,

   Your last words in above feedback “…..People are bored with Monginis, but for most of them it is still the one and only good choice.”  Is the real reason why we came up with this idea.

8. 

   Perzen Darukhanawalla May 15, 2013, 9:50 am

   Thanks Ashish 🙂 sorry my post was not like Michael Schmacher – I will try to aim for that in the future – haha.

   In regards to the quality issue, there are many small home- bakers who probably have much better quality in preparing than the big shops do. However, yes this is possibly an additional step that you may need to take like a physical vetting. Alternatively, the baker could be reviewed by their existing customers and like e-bay and airbnb qualify their sellers/apartments through reviews, you could incorporate a page that does the same for the bakers. I guess what I am saying is that Cake Shop could be like an online shopping front for these bakers than just an e-commerce store for customers interested in buying cakes. 

   Re the supplementary things I would suggest revolving all the supplementary items around cake/chocolates/food – things like chocolate bouquets make sense for example. In terms of low value of cookies and brownies what I mean is like a kilo of cookies or pack of 20 brownies – these are very popular festive gifts. Here, you trying the replace the customer mindset of just giving mithai and rather giving these cookie boxes. In NZ for example at Christmas we often give these big cookie boxes to large families. You could also include things like dessert sauces and many other desserty things rather than random flower bouquet which may take away from your core proposition. 

   I will go through the FB page this evening and email you 🙂

9. 

   Ashish Parik May 15, 2013, 2:32 pm

   Lady Schumacher,

   Started following your advise, invited bakers (home made). Got two inquiries. Will search for some good through references in short time. I taking your every suggestion seriously and sincerely.  To add more, one of the Big Brand in Ahmedabad has rejected me. Intially they were very much interested. Now they want to see me in the field. Thanks for your suggestions, now have got more Armour. 

   I will be starting sharing profiles of the Chefs (bakers) on FB page by next week. Do share your view about the content sharing on FB.

10. 

    Ashish Parik May 15, 2013, 2:35 pm

    Bhai,

    After being rejected by client, I am not nervous because of you. can you please mail me a small write up about ayna on ics.ahm@gmail.com

    I am running two FB pages, will share the same with my understanding on these pages. 

    I am obliged…..Thanks.

11. 

    Sai Rodinhood Pothuri May 16, 2013, 2:33 am

    Dear Ashish,

        Not a great fan of cakes, but idea is cool. and the main thing is you already had experience with delivery, time management so its good deal. I never been to your place but its cool and my another suggestion is start with cakes and slowly enter into gifts, because gifts are some thing personally attached. customer might ask for some gift which you might not be having them at your end.

      So instead of pausing the process, you start with cakes and slowly enter into gifts once you feel its the time for it

    I wish you all the best

    Thanks & Regards

    Sai Pothuri

    http://www.beautona.com

12. 

    Ashish Parik May 16, 2013, 5:17 am

    Thank you so much Sai for the wishes and suggestion.

13. 

    Ratnakar Gokarn May 16, 2013, 7:40 am

    Hello Ashish,

    For me this idea rocks. Why? Simply because I buy cakes/pastries mostly from Merwans ( Andheri west Station) and 2nd option Ribbons and Balloons, so if you are able to deliver at home and save me the commute, I am all for it.

    What I would want as a customer is very simple :

    1. Cash on delivery

    2. Quick delivery.

    3. Great choice from some big name brands (few mentioned above).

    4. Hassle free booking  (preferably via phone if possible like Domino’s or McDonalds, fast and easy)

    Thats about it from my point of view as a customer. 

    Just some options you may give to clients online. Gifting cake or getting cake delivered at a particular location maybe with a bouquet of flowers and a card (a package deal) on a particular date. I know how several times, I have wished that someone can deliver a cake at a particular place as I cannot be there personally. I know of several NRI people whose family live in India and would love something like this. (This can be pre-paid obviously).

    Personally I think you should concentrate completely on delivering cakes and baked products from the best brands. I think you will be scattered and lose focus if you start going into gifting also.

    I think you have a money spinner. Let me know when you are ready, I can be one of your first customers.( if you have the above mentioned bakers on your site). Once your customer base is built you will get repeat customers. If it makes life easier, people will come.

14. 

    Ashish Parik May 16, 2013, 7:46 am

    Thanks Ratnakar,

    All the fours points mentioned by you are covered. These are the points and the NRI (not living in the same city concern) has made us work on the concept.

    We working to bring together as much as possible bakers on the platform. Starting in Ahmedabad. Would like to serve you asap.

    Regards,

    Ashish Parik

15. 

    Ashish Parik July 1, 2013, 7:59 am

    Hi All,

    Finally we are on world wide web ! Our website http://www.cakehunt.com is launched on 29.06.13. It is really a tough job to bring together competitors on a common platform. Though we could not succeed on bringing all the good and best bakers, we have 5 well known and one fresher (Perzen, as suggested by you) with us.

    Do visit the website and let me know your feedback. payment gateways is not active as of now, will be done very soon.

    Thanks for all your wishes !

16. 

    asha chaudhry July 2, 2013, 5:09 am

    ashish… when i click on Twitter it takes me to my page….

    pls fix!

17. 

    Ashish Parik July 2, 2013, 5:39 am

    Thanks Asha, 

    It has been fixed. Forgot to update the same. Bada kam karane ke sochate sochate chhote chhote (but important) kam bhul jate hain…

    Thank you so much for the timely feedback.

18. 

    asha chaudhry July 2, 2013, 5:41 am

    :))))) let me tweet your post again mentioning you!!!

19. 

    Darshan Bhambiru July 2, 2013, 7:58 am

    Hi Ashish,

    Congratulations on the launch of the Online Portal and Site!!!

    Though the Site is Image heavy currently and also many things might still be getting updated a few pointers that should help the Team to stream line and make it better are listed below for your perusal :

    There are Duplicate entries of Assorted Chocolates with Similar Pictures but Different rates, maybe you may need to change some content there on the display appropriately

    The Photo cakes do have the Message on the Cake space but No Facility to UPLOAD Custom Photo if any, maybe you can look into that as a VAS – Value Added Service

    The Map on the Contact Page Shows it is in SF 🙂 Make it Near shore should help!!

    

    The Picture should say a lot more than words the “DUMMY TEXT”

    It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout.

    Stands True 😛 Maybe that could have some Witty line there instead.

    The Contact details should be CATCHable, i.e. instead of putting them at the bottom of the page and waiting to have the long list of the cakes to end, it can simply catch up always with the cursor position?

    Since the same is not updated on the Contact us page yet, (+91 9327365247 CAKEHUNT.AHM@GMAIL.COM) Differs with email there

    The right side of the Home page could be used to have the facebook, twitter and the other information displayed since that is currently not being utilized, just a suggestion maybe you have some design layouts to follow so adjust accordingly

    So you can have the details, either updated on the same page so it is easier to connect the customers.

    Well otherwise, there would be still a lot of running around to be completed looking at the Humongous task at hand and it is Dealing with Happiness for those who would receive it finally.

    Maybe you can also connect with the 21Fools and have them get you the Custom Birthday cards designed on behalf of Cakehunt which can go with the Cake to the Person celebrating the event!!! You can Connect with Rodinhooders Divyanshu Asopa or Surendra Chaplot and they should also be able to suggest more ideas with this regards for various other occasions as well 🙂

    Looks fine, workable, Good you started on it!! 
    When the Going Gets Tough, The Tough get Going!! 

    Good Luck on the next cities to be added, as well as the current Teething phase to the Entire Team!!
    Cheers!!!

20. 

    Ashish Parik July 2, 2013, 8:20 am

    Hi Darshan,

    Thanks a lot for feedback ! I am sure these 5 words are not just enough to express my feelings. You took so much time to check the site and mention everything. 

    The site is getting updated in backend everyday. I have noted all the points, few are already in process, few are new. 

    Will update the same asap. 

    I am in touch with Divyanshu Asopa…Thanks for the suggestion. 

    Also thanks a ton for the wishes. 

21. 

    Darshan Bhambiru July 2, 2013, 8:30 am

    Sorry forgot to add these in the Original post.

    You can also check to Have the Contact Number and the Event Dates captured on your Contact Form, you can also make space available specifically if the Cake ordered is for the Person Filling the Form or For somebody else.

    Not sure but I did Add a cake to the Cart was unable to see the “Delivered on” Date mentioned, as also if it was an “URGENT” order too and needs it by what time of the Day, and if it is also Available within the cutoff time. 

    These would also help you manage a healthy Database which can be reused and you can Send advance SMS or emails to the customers and since it would be Customised. Hence make them Buy again from your Site 🙂

22. 

    kiran n. bolantkodi July 2, 2013, 10:26 am

    Hi, Ashish,

    good effort by you. we are also into bakery and creamery in coastal city of mangalore in karnataka. we have shops ”cremefraiche” . trying for home delivery of all our products. please update on your expiriences

    best wishes,

    Kiran.

23. 

    Ashish Parik July 3, 2013, 3:48 am

    Hi Kiran,

    Thanks for the wishes !

    Visited your site (https://cremefraicheicecreams.com/cakes.html), it is awesome and your cakes are very beautiful ! 

    Would you like to accompany us ? You can also have your products on our platform. We will sell your products and you deliver the feelings there in Mangalore. 

    To be very honest, we are very happy with the concept. We started home deliveries in Feb 13 (From 11th) and working for some best bakers here. After working for some time we got this idea. People feel very happy and we are always welcomed. You can also explore the opportunity to associate with other online sites as there associate in your city to deliver as well as sell cakes and other things.

    Regards, Ashish Parik

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