Classic Cakes Launches New Program to Spread Kindness During COVID-19 Outbreak
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Classic Cakes was voted Best Bakery in Carmel in 2020, listed in the top 50 Best Wedding Cake Bakeries in America by the Daily Meal, and has won numerous other accolades for their tasty creations, including Couples Choice Award on Wedding Wire and Best Weddings on the Knot. But all of that pales in comparison to the love the bakery has received in light of the pandemic that has threatened the existence of local businesses.
When government mandates shut down so many things, suddenly all events were canceled, including birthday parties, weddings, graduations, first communions and corporate functions.
Everything was canceled so all of our orders canceled along with them, says Megan Ritz, Cake Curator and CEO of Classic Cakes. People werent having parties. And thats really the reason you get a cake.
Though it was a scary and uncertain time for small businesses, Classic Cakes immediately implemented several new programs to help share kindness with the community. One such program is called the Cake Fairy that enables customers to send a cake to a friend, family member or coworker.
People have jumped on this and customers are ordering them for 10 different people to spread joy and support us as a business, Ritz says. There is also Cake it Yourself, an at-home decorating kit plus cake that is delivered to your door.
In addition, Ritz began doing Facebook Live videos that include a behind-the-scenes tour of the shop as well as various tutorials about how to cover a cake in fondant, how to ice a cake and favorite tools they use in decorating a cake. In a week, they had 60,000 people view the videos. The cake deliveries, which go all over Central Indiana, including Plainfield, Greenwood, Zionsville, Westfield, and Noblesville, are a big hit as well.
To deliver those cakes and hear kids inside screaming, Its here! Its here! makes me smile, says Ritz, who has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of community support. In a weeks time, they went from having every order canceled to making 75 cakes. Granted, making an 8-inch cake isnt the same as a 200-serving wedding cake.
Were working twice as hard to produce a lot of smaller cakes, but seeing the way the community has rallied around us assures me that were going to survive this, Ritz says. We have brides paying off their December weddings now because they know we need that income now. We have people buying gift cards to give us some cash right now.
Client Terri Towner had Classic Cakes deliver a birthday cake to her niece when her big celebration was canceled.
My niece was so thrilled when Classic Cakes came to the rescue and helped us make her day special with a personalized, pink icing cake, Towner says.
Even though people have been stuck at home, they still want to find reasons to celebrate. In fact, Ritz has seen an uptick in elaborate cake design orders.
They figure if they cant do anything else, they are going to have the best cake to make the occasion special, says Ritz, noting that theyve done 3D baby Yoda cakes, 3D unicorn cakes, sushi cakes, and they made a special cake for a couple who had to cancel their trip to Paris.
For them, we made a 3D wine bottle with cheese & crackers and grapes all made out of sugar on top, Ritz says.
Jessica Strickland is a loyal customer who is grateful that Classic Cakes has found a way to bless others during this challenging time.
Their Cake Fairy program helps so many regain the joy and celebrations that have been taken away from them during the quarantine, Strickland says. Getting a surprise cake from The Cake Fairy has been one of the sweet highlights of our time at home. Plus, theyve made their classes available online for free so many people can learn their inside secrets about baking and decorating cakes. They are a shining light during a dark and unnerving time.
Classic Cakes also plans to donate 3,000 cupcakes to the staff at Riley Hospital. Though ingredients have been donated by McFarling Foods and General Mills, the containers and labels will cost between $500-$600 so if youd like to donate towards this cause, visit the Classic Cakes website.
Weve never done 3,000 cupcakes before, Ritz says. Were used to 200-person weddings. But were up for the challenge if it means lifting the spirit of emergency responders and community support workers.
In recent weeks, Classic Cakes has also donated cakes to the staff at area hospitals, police stations, fire stations and senior living communities.
Were trying to do what little we can to give them a moment of joy, Ritz adds. Everyone is in the same position right now looking for ways to connect during this very isolating time. For cake to be the thing thats helping pull people together is pretty awesome.
To place an order with Classic Cakes or to make a donation, call 317-844-6901 or visit ClassicCakesCarmel.com.
