'Feeling the pinch' update - am down and very nearly out

The Gingerbread Lady · Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:55 pm

Am sat here (box of tissues at my side) feeling thoroughly miserable...
had a great time and good trade in Ireland (though not very profitable), returned to find that the men in suits who promised me funding to expand the business and take on a local bakery have changed their mind

I have spent my entire time since 9am this morning on the phone chasing any available help (to keep me afloat so that i can get through the next few shows) without success. They all agree it is a great business with fantastic potential but 'due to the current financial climate' and being self employed and not having any major profitable shows this year no one will touch me with a barge pole.
Having been self employed for 4 years together with having an erratic health problem I am for the most part unemployable. I have been refused disability payments as i have an 'invisible' illness, despite my consultant fighting my corner.
The pinch I was feeling has really come up and bitten me on the backside.
Unless something wonderful comes out of the blue it looks like Chatteris this weekend will be my last trading event and I have no other option than to hang up my cutters and close the business.
Will keep you all posted but at present it aint looking good......

Type16 · Post by **Type16** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:30 pm

We will keep our fingers crossed for you

lucy the tudor · Post by **lucy the tudor** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:38 pm

Terrible news love, your stuff is so good and everyone enjoys it, you work so damned hard too, life is a sod sometimes!
Is there any way you could continue mail order for a bit to just keep a tickover? All the Christmas plans and everything, it's just not fair

Massive hugs.

Shame the lads aren't younger and working families could help you keep afloat, have you thought of breeding again? (joke, honest)

If we can help in any way, let us know.

Lucy

The Gingerbread Lady · Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:17 pm

Thank you

I must say I am so proud of my kids, they not giving up without a damned good fight - they are beavering away, rolling mixture & packing as much stock as we can do tonight to get me laden to the roof of the van for Chatteris - am so proud of them and everso slightly humbled

The Iron Dwarf · Post by **The Iron Dwarf** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:25 pm

hope something happens to improve things very soon

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:49 am

chin up babe

and think of the faces of the punters in future when you explain Whores Farts to em

timbobarnacle · Post by **timbobarnacle** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:58 am

aye, chin up - the forecast is good - go for it, is there not other events you could do locally to increase sales? you are close, so dont give it up now - focus on chasing men in suits for a bit, then do what you are good at

y.sobel · Post by **y.sobel** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:53 am

please excuse my two-pennworth but I know how frustrating this is. You've a good idea and are making it work but no-one ever quite comes across with what they promise, do they? And it's usually such a relatively small amount of money! Funny how they had all those billions for Northern Rock, eh? And, for a massive payoff for the idiot who's fault it was - sickening.
I wish you all the good luck you plainly deserve- I love gingerbread and hope to see you somewhere soon
ysobel

david smith · Post by **david smith** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:24 pm

Look forward to seeing you at Chatteris (Saturday) - and talking over possibilities and mad schemes and available options and cunning plans - every possibility has to be looked at, we can't afford not to have good quality gingerbread!!

Best wishes
David

Dave B · Post by **Dave B** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:29 pm

Surely Tewkesbury will be potentialy a big payoff for you in only a couple of weeks?

The Gingerbread Lady · Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:18 pm

If i can keep the wolves from the door that long, then hopefully, yes

lucy the tudor · Post by **lucy the tudor** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:50 pm

The answer is there for those who can go to Chatteris- buy enough gingerbread so you can buy more at Tewkers....
Seriously though , do you do mail order?
We need more whore's farts and biccies winging around the country!
Please post price list and order line number on here, and be shameless- It's the only way to go.
Lucy

k8 baker · Post by **k8 baker** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:02 pm

I have PM'd you.

mogey · Post by **mogey** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:51 pm

I'd second that tewkesbury will have a much bigger client base.

See you at Chatteris, I do hope you keep going.

Chris

(Is there any chance of easier ordering on your website, I've looked on it before and I confess been to lazy to e-mail an order and wait for a reply - so that might help bring the orders in)

Fingers crossed,

Chris

The Gingerbread Lady · Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:35 pm

I do have a new and very much improved website just needing me to sort out products to put on it, pack sizes and pricing - its
www.angelasgingerbread.com (i know its not angelas pantry or the gingerbread lady, which i would have preferred but cant remember why it wasnt possible at the time)

any suggestions greatfully received for products which you think would be popular etc

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:30 pm

WHORE FARTS,WHORES FARTS, WHORES FARTS !!!!!

The Gingerbread Lady · Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:39 pm

I will never forget your attempt to explain the WHORES FARTS to that particular group of ladies at Bunratty......i have never seen you blush before Martin - was priceless

By the way, the kids have suggested chocolate coated ones - and the name - skiddies!!!!!!!!!

red razors · Post by **red razors** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:57 pm

uproariously lol @ skiddies!!
whore's farts are a necessity, they were a real ice-breaker for this irish interloper in the VoME camp at rockingham. especially when noone could understand what i was calling them

Lonestan · Post by **Lonestan** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:30 pm

I would pay good money for something as good (and funny) as skiddies!!

Montsegur · Post by **Montsegur** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:49 pm

Angela - have PM d you

The Iron Dwarf · Post by **The Iron Dwarf** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:12 am

I hope that John gives you unlimited access to his kitchen in order to make more Whore's farts and skiddies for this weekend as im sure you will run out very fast

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:40 pm

Just had an idea hon, may not work but hey ho, try renting a larger marquee for a show, to late for chatteris but maybe for another, borrow a tea urn and instead of selling whole cakes sell slices with chai, earl grey, assam etc, have some nice tinkly medieval musac playing in the back ground and hey ho you have a "chill out "tent at shows, where you can get tea and home made cake

there is one at this weekends festy, they make a killing , i spend time with em at festys and they are always busy, always run out of cakes (they make their own as well), you wouldnt be stepping on anyone's toes as no-one is doing it and think of the MOP parents who want to sit down and have a nice tea 'n' cake

I really think its worth a pop babe, will get you the details of the people who do it on the festy circuit so you can ask them any questions you may have

david smith · Post by **david smith** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:24 pm

Martin,

You then run the risk of organisers having their ears bent (or just getting greedy) by the caterers whose teas etc are being competed with, and as you know from Joust the caterers pitch fees are usually rather large by comparison to traders pitch fees.

Also marquee are expensive to hire, even to buy, and then a nightmare to transport and pitch / pull down, especially if wet. And how do you power your kettle / urn? Not everywhere can provide a power point, and some charge a lot if they do. Generators are noisy and smelly and not always welcomed.

Sorry, but I don't think that'll fly

Best wishes
David

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:29 pm

supose so

Jackie Phillips · Post by **Jackie Phillips** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:09 pm

I have insisted that Angela is coming to Tewkesbury, to the point that I will be putting her and the stock into my van to drag her there if I have to! The pitch is paid for, ingredients are available, she is coming. (I'm a bossy cow, aren't I?)

It's rotten that people can't keep promises. I know things are difficult in this economic climate, but a promise is a promise and I say "Shame on them!"

Chin up, petal. As I said the other day, your friends and family are all going to support you in this, we can't lose gingerbrede, not now!

Jackie

lucy the tudor · Post by **lucy the tudor** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:26 pm

Bossy good sometimes, keep the lass eating too!!!

Cat · Post by **Cat** » Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:34 pm

Just a quick post to say thinking of you, and don't give up. It ain't over til the thin lady sings! We will see you at Tewkers.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:18 pm

Thinking of you. See you at Tewkers.

The Gingerbread Lady · Tue Jul 08, 2008 9:59 am

Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone for all their kind words, advice, support & offers of help.
Chatteris was a good do, even though it poured down on Sunday, have enough to buy packaging for Tewks stock and will have a gingerbread model of the abbey (simplified!) filled with sweets which I think amanda will be raffling or auctioning at the weekend. Will also have my small gingerbread houses which none of you have seen 'in the flesh' before - only ever had photos with me.
The whores fart 'skiddies' will also be there, due to the amount of requests i have had they may be popular!!! (thanks kids)
I am still everso miserable but keeping my chin up and don't feel alone, It feels like a call to muster and I got you guys n gals beside me - tis the biggest battle of my life and I am hanging in by the skin of my teeth, but not giving up...thanks everso much - big group hug

lucy the tudor · Post by **lucy the tudor** » Tue Jul 08, 2008 4:41 pm

Good news, chuck, you don't give up easy do you?
Everyone has their fingers crossed now, and a craving for skiddies...
Lucy