FoodBanter.com - View Single Post - Please help settle a husband-wife argument !!

(Mike Faraday) wrote in message . com>...
> My wife age 48 has a passion for baking and pastry making. She
> would like to enroll in a 18 month culinary school.
>
> 1. What is the standard wage including benefits working
> in a hotel or restaurant in your city?
Do not be concerned with wages, once your wife will be graduating
from the culinary school she will need some time to practice those
learned skills.
Worrying about wages is the last thing you will do if you really had a
true passion for the baking craft.
> 2. Is your passion for baking lost once in out of school
> and in the real world?
Passion for such activity will not wane because as your knowledge
increase your fervor for your hobby will intensify.In fact It will
be spiritually uplifting experience to some people.
> 3. Is the baking industry going mass production based more
> on quanity instead of quality? Such as bakery products
> being sold at Costco, supermarkets etc.
If you are a graduate of such baking school and had such luck in
attaining a level of wisdon in a short time; the more you will care
less about the difference between mass produced bread as you do with
artisanal products. But you will understand it more and will cease to
be discriminating, and stop thinking that what is made by plant
bakery is crap and what is made by small bakery as the good item.
They are just different version of baked products as there are
different types of races.....it has its own features.
Indeed in business everything should be mass produced for optimum
profitabiity.
But Quality and quantity are not relative in most cases. As there are
niche items that are highly profitable as well.You may need to produce
less of unique items (but is sold at higher price) to maintain the
desired craftmanship level which will impress your customer, inspire
other clients as well as maintain their loyalty. But you must
specialize on certain things that you believe has an edge in your
enterprise vicinity ,as that will mean more success for your business
, than than being a mere copycat.
> 4. If wages are low being an employee will owning your own
> bakery very profitable? Is owning your own bakery a 80
> hour job?
Any food manufacturing concern is considered a low margin enterprise
and that includes bakery business. In addition bakery jobs are not
high paying as other non food professionals also.If you intention of
running a bakery business as highly profitable then think of
something else.
You find baking an interesting enterprise then go for it but do not
think about that you are earning much money like othes such as for
example the IT business people .
If one of your intention of studying the course is to gain practical
ideas (before you start your own bakery business)you are partly right
as most baking schools try to emphasize the commercial side of the
baking craft.There are business management subjects that are part of
curriculum.In some pastry courses there is even a subject such as how
to open and run your pastry or coffeeshop.
But to be a succesful businesperson in this line, its preferable to
gain first hand experience as a bakery employee )before you run the
business yourself.So that you will have a solid idea about the ins
and out of the real bakery business.
Having laid the groundwork through formal study you will learn the
rope faster( than the unschooled bakery workers hence you will
progress faster . BE reminded also that Bakery work as well as
running a bakery business is a full time job.It is hard work.I have
seen many bakery owners who wake up daily 3 am in the morning and
sleep at 12 PM at night.
In many bakeries the job ia 10-12 hour job specially if you are doing
artisanal baking, but usually an 8 hour job if your are an employee
in plant baking.

Once your wife has finished the course she will have an idea what
particular line of bakery product is she deeply interested and that
will be the basis for the product line she will run later.
People who are fresh from school are so idealistic that lose the sense
of the reality what the bakery business is all about in the long run.
I have seen culinary gradualtes who are cocky and had enough funds
to open their own business after they graduated but getting bankrupt
in a short time. And in the same way I had seen a lot of former
employed bakers( who had not even attended a baking school who became
very succesful in running their own bakery business.
I think the bottom line in running a business is acumen not baking
skill.But you will be very successful if you combine both.
> Please spend a few minutes to answer these important
> questions. As you could guess my wife wants to eventually
> own here own bakery. I, her huband has owned my own business
> since 1978 and it is very difficult to explain to my wife
> that with retail leases, workmens comp, employee problems
> equipment purchase,80 work week etc. she should keep her
> baking as a hobby instead of a profession. Unless she could
> make a good salary as an employee I feel culinary school would
> be a waste of time?
>
> Thank you for your thoughtful response.
>
> Mike
Indeed the business word is complex and has many pitfalls for any
enterpreneur minded invidual. And you are cautioning your wife (based
from your experience).
But is not good to douse the avid interest of your better half.
What your wife need is an encouraging husband who will help nurture
the interest of his beloved .
You are his partner then you should never be pessimistic with her
interest rather try to motivate here at most....I have a feeling and
think,that the real reason for your lack of interest in this line
is....
that you just feel insecure if your wife will find herself and
independent businesswoman later on.You will lose her respect
especially if she will become overly succesful than you are later.
On the other hand if....
If she want to know more about her hobby from a professinal setting
then its good for her. You should be pleased with your wife's
interests.
From that study she will improve her baking skills and can provide
your family with a more delectable products which become the envy of
your friends and neighbors. AS based on experience ,It is likely that
soon somebody will start noticing yor wife baking expertise and will
begin ordering those bakery goods from your wife and that could
become the springboard for his bakery business whether she planned it
or not. Indeed Professional Culinary study offers many opportuniities
than just practicing a hobby that is devoid of vocational training.
Therefore the enlightenment that result from culinary study has its
benefits to her hobby and will in likelihood end in a productive and
profitable endeavor in the long run.
On the other hand.....
However if the root of your quarrel is beyond baking,....then there
might be other reasons.

If after all those years you are becoming insecure with your marriage
and your love for its other is already waning then consult a marriage
counselor or a divorce lawyer not a baker.
Roy