People often ask why gluten-free cakes cost so much. Or why a simple victoria sponge is "overpriced". And I can see their point: it's just butter, eggs, flour and sugar, isn't it? And yet there's so-o-o-o much more to a cake than that, so I thought I'd better explain. (N.B. This should be especially useful to anyone who's wondering whether they should set up their own freefrom cake business. It's always handy to know what you're really in for!) Firstly, if you're going to bak

I was greatly saddened yesterday to discover this tweet from fellow blogger, Katie Heath. Briefly, she's been writing a blog for 6 years and has been rather successful. So much so, she and her husband were invited to be in a documentary for the rather beautiful Cliveden House in Berkshire. Basically, The Times thought it appropriate to print an article where they portrayed her as a "detestable freeloader" rather than an astute businesswoman. You can see Katie's full (and well

Do you keep a record of your clients? Is it an excel spreadsheet you loathe wading through? Or is it a beautifully computerised system that gives you peace of mind, like having your own personal secretary? When I first started out in business, I didn't do much in the way of marketing. If I wanted to find the last time I e-mailed someone, I had to scroll back through my e-mails or use the search function. It wasn't the best system, to say the least. I'd meet people at wedding