A couple of months ago we launched our Nationwide UK Cupcake Delivery and have been thrilled with its success. Victoria of I Love Meal Plans, a great foody blogger has written a great article about our cupcakes by post, do read it.
We are continually updating and researching how we can improve our service and as a part of that research we made an order from one of the large Online Cupcake suppliers whom I won’t mention but who comes very high in searches for “cupcakes delivered” (well we appear on the first page too but a bit lower down!). Like most small home bakers I lack in confidence at times and imagine that the big companies have everything sorted which can be daunting, but there is hope for us small bakers as it seems that even the big companies with tons of resources can fail!
The company we ordered from has been in existence for years and so I presumed had the whole “cupcakes by post” thing sorted but not so. This is a picture of the cakes I received today.
Well if you want to be able to send your cupcakes across the UK why not read our hints and tips on how to send your cupcakes by post;
1. Packaging
This is crucial. As you can see from the picture, cupcakes plonked into a cupcake box will not survive and it makes no difference writing “this way up”, the boxes get tumbled about in transit. We sometimes use cupcake clam packs like these;
Buy cupcake bubbles like these!
2. Cupcake Decoration
Use a firmer icing than normal and use robust toppers so that if the cupcake does move in its bubble the toppers do not suffer too much damage.
3. Packing Boxes
When you put the bubbles into a cardboard box to send them use a sturdy one, you can buy these from the Post Office or Staples, and make sure that you do put some labels on the outside of the box saying “this way up”. There is no guarantee that they will actually stay the right way up but its worth doing. And always make sure you pack the cupcake bubbles firmly into the box with bubblewrap or screwed up paper.
Then all you have to do is send them! I have looked at Couriers and the Post Office and as yet have not found one who can guarantee that the box will stay upright so I would just use the cheapest option and make sure your packaging is good enough to take a bit of tumbling around. At least following this advice you should be able to ensure that your cupcakes don’t arrive quite as mushed up as the ones I received!
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Where do you get the cupcake bubble clams and Do you use any kind of cold pack cause I takes days to get them right?
You can buy the domes here and no I don’t use cold packs.
Hi Gill,
Have read this with interest and was just wondering, the cupcake bubbles – do they hold the cupcake tight so if the box is turned over the butter cream or decorations wont move or would the fall to the bottom of the pod and get squashed?
I understand the packing in the box but how do the cupcakes not move in the bubbles
Thanks Cath
It is just a matter of experimenting with your cakes and toppers until you get as least damage as possible, everyone’s cakes are different. We have spent many months and quite bit of money investigating different methods of transportation and use a wide variety of packaging depending on the cupcake or cake being sent.
well I think they all look fab Gill and you deserve every success x
I have had some of Gill’s cupcakes through the post and they arrived in excellent condition, I am amazed that this company did not package their cupcakes better.
I was shocked by the photograph of the large cupcake company! It seems common sense that they could not be delivered like that. Without the cupcake ‘bubble/clam’ packaging they will go dry as they need an air tight container to keep them fresh! Well done you it was good research and great advice in your blog about sending cakes in the post.
Thank you
When you work on your own it can be very easy to think “how can I ever succeed?” compared to the bigger companies but when you see stuff like this it gives you hope! Those 6 cupcakes (which did not appear to have any decoration on them apart from minimal sprinkles) cost nearly £17, our cheapest package for UK Cupcakes Delivered is £30 for 12 cupcakes so cheaper overall and at least they arrive looking ok. I am working on being able to send smaller amounts out eg 4 or 8 cupcakes and hope to announce this soon.