Coronavirus: Temporary Closure & 5 Ways to Support Us
Temporary Closure
Due to the "Shelter in Place" order going in to effect on Tuesday March 17, I will be closing our shop through April 30, or whenever the "shelter in place" order is lifted. All non-essential businesses are asked to close, and though we technically meet the requirements (take-out food service only) - and we could argue that cupcakes are essential - we are not an essential business. We believe everyone must do their part to slow the spread of the virus, even though it means consequences to us all. #FlattenTheCurve
Until the order is lifted, we will not be accepting new orders for any events before May 1, and we will reavaluate that as things change.
Cancellation Policy
I will be in touch with everyone who has currently placed an order in March or April. If you have any questions about your existing order, please email me.
Impact on Us
This is devatsting for Angel Cakes and many other small businesses. Our income model relies on orders for parties, events and weddings. Virtually overnight, all of our events for March and April cancelled, and we paid out a lot of refunds. Our business insurance does not cover "acts of god" or pandemics. Closing means that I will be laying off our lovely employees so that they can apply for unemployment benefits. I hope to rehire all of them when the store reopens.
The future is really uncertain. It's hard to believe we lived through a car crashing into our building to be potentially put out of business a year later. Because of the crash last year, we have almost no cash reserves and we are struggling, as a business and as individuals. There has been talk from local, state, and federal businesses about offering assistance in the form of low or no-interest loans, or extending deadlines for tax payments, both of which would help us tremendously when we attempt to reopen. We have also started researching other funding avenues.
How You Can Support Us
I plan to reopen when this is all over, and I will be working hard to make sure that happens. Most of our favorite restaurants and local stores, are in the same position, and if your income has not been impacted, I beg you to reach out and support small businesses that make our communities home. You can do that by buying gift cards to use later, sending messages of support, writing positive reviews, and spending money liberally when they reopen. If you know someone personally impacted, offer to buy them groceries, watch their kids while schools are closed, or pay their rent.
We are a member of the Oakland Indie Alliance, an organization of independently owned businesses. They are all struggling. We are working together to share information and resources, and you should support them too. You can find out about all of the members here.
You can support Angel Cakes by:
- Buying a gift card: https://angelcakessf.square.site/
- Subscribing to our Cupcake of the Month club (will begin in May): http://www.angelcakes510.com/club
- Sending a donation through Paypal (http://www.paypal.me/angelcakes510) or Venmo (jenangel1)
- Ordering one of our weekly limited-edition bakery boxes. Order a prepaid box to pickup here.
- Send me a note of support: Email Jen
I've already received a ton of support through the purchase of gift cards and it has really made a difference. Thank you to everyone who has supported us through the last few difficult years.
We will get through this together,
xo
Jen Angel