What does the customized cake cabinet fee consist of?

In the current increasingly competitive baking industry, customized cake cabinets are not only the carriers for product display but also important visual touchpoints for brand image. According to the "2024 China Baking Equipment Market White Paper", among the average annual equipment procurement expenditures of baking stores nationwide, the cost of customized display cabinets accounts for 23.7%, becoming the second largest expense after kitchen equipment.

I. Pre - preparation stage: Design and demand research costs

(1) Grading system for professional design fees

The design link is the core starting point of customization, and the cost difference mainly depends on the qualifications of the design team and the complexity of the project. According to the data of the Baking Space Design Branch of the China Interior Decoration Association, the charging standard for basic - type design (standard - sized cabinets, regular function configuration) is $11 - $21 per square meter, which is suitable for standardized stores of chain brands; the cost of creative - type design (irregular structure, intelligent interaction function) rises to $42 - $111 per square meter. For example, a certain online - popular baking brand spent as high as $1667 on the design of a single cabinet for creating the concept of a "floating cake island" cabinet, accounting for 18% of the total cabinet price.

(2) Hidden costs of demand research

In addition to the explicit design fees, there may be additional expenses during the demand confirmation process. When a certain chain brand customized a new - style cake cabinet, in order to accurately match the brand's tone, it entrusted a third - party institution to conduct consumer - scene simulation tests, including ergonomic data collection ($278 per store) and laboratory tests on the impact of the temperature - controlled environment on product display ($695 per item). Such research costs account for about 5% - 10% of the pre - project budget.

II. Core cost composition: The value anchor of materials and craftsmanship

(1) The price spectrum of cabinet materials

Basic material combination

The classic combination of a stainless - steel frame (201 material, 1.2mm thick) and 5mm tempered glass has a unit - price range of $556 - $1111 per linear meter. According to the "Baking Equipment Material Market Price Index", the price of stainless - steel raw materials increased by 12% year - on - year in 2024, driving the cost of basic - style cabinets to rise by 8% - 15%.

Mid - high - end material upgrade

The aluminum - alloy lightweight frame (aviation - grade 6061 - T6 material) combined with low - e energy - saving glass increases the unit price to $1111 - $2084 per linear meter. A certain high - end baking brand's customized constant - temperature and humidity - controlled cabinet, due to the use of medical - grade 304 stainless - steel lining + anti - fog electrically heated glass, has a single - cabinet material cost exceeding $2778.

Decorative material premium

There are significant differences in cabinet finish materials: fire - proof board veneer ($28 per square meter), solid - wood veneer ($111 per square meter), and rock - plate countertop ($278 per square meter). A certain light - luxury brand, in order to create a "window - level" display effect, selected an Italian - imported Carrara white marble countertop, increasing the single - cabinet decoration cost by $486.

(2) Cost - driving factors of the manufacturing process

Premium for structural complexity

The processing cost of a regular right - angled cabinet accounts for about 25% - 30% of the material cost, while an arc - shaped cabinet requires a customized mold (the cost of a single set of molds is $278 - $695), and the processing cost proportion increases to 40% - 50%. A certain chain brand increased the cost of the bending and forming process by $1667 alone for creating a circular display cabinet.

Function module configuration

The function cost of a basic - style cabinet (room - temperature display, LED lighting) is about $208 - $417. Adding an intelligent temperature - control system (accuracy ±1℃) increases the cost by $278 - $556, and configuring a humidity - adjustment module (controllable range 40% - 70% RH) adds another $417. The customized multi - function display cabinet of a certain baking laboratory, due to the integration of an ultraviolet sterilization and fresh - air circulation system, has a function - module cost accounting for 45%.

Surface treatment process

Electrostatic powder spraying ($42 per square meter), fluorocarbon paint spraying ($111 per square meter), electroplating wire drawing ($208 per square meter). A certain national - trend brand, in order to present a gilded effect, adopted a vacuum - coating process, increasing the single - cabinet surface - treatment cost by $306.

III. Implementation stage: Transportation, installation and supporting expenditures

(1) The dynamic cost model of logistics transportation

The transportation cost is affected by three factors: cabinet size, transportation distance, and packaging requirements. Taking the Yangtze River Delta region as an example:

For standard cabinets (1.2m×0.8m×2m) transported within the province: The wooden - frame packaging fee is $28 per unit, and the freight is $42 - $69 per unit.

For extra - large cabinets (3m×1.5m×2.2m) transported across provinces: The customized wooden - box packaging fee is $111 per unit, and the dedicated - line logistics fee is $208 - $347 per unit.

A certain northwest - region chain brand customized cabinets from Guangdong. Due to the weight of a single cabinet exceeding 500kg, professional lifting equipment is required for loading and unloading, and the single - time transportation surcharge is increased by $139.

(2) Hidden expenses of installation and debugging

Differences in labor costs

The charging standard for installation teams in first - tier cities is $28 - $42 per man - hour. The installation of complex cabinets (requiring on - site welding and circuit modification) takes 8 - 12 hours, and the labor cost of a single cabinet exceeds $334. A certain store in a shopping mall, due to the requirement of night - time construction (to avoid peak business hours), the labor cost needs to be increased by 30%.

Supporting project expenditures

Before the cabinet is installed, water and electricity pre - embedding and ground leveling need to be completed. If there are special requirements of the shopping mall (such as fire - proof material certification, load - bearing reinforcement), the relevant project costs can reach $695 - $1390 per store. A certain flagship store, due to the installation of the cabinet embedded in the wall, additionally incurred a wall - renovation cost of $1111.

IV. Full - cycle holding cost: Operation and maintenance and iteration expenditures

(1) The value guarantee of after - sales service

Mainstream manufacturers provide a 2 - 5 - year warranty service, including parts replacement and on - site maintenance. According to the data of the China Equipment Management Association, the average annual maintenance cost accounts for about 3% - 5% of the total cabinet price. If an extended - warranty service (an additional 3 - year warranty) is selected, 8% - 10% of the total price needs to be paid. A certain chain brand, due to having more than 200 stores nationwide, customized the manufacturer's on - site maintenance service, increasing the average annual operation and maintenance cost by $20833.

(2) The sunk cost of technological iteration

With the upgrading of consumption, the function iteration cycle of display cabinets has been shortened to 3 - 5 years. Early - invested non - intelligent cabinets face upgrading and transformation: installing an intelligent control system costs about $417 per unit, and replacing energy - saving glass costs about $347 per square meter. Such transformation costs are about 20% - 30% of the original cabinet cost. A certain baking brand, with 50 basic - style cabinets customized 5 years ago, could not meet the current temperature - control requirements, and the total transformation expenditure reached $62500.

V. Price - influencing factors and budget - optimization strategies

(1) Sensitivity analysis of key variables

Through industry data modeling, it is found that the top three factors that have the greatest impact on the price of customized cake cabinets are:

Cabinet volume (for every 1m³ increase, the cost increases by 12% - 15%)

Number of function modules (for every additional 1 intelligent function, the cost increases by 8% - 10%)

Delivery cycle (for urgent orders with a delivery cycle of more than 45 days, the cost increases by 15% - 20%)

(2) Paths to improve cost - performance

Cost reduction through modular design

Adopting the design of "basic cabinet + detachable function modules", for example, a certain brand standardized the lighting system and temperature - control module, reducing the single - cabinet design cost by 20% and increasing the post - maintenance efficiency by 30%.

Economies of scale in centralized procurement

When a chain brand customizes more than 50 units at one time, the material procurement cost can be reduced by 10% - 15%, and the transportation and installation costs can be reduced by 20%. A certain regional chain brand, through joint procurement, reduced the comprehensive cost of a single cabinet by $250.

Full - life - cycle cost accounting

By comparing the TCO (total cost of ownership) of different solutions, when a certain brand was choosing between a basic - style cabinet (initial cost of $1111, 5 - year operation and maintenance cost of $556) and a high - end style (initial cost of $1667, 5 - year operation and maintenance cost of $208), through TCO analysis, it finally chose the latter, saving a cumulative cost of $69 per unit in 5 years.

Taking the cost composition of a customized intelligent temperature - controlled display cabinet (total price of $2084) as an example: Food - grade 304 stainless steel ($625), intelligent temperature - control system ($417), irregular baking process ($347), brand - exclusive design ($278), transportation and installation ($208), warranty service ($208), and the cost distribution of each link conforms to the typical structure of the mid - end market.

The cost management of customized cake cabinets is essentially a value - investment decision, which requires a balance among brand tone, functional requirements, and budget constraints.

It is recommended that practitioners establish a "three - dimensional evaluation system":

Function adaptability: Select core function modules according to product characteristics to avoid over - design.

Cost transparency: Require manufacturers to provide a detailed BOM list to clarify material specifications and process quotations.

Cycle return rate: Estimate the effect of the display on the increase in the unit price of customers, and set an investment payback period of 3 - 5 years.

By accurately controlling key cost nodes such as design, materials, craftsmanship, and operation and maintenance, and combining scale - purchase and modular - design strategies, baking enterprises can achieve a balance between "precision customization" and "benefit maximization" in the investment in display equipment. With the continuous progress of smart hardware and industrial design, the cost structure of customized cake cabinets will continue to be optimized. In the future, new - type cabinets integrating functions such as AR display and remote monitoring will push the industry into a new competitive stage of the "experience economy".