DC200

I really appreciate the feedback and responses. We've filed a police report, are combing through surveillance footage, and hope to catch whoever did it. I agree with what has been said, my top suspects are two people we had to let go. The only reason I wouldn't think it was a current employee, is they could steal them at any time--so I'd wonder about why they'd just do it suddenly. But we've talked to each of them, and it seems that they all check out ok. We're going to contact the the news and try to pitch it as an ironic, funny kind of spin--rather than the jilted ex type of whineyness. We do desserts--specifically baked desserts. We aren't a cupcake only place, but offer all kinds of pastries, cakes, pies, etc. Our concept has caught on because of our fun employees, ambiance AND our quality desserts--but it is a very competitive, and weirdly jealous market. I didn't expect so much jealous, almost cattiness between customers of different bakeries--but I guess that is just one of those things I didn't know about before launching a business. Again, I really appreciate the insight. This is exactly the quality of responses I was hoping for by joining this association.

I hope this is in the right category... I'd like to ask your advice on how we should handle a situation that just happened to us. Someone broke into our dessert bakery and stole our recipe book. Now, we have the recipes on backup, and so we won't lose them, but we are in a pretty competitive market, where new dessert bakeries are popping up all over the place (Like the rest of the country I guess) We are pretty well established, have a good name and reputation, and can't help but be furious--yet a little paranoid about all of our best kept recipe secrets getting out. I know it's only a matter of time before they end up on some blogs--but I thought it'd happen by someone reverse engineering. So what should I do? Is it worth worrying about? Does recipe theft usually hurt a business? Here are some of the things we have thought of doing: 1. Launch a pre-emptive, proactive approach--perhaps contact the local media and see if they would report on it (we've been featured a few times on the news, because of our unique atmosphere) 2. Perhaps offer a reward? 3. Put a sign on our marquee saying "Our recipes are so good, someone broke in to steal them" There is the more vindictive side--which wants me to have the police bring in any previous employee who was disgruntled, and run a full investigation (we did file a police report)--but that's probably because I've watched too many detective/crime shows. Anyway, it may not seem like a big deal, but to us, the creation of our recipes is our prized position. So we feel quite angry and violated that someone would break in. How do you recommend we react? Thanks, Doug