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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2021
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A truffle tree is an eye-catching way for your customers to serve truffles to a large group, in addition to an impressive merchandising display for your retail shop. It is a big-ticket item that can add nice revenue to your store’s sales. With a little advance planning, building the tree can be relatively easy to execute. Here you will find a list of materials needed and step-by-step instructions from RCI member, Annedore's Fine Chocolates, for creating this showpiece. For ease of construction, undipped ganache balls may be stored in the freezer. Simply follow the instructions below for thawing and dipping the ganache balls and you are ready to build a tree on demand. Materials Needed - Truffles (see recipes below)
- Silicone mats
- Plastic wrap
- Foam block
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil (optional)
- Round toothpicks
- Tempered chocolate
- Foam cone
- Wrapping paper or fabric (preferably coordinating with the color of your truffles)
- Flathead pins
- Scissors
- Ribbon or tree topper (optional)
Step-By-Step Instructions Prepare truffle centers using your favorite ganache recipe. Pipe ganache onto silicone mats. Cover the mats with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 12 hours. Transfer mats to the freezer for 12 hours. Remove mats from the freezer and pop out ganache balls (Note: Ganache centers may be returned to the freezer for future use). Cover balls with plastic wrap and allow them to come to room temperature. Cover a foam block with parchment paper or aluminum foil, so it can be reused. Adhere a toothpick into each ganache ball by dipping one end of the toothpick into tempered chocolate and then inserting that end into the center of the flat side of the ganache ball. Allow toothpick to set up firmly in the ganache ball. Once the toothpick is firmly set in the ganache ball you are ready to dip each ganache ball in tempered chocolate. Dip each ball carefully and then insert tooth-picked end of the ball into the block of foam. This will allow for perfect-looking, uniform truffles to create your truffle tree. Allow chocolate to set up. Truffles may be decorated while standing in the block of foam. Before you begin to build your tree, first, wrap the foam cone completely with wrapping paper or fabric – secure with flathead pins, as needed. Beginning at the bottom of the cone, push the tooth-picked truffles into the cone working your way around the cone to create the first row. On the second row, stagger the truffles by placing them in the open spaces created by the first row. Carefully work your way up the cone row by row until the entire cone is covered in truffles. Toothpicks may need to be cut as you reach the top of the cone. Crown the top of your tree by inserting a tooth-picked truffle vertically on the top of the cone. Experiment with different tree toppers, such as a large bow or a chocolate initial or number (birthday idea). Use your imagination. Once complete, stop and admire your beautiful work…then, take a photo and post it on social media for a sneak peek of what you’ve been working on. Here’s wishing you a spectacular holiday season ahead! Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, November 3, 2020
Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2021
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Holiday gift guides are a visual and trendy way to promote your popular holiday items both online and in your retail store. According to a recent survey by Dynata for Redpoint Global, “nearly two-thirds of the 1,000 adult shoppers surveyed (62%), planned to do all their holiday shopping online.” While Deloitte predicts “e-commerce holiday retail sales to grow between 25% to 35% from November through January.” Don’t wait to promote your holiday items either. Analysts believe holiday shopping will begin well before Black Friday. A study by Coresight Research revealed, “three in 10 consumers say they expect to start their holiday shopping earlier than usual this year." Make it easy for shoppers to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list with well-thought out gift guides. Photo credit: Macy's Pick a specific category. A visually appealing gift guide will not only help put your gift items in front of consumers, it will also help them check recipients off their shopping list with suggested gift ideas. Need ideas for your hard-to-buy-for dad? Check. What about stocking stuffers or the perfect gift for the person on your list who has everything? Check and check. When it comes to creating your gift guide, imagine who your customers will be buying for, targeting specific customer segments beyond “women,” “men” and “kids.” Consider categorizing lists by interests, like a sweet and nutty trail mix for outdoor enthusiasts or a chocolate and wine pairing for the wine aficionado. Another easy idea would be to categorize items by ingredient, flavor or texture. Compile your peanut butter meltaway, peanut brittle, chocolate-covered peanuts and peanut butter fudge onto a guide labeled “Gifts for Peanut Butter Lovers.” Or do you have a collection of mint-chocolate flavored products? What about a guide for those who are “All About the Crunch,” complete with caramel corn, toffee, brittle and chocolate-covered pretzels?  Find the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast, thanks to this gift guide by BusbeeStyle. We especially like the simple grid design. The numbers and labels make it easy for customers to identify and purchase products with links for each item included in the description. 
Theo Chocolate has curated a flavor-inspired collection of gift ideas that looks both beautiful and delicious. Categories include the perfect gift ideas for lovers all things spicy, minty, salty, fruity and then some. Click here to view the full guide.
 This gift guide from Always Order Dessert is for those well-meaning shoppers looking to snag a last-minute gift that doesn’t feel like an afterthought. This bright and bold header makes it super clear to the reader that the items on this gift guide are the perfect solution for the last-minute shopper.Consider categorizing some items by price, since most people have a budget in mind when shopping for gifts. “While many shoppers may gravitate toward lower-priced categories, don’t shy away from a luxury list for those looking to splurge,” suggests Cathie Ericson with Square. Despite trends indicating that many shoppers will be checking their list earlier than ever this year, Coresight Research shows 1 in 10 consumers expect to procrastinate. Since these are likely the shoppers who benefit from gift guides the most, compile a “last-minute gifts” guide of popular, ready-to-gift items that can be purchased in a pinch. Try to keep your gift guides concise, highlighting three to seven items. Too many items can get lost and turn shoppers away before they’re able to make a decision, let alone a purchase. If you have more items that you’d like to highlight, make several smaller gift guides instead of one big list. Get Visual Visuals are a must when it comes to a good gift guide. Period. If you don’t have a photo for every item on your gift guide, breakout your smart phone (or ask a friend or a member of your team who has a smart phone with a good camera to help) and start snapping. For best results, we recommend photographing your products against colors that contrast to make your product pop. Decide if you’d like to layout your products as part of a more “lifestyle” look or if you plan to remove the background of your product photos and lay them out using design software (keep reading for tips on how to do this—for free—with zero design experience). If you plan to remove the background, photograph product on a solid, white sheet of paper or cardstock for milk or dark chocolate. Try a darker, solid color for the background when photographing white chocolate. Sweet tip: Canva.com is a free graphic design platform that is easy to use even if you have zero design experience. With free and paid subscriptions, Canva’s a super-easy “background remover” tool removes the background of an image in one click. By removing the background, you can easily achieve a professional look by dragging and dropping your gift items and their descriptions within the guide layout. Click here to watch Canva’s two-minute tutorial. Partner with Local Businesses  High Note Gifts of Nashville features some of their favorite local gifts in this easy-to-follow gift guide.Invite some of your favorite local businesses to be featured in your gift guide. According to a study by Google, 66% of shoppers plan to shop more at local small businesses in 2020. Coffee shops, wineries and boutiques are examples of local businesses to partner with this holiday season. Offer to include one of their signature items on your guide and ask them to share your gift guide on their own social media pages. Tagging their business in your social media posts will offer your partners greater brand exposure and encourage them to return the favor. Seal the Deal Before tying your gift guide(s) with a bow, make sure it is clear how to purchase the items listed. This may include a web address and phone number or a direct link to your website or Facebook Shop. For shoppers seeking unique, local gifts to share this holiday season, a fun holiday gift guide is sure to pique their interest. We think you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to create a professional-looking guide highlighting your products. Cheers to a sweet holiday season ahead! Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Follow us on Facebook for even more sweet inspiration.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2021
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How Instagram-worthy are your holiday treats?
Sure, they taste delicious, but how would a potential new customer know if they’ve never tasted your confections? No surprise, social media, like Instagram and Facebook, can be an effective tool for reaching consumers, however if A.) you’re not sharing photos of your products on your social media sites daily or B.) they don’t stand out from other holiday gifts, you could be missing out on a massive opportunity to gain new customers this season.
A study by Forbes has shown that 78% of consumers’ purchases are impacted by companies’ social media posts. So, if you’re looking for a boost in sales, consider transforming these classic confectionery treats into holiday showstoppers to help your business standout this season.
Rice Cereal Treats
Cookie cutters aren't just for cookies. They also make a great tool for creating fun seasonal chocolate-covered rice cereal treats. Make the most out of your collection of cookie cutters, by repurposing common shapes to create new and unique designs. After realizing that their gingerbread man treats weren’t selling as well as other designs, Bomboy’s Home Made Candy gave the tired cookie cutter new life by turning it upside down and transforming it into Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This little reindeer proved to be a hit!
Make fall and summer designs last into the holidays! If you have cookie cutters shaped like a ghost or even an ice cream cone, just flip them upside down to transform the shapes into cute elves. Did you know a pumpkin cookie cutter can be repurposed to make a jolly Mrs. Claus?
Caramel Apples
Traditionally a fall treat, a little creativity can help transform caramel apples into a festive holiday gift. For inspiration, mimic Santa’s jolly belly by adding his signature black belt and big gold buckle around a red caramel apple coated in red sprinkles or luster dust. Bring Frosty the Snowman to life by adding a jumbo marshmallow to the top of a caramel apple before dipping them both in white chocolate. A few chocolate chip “buttons" and a red licorice scarf will help tie it all together. Lastly, add candy eyes, a red nose and antlers, of course, to create everyone’s favorite reindeer out of a classic chocolate-covered caramel apple. There’s lots of ideas online for creating Rudolph’s antlers—from the easiest to the most realistic, you may want to try pipe cleaners, pretzel twists or sugar cookies for your antlers.
Need help perfecting your caramel apples? Check out these past blog posts for tips on making caramel stick to apples or learn why you should flip your caramel apples upside down.
Marshmallows
Jumbo marshmallows make a quick and easy canvas for creating holiday magic. Put three jumbo marshmallows on a stick, coat them in white chocolate and decorate to make marshmallow snowmen pops that are too sweet to pass up. Click here to watch a tutorial by Two Sisters Crafting. All you need to make adorable gingerbread marshmallow pops are, your choice of caramel-coated marshmallows or marshmallows covered in peanut butter confectioner’s coating, some piped white chocolate and tiny sugar decorations.
Sandwich Cookies
If you don’t think of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer when looking at your favorite sandwich cookies, changing your perspective may increase your holiday sales. When RCI member Vande Walle’s Candies coated Nutter Butter sandwich cookies in chocolate and embellished them with a pair of candy eyes, pretzel twist antlers and a bright red nose, these cute reindeer treats reportedly “flew out the door,” they were so popular with their customers! For another spin on this idea, try substituting the Nutter Butter cookies with Oreo cookies on a stick.
More than ever, consumers are looking to social media for unique and memorable gift ideas this holiday season. Posting photos of your festive holiday treats on social media regularly will help your company capture the attention of consumers while they’re making their shopping list this season.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2021
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Although this is not a new concept, interest in "hot chocolate bombs" has skyrocketed since the beginning of October—in fact, it is now considered a breakout trend according to Google Trends. In case you’re wondering what this means, if Google Trends identifies a topic as “breakout” it means there has been a tremendous increase in searches using a specific topic or keyword.
Watch this viral social media video demonstrating a hot chocolate bomb from Wisconsin-based bakery, Sweets by Jen.
Elevate your hot chocolate experience with this season’s breakout trend, hot chocolate bombs. Essentially a chocolate sphere, when placed in a mug and drenched with warm milk, the hot chocolate bomb melts away to reveal hot cocoa mix and other sweet treats inside, like mini marshmallows.
Sweet Tip:
We believe the marshmallows are the key ingredient to create an almost magical effect. As the chocolate sphere melts and opens up, the marshmallows pop out and rise to the top of the hot chocolate.
How to Make Hot Chocolate Bombs
Take a sphere mould and make a hollow chocolate shell. Once the chocolate shell has set, it’s time to fill it. A popular option is to fill the shell mould with generous portions of hot cocoa mix and mini marshmallows. Other ideas may include crushed peppermints, chocolate chips, toffee bits, mint chocolate pieces or even holiday sprinkles. Seal the two pieces of the mould together and decorate with a drizzle of dark chocolate or white chocolate swirls, topped with more sprinkles, crushed peppermints or whatever your heart desires.
RCI member tip: Vande Walle’s Candies uses a golf ball mould and rolls the finished product in white chocolate.
Don’t Have A Sphere Chocolate Mould? Don't Sweat!
If you don’t have a sphere mould consider using a round truffle mould and filling it with hot chocolate mix and a mini marshmallow or two. Since they’re smaller than the typical hot chocolate bombs, package multiples together and instruct users to use two or three "truffles" to make one cup of hot chocolate. You may not get the same effect as the large spheres pop open, but you’ll have the benefit of being able to use your existing truffle packaging.
RCI member, Bruce’s Candy Kitchen put a witchy spin on this concept by dropping a mini marshmallow cluster into a mini muffin tin and topping it with Sixlets® candies and sprinkles to represent bubbling witch’s brew. After the mixture sets up, they insert the cluster into a plastic cauldron. These frighteningly cute cauldrons are sold as part of their Halloween Hot Chocolate Kits, complete with hot chocolate mix, extra sprinkles, candy corn and a chocolate-covered Oreo®.
RCI member, Nothing But Chocolate
fills a large hollow pumpkin mould with pumpkin spice hot chocolate mix for two or more servings. Consumers are directed to heat milk on the stovetop and drop the entire pumpkin into the simmering milk. For Christmas, Nothing But Chocolate
uses an ornament mould to replicate the concept.
How to Package Hot Chocolate Bombs
As with any confection, your packaging can really set the tone of the presentation. For shoppers who aren’t familiar with hot chocolate bombs (yet
), we recommend utilizing packaging that allows shoppers to see the product, as well as instructions on how to use it.
Cello Bag with Ribbon
A clear cello bag is a classic and simple packaging solution, tie it with a colorful ribbon and cute name tag with instructions to create a festive and eye-catching look.
Acetate Tube
This clear acetate tube creates a sleek and modern look that would fit nicely in a Christmas stocking. Packaged as a set of three, it allows you to upsell the product and offer a “variety pack” with three different flavors.
Acetate Cube
This chocolatier uses a clear acetate cube to package their hot chocolate bomb. A metallic gold sticker describes the product as “exploding with mini marshmallows and chocolate hearts.”
Colorful Foil
If you want to highlight a variety of flavors and fillings, consider wrapping your hot chocolate bombs in colorful foil. Not only does this make for a colorful and festive look, it is easy and encourages consumers to try different flavors.
Short on time or staff? Wholesale Hot Chocolate Bombs!
While we are loving this fun holiday trend, we understand that COVID-19 has presented many candy makers with restrictions that make it challenging to develop a trendy, new product for the busy holiday season.
If you love the idea of selling hot chocolate bombs, but you don’t love the idea of making them yourself, consider wholesaling “Hot Chocolate Balls” from RCI member ChocolatesU. More like a solid hot chocolate truffle, instead of a hollow chocolate shell, their Hot Chocolate Balls are made with "the best quality couverture chocolate, cocoa powder and honey," delivering a rich, more chocolatey cup of hot chocolate. Hot Chocolate Balls are available in six flavors, as well as several limited-edition flavors for the holiday season. Click here to learn more.
Cheers to hot chocolate season! We hope this has inspired you to create your own sweet version of hot chocolate bombs and meet the growing demand for this trendy product.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2021
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Halloween is expected to look a little different for many communities in 2020. Families may be looking for different ways to treat their kids and close friends this year.
If you already make chocolate-covered pretzels, truffles or marshmallow pops, the following ideas will require very little, if any, additional ingredients and minimal effort. Keep reading for
five quick and easy tricks to dress up your existing treats for Halloween.
Credit (left to right):RCI member Apple Tree Chocolate and Desserts Now Dinner Later
Ghostly Pretzels
Your fans will scream with delight over these ghostly pretzels. To accomplish this look, cover bowtie pretzels with white chocolate, then pipe white chocolate into top two holes and embellish with candy eyeballs.
Credit: The Suburban Soapbox
Truffle Eyeballs
Transform your white chocolate truffles into eye-catching treats. Use a red edible marker to create veins all over the white truffle. Pipe a dot of colored chocolate or coating for the iris and top with a black M&M or other candy-coated chocolate as the pupil.
Witchy Fingers
It’s the details that transform ordinary pretzel rods into shockingly convincing witch’s fingers. As pictured, blanched almonds were painted with black gel food coloring to achieve this look (dark-chocolate-covered almonds would work too). A toothpick or wooden skewer may be used to imitate the wrinkles of the top and bottom knuckle. Click here to view a step-by-step tutorial.
Credit: Garnish & Glaze
Pumpkin Pretzels
If you’re looking for something less spooky, these cute pumpkin pretzels are as easy as they are cute. Embellish orange coated pretzels with sprinkles and a green M&M or candy-coated sunflower seed as the finishing touch. Click here to see how Simply As That blog, gave their pumpkin pretzels personality by adding faces.
Spooky Sweet Marshmallow Pops
With this spooky sweet display of chocolate-covered marshmallow pops decorated as jack-o-lanterns, googly candy corn and skeletons from RCI member Bruce’s Candy Kitchen, how could you choose just one? Plus, we love how these marshmallow pops are packaged in folded acetate boxes and tied up with festive ribbons.
Even if Halloween hasn’t traditionally been a big holiday for your business, this year may be the exception. Make sure to share photos of your Halloween treats on social media and on your e-commerce site for greater exposure and sales potential.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Updated: Thursday, January 21, 2021
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There’s little doubt this fall season is going to look very different for many families and individuals. Thanks to COVID-19, many of our favorite traditional fall events will be canceled or, if not, done very differently. Here’s five ideas from RCI members for generating sales by creating memorable experiences for families this fall. Candy-Making Classes: Two Ways Hosting virtual candy-making classes is a great way to engage with consumers. RCI member, Yelibelly Chocolates, has developed a series of at-home candy-making classes which can be experienced as a prerecorded video or live Zoom call. Further direction can be shared with customers after purchasing a supply kit containing the needed ingredients and supplies. Known for their in-person candy-making classes for kids, RCI member, PeterbrookeChocolatier, has been able to continue in-person classes by offering small groups of families and/or close friends to take private classes together after local mandates allowed. This approach limits potential exposure to participants by individuals outside their inner circle and creates a more comfortable environment for local patrons to do something fun outside their homes. Socially Distant Outdoor Events Is your annual fall festival cancelled this year? Use your creativity to dream up a socially distant outdoor event to generate foot traffic at your store. RCI member Mister Ed’s Elephant Museum & Candy Emporium plans to host their annual outdoor pumpkin painting party (albeit practicing social distancing) and treat kids dressed in their Halloween costumes with a complimentary goodie bag. Another idea could include hosting a family movie night in the parking lot by hanging a white sheet on the side of your building and setting up a projector. RCI member, MarshmallowMBA plans to partner with local churches to gain exposure during Trunk-or-Treat events in their community. DIY Take-Home Kits Make it easy for shoppers to create special memories for their families. RCI member Stever’s Candies had success over the summer by selling s’mores and ice cream sundae take-home kits, each packed with all the sweet ingredients needed and bundled together for a quick, grab-and-go treat or an easy, yet thoughtful, gift. Themed Virtual Tastings Hosting a virtual chocolate tasting may be just the ticket for safely connecting with chocolate lovers near and far. Incorporating themes will make the experience more memorable and potentially lead to customers ordering multiple tastings. RCI member, Blommer Chocolate Company, suggests themes that hypothetically whisk participants away to a virtual vacation destination or even highlight your home base. Check out this video from Blommer Chocolate's Rose Potts for more inspiration on creating a successful virtual chocolate tasting. For a more local vibe, source local fall produce to highlight as part of your virtual tasting. We think this recipe for apple cider caramels from King Arthur Baking Company would be the perfect addition to a fall harvest themed tasting. Virtual Factory Tour Pique the curiosities of children and parents alike by sharing virtual tours of your candy kitchen. After closing their factory to tours, RCI member SnowflakeChocolates has posted a virtual tour of their facility on social media as well as behind-the-scenes videos of how they make chocolate-covered Oreos and maple fudge. After seeing all the yummy confections in the making, invite followers to get it fresh by placing orders online or in-store. After a popular children’s YouTube sensation toured their facility, RCI member Boehm’sCandies created an Eat-Along Kit including the confections featured in the tour. If you’re looking to take your virtual tour to the next level, feature your signature confections in the video tour and sell them as a bundle for consumers to purchase and enjoy while they watch your virtual tour. Businesses that thrive this fall will be the ones that are intentional about creating a safe and comfortable environment for consumers and their families to not only enjoy their products, but create memorable experiences their patrons won’t soon forget. Here's wishing you a sweet and successful fall season! Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
Updated: Thursday, July 30, 2020
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Here's some fun ideas for the Fourth of July! Transform your favorite sweets into your festive treats by adding a whole lot of red, white and ooooh! Patriotic Pretzels This sweet and salty treat will be hard to pass up with the addition of colored confectioners coating and sprinkles to resemble the American flag. Pop Rocks® Popcorn Offer a package of Pop Rocks® as an add-on to your festive white chocolate coated popcorn (or really add popcorn treat) for a little unexpected fun this Fourth of July. Click here to read our past blog post with more inspiration, plus a helpful tip for working with Pop Rocks® in confections. Freedom Bark Swirls of red, white and blue are a beautiful sight and make for a sweetly patriotic treat. Consider adding dried blueberries, cherries, cranberries or coconut for added flavor and texture while staying true to the color scheme. Fourth of July Tie-Dye Fudge Transform classic white chocolate fudge into a summer holiday hero! Consider a mash-up of blueberry and strawberry flavors to give it a fresh mixed berry vibe! This Fourth of July will certainly be one to remember! We hope this offers some inspiration for your holiday celebration. Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices. Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Updated: Tuesday, May 5, 2020
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Welcome the arrival of spring by celebrating the sweet traditions of May Day! May 1 has been long recognized by cultures around the world, marking the return of spring and symbolized by bright colors and fresh flowers.
3 Sweet Ways to Celebrate May Day
May Day Baskets
During the 19th and 20th centuries, May Day baskets were made of paper and filled with flowers, candies and other treats to be hung on the doors of friends, neighbors and loved ones on May first. The tradition was to knock on the door, shout “May basket,” and then run (nationaltoday.com)—while we are still practicing social distancing, we can't think of a better way to connect with loved ones and friends.
May Day is a great opportunity to encourage customers to creatively gift your confections. Below is inspiration to create your own sweet May Day baskets. Click here to download a cute, printable May Day Basket template. The blog, Skip to My Lou, has shared loads of simple ideas for making your own May Day baskets.
Candy Bouquets
May Day is often represented by bouquets of fresh flowers, but with a few supplies you could make paper flowers featuring your confections. If you have individually wrapped candies, like foil-wrapped truffles or caramels or taffy wrapped in wax paper, put your own sweet spin on this Candy Bouquet by It’s Always Autumn. All you need is crepe paper (or tissue paper), a hot glue gun and sucker sticks.
Maypole Dance
Although the origin of the maypole is unknown, this tradition is thought to date back to medieval times when people would dance around trees with bright ribbons as a way to welcome good crops (nationaltoday.com).
Invite your social media followers to submit fun photos or videos of their home crew doing their own Maypole dances for a chance to win free treats in return for the ensuing smiles and laughs.
This age-old tradition of celebrating the new life, nature's bounty and the sweet surprises it can bring may be just what people need to warm their hearts and put a smile on their faces.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Customers are essential to any business. Finding ways to make them feel valued is key to creating return customers and champions for your business. Below we’ve shared five easy and inexpensive customer appreciation ideas to show your customers some love today.
Choose a Customer of the Day
Use the element of surprise to delight your customers. Use your POS system or an old-school tally counter to identify your 10th customer and surprise them with one of your signature products for free or a discount on their purchase. Post a photo of the lucky winner on social media to drive in-store traffic. Let customers know they’re just as appreciated during busy holidays as they are on a random Tuesday.
Think of the kids
Being part of an industry that relies heavily on gifting holidays, consider ways to cater to shoppers with kids. By simply creating a space for kids to color and enjoy a snack, parents will be able to shop more privately for Christmas/Valentine’s Day/Easter gifts in peace. Share photos of the space on social media with details on what parents can expect and watch as grateful parents thank you with their business.
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Bon Bon's Candy Housecreated this space for kids to color and enjoy snacks
while grateful parents shopped for their Easter gifts in peace. |
Send a handwritten thank you card
It may be old school, but a thoughtful handwritten note is one of the easiest and inexpensive ways to show you care. If you have access to your customers’ mailing addresses through a loyalty program or corporate accounts, consider making it a habit each week to mail a few handwritten notes to your customers. Try to make it personal or include a coupon to use on their next visit. You may be surprised how much of an impact this simple act of kindness will make.
Train your team to call customers by their first name
Calling customers by their first name makes their shopping experience personal. Train your staff to look for customers’ first names on their credit card and, then, call customers by name when thanking them for their purchase. Over time, staff are more likely to remember repeat customers and will be able to recall their names without even looking.
Say “thanks” with a video
A study by TD Banks revealed, more than 80% of customers like getting thanked in person. Since this isn’t always possible, a thank-you video from you may be the next best (and certainly memorable) option. If you request data, like customer birthdays, consider creating an email template with a video or GIF (create your own GIFs with the app, Giphy Cam) of you wishing customers a happy birthday and send it to a group of customers who all share the same birthday month. Even though it’s a template, the message will feel more personal and special with a video coming from you.
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Bufferis a social media management business that used this fun GIF
to thank customers for their business. |
You don't have to wait for Customer Appreciation Day on April 18 to celebrate your customers. That's why we've shared ideas easy enough to start incorporating into your business today or any day. How do you show your customers you care? Share in the comments below.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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How Instagram-worthy are your holiday treats?
Sure, they taste delicious, but how would a potential new customer know if they’ve never tasted your confections? No surprise, social media, like Instagram and Facebook, can be an effective tool for reaching consumers, however if A.) you’re not sharing photos of your products on your social media sites daily or B.) they don’t stand out from other holiday gifts, you could be missing out on a massive opportunity to gain new customers this season.
A study by Forbes has shown that 78% of consumers’ purchases are impacted by companies’ social media posts. So, if you’re looking for a boost in sales, consider transforming these classic confectionery treats into holiday showstoppers to help your business standout this season.
Rice Cereal Treats
Cookie cutters aren't just for cookies. They also make a great tool for creating fun seasonal chocolate-covered rice cereal treats. Make the most out of your collection of cookie cutters, by repurposing common shapes to create new and unique designs. After realizing that their gingerbread man treats weren’t selling as well as other designs, Bomboy’s Home Made Candy gave the tired cookie cutter new life by turning it upside down and transforming it into Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This little reindeer proved to be a hit!
Make fall and summer designs last into the holidays! If you have cookie cutters shaped like a ghost or even an ice cream cone, just flip them upside down to transform the shapes into cute elves. Did you know a pumpkin cookie cutter can be repurposed to make a jolly Mrs. Claus?
Caramel Apples
Traditionally a fall treat, a little creativity can help transform caramel apples into a festive holiday gift. For inspiration, mimic Santa’s jolly belly by adding his signature black belt and big gold buckle around a red caramel apple coated in red sprinkles or luster dust. Bring Frosty the Snowman to life by adding a jumbo marshmallow to the top of a caramel apple before dipping them both in white chocolate. A few chocolate chip “buttons" and a red licorice scarf will help tie it all together. Lastly, add candy eyes, a red nose and antlers, of course, to create everyone’s favorite reindeer out of a classic chocolate-covered caramel apple. There’s lots of ideas online for creating Rudolph’s antlers—from the easiest to the most realistic, you may want to try pipe cleaners, pretzel twists or sugar cookies for your antlers.
Marshmallows
Jumbo marshmallows make a quick and easy canvas for creating holiday magic. Put three jumbo marshmallows on a stick, coat them in white chocolate and decorate to make marshmallow snowmen pops that are too sweet to pass up. Click here to watch a tutorial by Two Sisters Crafting. All you need to make adorable gingerbread marshmallow pops are, your choice of caramel-coated marshmallows or marshmallows covered in peanut butter confectioner’s coating, some piped white chocolate and tiny sugar decorations.
Sandwich Cookies
If you don’t think of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer when looking at your favorite sandwich cookies, changing your perspective may increase your holiday sales. When RCI member Vande Walle’s Candies coated Nutter Butter sandwich cookies in chocolate and embellished them with a pair of candy eyes, pretzel twist antlers and a bright red nose, these cute reindeer treats reportedly “flew out the door,” they were so popular with their customers! For another spin on this idea, try substituting the Nutter Butter cookies with Oreo cookies on a stick.
More than ever, consumers are looking to social media for unique and memorable gift ideas this holiday season. Posting photos of your festive holiday treats on social media regularly will help your company capture the attention of consumers while they’re making their shopping list this season.
Crave more? If you like what you read here, look for the "Subscribe now" box on the right to enter your email address and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's Tip of the Week blog is just one of the many resources we offer to help candy makers refine their craft and build upon their business and marketing practices.
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Gingerbread
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