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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Updated: Monday, May 4, 2020
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This week’s tip is quick and will also hopefully have a quick return for you as well!
From chocolate-covered pretzels to potato chips, many of your products have crumbs that oftentimes get tossed aside as waste. Why not take those crumbs or by-products and turn them into a new product? For example, use the crumbs and coat them in chocolate and you still have the sweet and salty combo that everyone loves. Come up with a unique name and packaging for it and then you have a new product!
We’ve heard of stores that sell out of these great products that almost didn’t make it to the shelves! So go grab those pretzel crumbs before someone tosses them out!
Tags:
Candy Making
Packaging
Productivity
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Updated: Monday, May 4, 2020
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It is officially summer now and many chocolate and candy stores choose not to ship their products in warm weather. Whether it’s because the cost of shipping in heat is prohibitive for their customers or because they don’t want to risk their products melting in transit, it’s completely understandable. However, we also know that many stores continue to ship in warm weather. If you are considering shipping your product, here are a few tips we’ve learned from our members that may help protect the quality of your products:
- Choose a packing box large enough to surround the product with ice packs and bubble wrap.
- Consider using styrofoam insulated boxes.
- Place the ice packs at the bottom of the box, not on top.
- If you aren’t using non-sweating ice packs, wrap the ice packs in newspaper to absorb the moisture.
- Wrap the product package in bubble wrap to protect it.
Do you have additional tips and tricks for shipping in warm weather? Please leave a comment to share below.
Tags:
Customer Service
Merchandising
Organizing
Packaging
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Updated: Monday, May 4, 2020
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Summertime is just around the corner so we have rounded up some fun product ideas for you to incorporate in your candy store this year.
- Chocolate Flip-flops – Use colored chocolate to draw flip-flop straps on Nutter Butter cookies covered in chocolate and package with cello bags and colorful bows.
- Summertime-themed moulds – Take advantage of the hundreds of chocolate mould options available to candy makers. Incorporate items unique to your area that tourists may enjoy such as palm trees for a tropical area.
- Incorporate Seasonal Foods – Fruits and vegetables are great in the summertime. Pay a visit to your local farmer’s market to see what seasonal ingredients you can incorporate into your products.
- Seasonal Flavors – Use flavors that invoke the memories, images and feel of summer. For example, coconut flavors nearly always bring images of the beach to mind so you could create a coconut-themed item and even have fun with the merchandising to have a beach theme.
If you have more ideas, please share them with each other by leaving a comment. If you are you looking for a supplier of seasonal items, RCI members can use the RCI Buyer's Guide to find supplier members who provide just what you need!
Tags:
Annual Convention
Candy Making
Marketing
Merchandising
Packaging
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Updated: Monday, May 4, 2020
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We’re busy planning and preparing for our upcoming Annual Convention and Industry Expo in San Francisco, June 11 through 15. This week’s tip is to join us there!
What can you expect at an RCI Annual Convention?
Industry Tradeshow – Meet face to face with confectionery industry suppliers and learn about the new and innovative products on the market. The tradeshow is FREE to confectionery industry professionals so print your free tradeshow ticket (insert link) and make plans to join us!
Networking – Connect with others in the industry throughout the week through a variety of networking opportunities. New this year, we have an evening set aside just for the next generation of industry leaders.
Education – We are excited to have education session topics including packaging, natural products, HACCP planning plus more. Additionally, we have a great idea-sharing session for RCI members called Candy Clinic and a question and answer session with a panel of industry experts.
Behind-the-scenes Tours – The last two days of the convention are filled with tours of area candy stores and suppliers. You’ll want to have a notebook in had because the ideas you can take back to your stores are endless.
Tags:
Annual Convention
Candy Making
GMP's
Packaging
Productivity
Technology
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Updated: Monday, May 4, 2020
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The subject of packaging could easily cover multiple blog posts so we are just focusing on one of the many important factors to consider today.
Did you know that the inks in your packaging as well as the type of packaging (cello, cardboard, etc.) you choose could affect the taste of your chocolates and candy? You may have a delicious chocolate treat and then put it in a beautiful package but after it has been in the package for a short time, it may begin to take on the taste of the cardboard, for example. That means your customers may not be tasting the true flavor of your confections.
So, how does one go about determining if your confections taste different because of packaging? A taste test, of course.
Sample your products before packaging them and then test different packaging methods. Keep your confections in the package for as long as they would normally be on the shelf and then at the end of that period begin your taste test. Be sure that you have a ‘control’ confection so that you first taste what your product should taste like and then taste the ones that have been in the packaging. Do they taste the same? If not, there are many variables to consider but one of them should be to talk with your packaging supplier about options. You want the beauty of your packaging to match the wonderful taste of what’s inside.
Do you need new packaging ideas? As an RCI member, you can find packaging suppliers in the annual Membership Directory and Buyer’s Guide. If you’re not an RCI member, why haven’t you joined? Find more information about joining by visiting retailconfectioners.org/join.
Tags:
Candy Making
Marketing
Packaging
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