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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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| Photo credit: Flickr, Carrie Stephens |
It’s hard to believe Christmas is just over two months away! The closeness of Christmas is why this week’s tip is a holiday idea that’s fun for kids of all ages. Host a gingerbread house making party!
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A kit a Marie's Candies includes a pre-made house crafted out
of graham crackers, a bag of icing "glue" and a bag of
assorted holiday candies. |
Create the individual kits ahead of time with graham crackers, icing and the colorful candies to decorate the houses. Then, charge a set fee and invite families and children to come make their own gingerbread house. Be sure to have plates available for them to take their creation home. RCI member, Marie’s Candies, has had great success inviting customers to decorate gingerbread houses during their annual holiday open house. You also could make it a weekly Saturday activity leading up to Christmas. The possibilities and ideas for this activity are endless!
Not up to hosting a party at your store yet, or don’t have the space? You can still create kits that customers can purchase and take home. Then, ask them to share photos of the finished products on your Facebook page. It’s a great way to stay connected to your customers!
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. Review past blog posts for quick and actionable tips to apply to your business. 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.
Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.
Tags:
Christmas
Gingerbread
Holidays
Marketing
Open House
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Did you know Free Shipping Day is Friday, December 14? This commercial holiday was introduced in 2008 as a way to extend the online shopping season, that for many e-commerce retailers starts to diminish following Cyber Monday at the end of November.
Last December, Freeshipping.com attracted 500,000 consumers looking to save on holiday gifts. If you already have an e-commerce site, participating in Free Shipping Day could help your business gain exposure and entice new consumers to discover your products.
Before jumping on the bandwagon, we highly recommend doing your research to ensure you don’t get burned by low profit margins or unexpected demand. You will find that many companies require a minimum spend (or threshold) for shoppers to qualify for free shipping, while others restrict qualifying purchases to best-selling products with the highest profit margins. Another idea may be to limit your free shipping promo code to only new or loyal customers or create your own free shipping day at a time when sales are slower, and forget signing up with Freeshipping.com until you have a better grasp on what to expect for the holiday.
If you’re looking to increase your website’s conversion rate, this is almost guaranteed to do the trick, however, it is important that you also understand this kind of promotion comes with risks, especially during the busy holiday season. RCI member, Rheo Thompson Candies, had great past success generating early Easter orders with a free shipping promotion, however, they later concluded the promotion was conditioning their customers to wait for free shipping to place their holiday orders. If this is a route you wish to explore, consider limitations to help avoid customers abusing the promotion. Perhaps limit free shipping within a certain radius of your store to reduce shipping expenses.
A free shipping promotion can be a great way to attract new customers or thank loyal customers, but as with any successful promotion it requires careful preparation and planning to ensure the result is worth the investment. To learn more and get involved, visit freeshipping.com. Here, retailers are invited to fill out a form on their website to be listed as one of the over a thousand participating businesses. Have you participated in Free Shipping Day in the past? If so, tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
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. Review past blog posts for quick and actionable tips to apply to your business. 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.
Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.
Tags:
E-Commerce
Free Shipping Day
Holidays
Marketing
Shipping
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Although Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday in Mexico, the holiday has evolved in the United States to commemorate Mexican heritage and culture. To help celebrate the world's largest producer and exporter of limes, we're sharing fun treats with a twist of this zesty citrus fruit.
Candy Margaritas
Create a cheery display of mini margarita glasses filled with candies and rimmed with colored sugar and wedges of lime-flavored gummies. Consider packaging ingredients in bulk, along with a take-home guide for Cinco de Mayo party goers/hosts to easily grab and DIY these magnificent mocktails at home.
Chocolate + Lime
Lime adds a fresh twist to the classic truffle, because the citrus helps cut through the richness of chocolate and the fresh cream used in ganache. Consider incorporating lime juice or oil into your truffle recipe or add lime zest to your chocolate bars. RCI member, Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company adds a twist of key lime to their craft chocolate bars.
Chili + Lime
Lure in your more adventurous patrons with samples of chili and lime truffles. Click here to get the recipe from Hope and Greenwood.
Have fun celebrating Cinco de Mayo with these fun treats! Share your favorite lime concoctions in the comments below.
Tags:
Cinco de Mayo
Holidays
Lime
Merchandising
Truffles
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Start preparing now for Small Business Saturday on November 25, 2017. Unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which are typically held at the big box stores, this is a day to celebrate small business and encourage holiday shoppers to visit the brick and mortar businesses that serve their local community. According to American Express, 112 million shoppers spent a reported $15.4 billion at their local small businesses on Small Business Saturday in 2016.
Tips for a Successful Small Business Saturday
Create a Special Offer
Use this day as an opportunity to reach not only your current customers, but gain some new ones. Create a special offer that involves a discount for one-day only or free samples with purchase. Make your customers feel special by going above and beyond, enticing them to keep coming back throughout the holiday season. While you want customers to visit your brick and mortar store don’t forget your e-commerce customers. Create a special offer that could be redeemed online as well.
Use the Tools Provided by American Express
Since 2010, American Express has offered free marketing materials to businesses promoting the holiday. The Shop Small® Studio offers tools and templates for small businesses to create customizable marketing materials for their retail shop, website and social media sites in less than two minutes. Visit americanexpress.com/ShopSmall to find event ideas, inspiration and signage templates available to help small businesses spread the word at no cost.
Get Social
Use all aspects of social media to engage consumers, but make it about more than just a special offer. Think of creative ways to engage with customers and friends the week leading up to Small Business Saturday. Offer a special discount for liking the Facebook page, a drawing if the store reaches a certain number of likes, or unique specials to those that check in while shopping at your store. Use Instagram to post new products or specials throughout the week. Tweet store discounts, new products and special store hours for the day.
Make it a Party
Customers will want to be a part of your Small Business Saturday event if you make it like a party. One idea is to create a countdown in your store leading up to November 25th. Offer small incentives to get customers in the door on the day of the event. Having samples, coupons and a party atmosphere will really get people excited to be a part of this shopping day.
Involve Entire Community
Involving your community is a great way for local businesses to promote each other, driving traffic to multiple stores. Many communities are taking advantage of Small Business Saturday by having their own community-wide promotion or special marketing efforts surrounding this day. Contact your CVB or Chamber of Commerce to see if your city/town has any shop local, shop small efforts to promote this day.
Make your business stand out in your community by preparing for Small Business Saturday now.
Tags:
Holidays
Marketing
Owning a Business
small business
Small Business Saturday
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Imagine trick-or-treating as a kid and coming home to find out your neighbors were passing out items from their junk drawer instead of candy (old batteries, a stray sock, an unpaid bill).
Sound a bit like your email inbox? Every once in awhile you'll come across a real "treat" among a slew of marketing emails that evoke similar feelings to the time when the neighborhood kids toilet-papered your house (delete, delete, delete...).
For retailers, creating marketing emails that delight your customers, rather than make them shriek, can be tricky...If only there was a checklist to ensure you deliver perfect emails that engage, inform and drive action from your customer base this holiday season…
Below we've highlighted expert marketing tips (no tricks) from RCI partner, Constant Contact, from their easy-to-follow Holiday Email Template Checklist. Click here to read the full article from Constant Contact.
1. Holiday header
- From Name and Email
- Subject Line
- Preheader Text
These three elements could be the difference between your email getting opened or sent straight to the trash!
2. Holly, jolly email body
- Company Logo
- Text/Images
- Call to Action
3. Festive footer
- Social Media Links
- Address/Contact Information
- Unsubscribe Option
Don’t underestimate the power of making your business easily accessible. Make sure to include your contact information, such as a link to your website and a phone number, as well as links to your social media sites.
Check your list twice to create business-driving emails that delight your customers this holiday season!
RCI Members: Constant Contact Email Marketing offers a fast, effective way to get your message out to customers and keep your organization top of mind. Start your email marketing today and receive an RCI member discount of 20% for purchasing the 6 month prepaid option or a discount of 25% for purchasing the 12 month prepaid option. Already use Constant Contact? Contact RCI to begin receiving the member discount.
Tags:
email marketing
Holidays
Owning a Business
Resources
Tools
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Plaid is not just for lumberjacks. From bold buffalo checks to traditional plaid patterns, the plaid trend is everywhere! Consider incorporating plaid into your fall and winter merchandising themes to create dynamic displays and gotta-have-it gift ideas.
If the just the sight of the word “wallpaper” makes you cringe, consider a more temporary solution to getting your plaid fix while creating a dynamic merchandising display with peel and stick wallpaper. Check out Devine Color’s buffalo plaid Peel & Stick wallpaper, available at Target. As the name suggests, it is self-adhesive and removable. It is available in a roll that covers a 27.5 square-foot area. Click here to learn more.
Aside from being their own kind of eye candy for display, a vintage or like-vintage plaid thermos could be a fun vessel for your hot chocolate mix or hot chocolate truffles.
Another idea to add some plaid to your store front, would be to snag a variety of plaid fabric, preferably flannel, to make your own garland with rustic charm. Use up your remaining scraps of fabric by tying them around your boxes, bags and containers to “dress” them for the cool weather.
By incorporating a trendy plaid look into your merchandising plan, your sure to make customers feel warm and cozy this fall and winter!
Stay connected with RCI through Facebook for more tips and inspiration dedicated to the retail candy maker. Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.
Tags:
Fall
Holidays
Merchandising
Plaid
Trends
Winter
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
Updated: Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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Create some laughter in your stores that is sure to generate impulse purchases this holiday season, with this recipe for cinnamon-flavored Candy Coal from RCI member, LorAnn Oils.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon LorAnn Cinnamon Oil or 1 teaspoon (1-dram bottle) for a hotter cinnamon flavor
1/4 teaspoon LorAnn black powder food coloring or 1-1/2 teaspoons black gel food color*
Use of a candy thermometer is recommended
DIRECTIONS
- Have all ingredients and tools assembled and within easy reach of the stove. Line a 9" x 6" loaf pan or 8" x 8" baking pan with aluminum foil allowing foil to overhang sides. Spray with non-stick cooking spray, such as PAM.
- In a 2-quart saucepan, mix together sugar, corn syrup, water and black powder food color (*if using gel color, add at step 4). Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Insert candy thermometer if using, making certain it does not touch the bottom of the pan.
- Bring mixture to a boil, without stirring. Early in the cooking process, you can "wash down" any sugar crystals that form on the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush.
- *If using gel coloring, add when syrup reaches 260º F. Do not stir. Boiling action will incorporate color into syrup.
- Continue to cook and remove from heat precisely at 300º F (temperature will continue rising), or until drops of syrup form hard, brittle threads in cold water. After boiling action has ceased, add flavor and stir. USE CAUTION WHEN ADDING FLAVORING TO AVOID RISING STEAM.
- Pour syrup into prepared pan. Do not refrigerate. Cool completely. Once candy is cooled, lift from pan and remove foil.
- Break candy into small chunks to simulate coal pieces (see tip). For best results, store candy at room temperature in an airtight container.
For an eye-catching merchandising display, consider placing a clear candy bag of coal candies into cute Mini Glavanized Metal Pails from Oriental Trading Company. Add a chalkboard sticker like the photo above or a cute kraft paper label tied with ribbon or scraps of fabric for a rustic-chic look.
Stay connected with RCI through Facebook for more tips and inspiration dedicated to the retail candy maker. Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.
Tags:
Candy Making
Holidays
Recipe
Seasonal
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Updated: Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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As of today, there are 59 days until Black Friday. For many shoppers, Black Friday is the official, un-official kick-off to the holiday shopping season! "With 82 million searches for gifts on Pinterest and pinners spending twice as much as the general public, it’s time for you to make Pinterest a priority," says business2community.com.
If you’re not familiar with Pinterest, it is a social media platform that allows users to share and save content to virtual collections called “pinboards” or “boards.” A 2016 study by the Pew Research Center found that 31% of adult internet users are on Pinterest—which ranks the platform #3 behind social media giant, Facebook (79%) and just barely behind Instagram (32%). The same study also reported “nearly half of online women use the virtual pinboard (45%), more than double the share of online men (17%) who do so.”
According to Pinterest for Business, it only takes 15 seconds to create an account. If you already have a personal account, Pinterest recommends converting it to a business account to take advantage of additional features like Pinterest Analytics and advertising. Click here for four simple steps to help you get started.
Once you’ve created your business account, consider creating a few holiday gift guides as boards to leverage Pinterest for your holiday marketing. By using existing product photos, this can be a relatively easy way to expand your reach of holiday shoppers. Don't forget to promote your gift guide on your website, social media sites, blog, in-store, etc.
Group popular products together that make great holiday gifts or create guides based on fun themes that will help shoppers find the perfect gift from your candy shop. For example, if you carry an assortment of products that feature nuts, group them together in board titled “Gift Guide for Nut Lovers.” Even better, partner with a local nut roaster or even a local grocery store by featuring some of their products and perhaps they’ll return the favor by sharing your gift guide with their social media followers.
Gift guides can also focus on various price ranges. Depending on what makes the most sense for your business (don’t forget to consider shipping expenses), consider featuring a collection of items that fall into the “Under $25” range or the $50-$100 range.
For retailers looking to increase their holiday sales, Pinterest could represent an untapped potential for your business to reach new customers. See below for additional resources available to help you make the most out of your Pinterest account. Happy Pinning!
Tags:
Holidays
Marketing
Social Media
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Updated: Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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Merchandising is an important component to increasing sales. It is a way to grab your customers’ attention, stimulate emotions and give buyers a reason to make a purchase. This fall, take advantage of a traditional Hispanic holiday and the theme of the latest Disney movie, when adding to your merchandising displays.
El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is celebrated between October 31st and November 2nd, and is similar to Halloween with its themes of death and the spirit world. Not to be morbid or scary, instead this holiday is a fun, family-based celebration of life and death, a time to honor lost relatives with flowers, favorite foods and treats, even trinkets and toys. In addition November 22, Disney releases its newest movie, Coco, which takes place in this spirit world. Coco is the story of aspiring musician Miguel and his extraordinary journey through the Land of the Dead.
For inspiration, here a few ways to incorporate Dia de los Muertos into your fall merchandising.
Decorate a display with various bright colors including paper flowers, colorful banners and painted skulls. Source: Party City
As a play on the holiday’s sugar skulls, create sweets such as painted moulded skulls, decorate caramel apples and skull pops in their likeness.
Tags:
Holidays
Idea Sharing
Merchandising
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Updated: Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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Retailers have been using mass displays as a successful visual merchandising technique for many years. According to Chron.com, “mass displays group a large quantity of merchandise together in one place to attract attention to it.” You may see this technique used in grocery stores and in other retail settings today, because it attracts attention and can be used to create a sense of urgency. If you’ve been in the business for any length of time, creating a sense of urgency is important considering many shoppers will wait until the last-minute to purchase gifts for their loved ones.
In 1960, RCI published an article written by Harry P. Cole, a sales associate for Paper Goods Company, featuring the surprising results this merchandising technique had on one of his retail clients.
Use Mass Displays
In making displays of your candy, both in the store and in your show windows, try using mass displays. Last February, one of our good roadside customers was unfortunate enough to have to go to the hospital and he was out for about five weeks starting January 15. The manager of this particular store, quite a smart, bright young lady, always wanted to make big displays of Valentine’s Day hearts. This was her opportunity. Instead of having hearts distributed all over the store in various places singly, she had large groups of them on tables. Each type was packed one on top of another with the top heart opened on a display stand to show the contents, prices and weight. Her boss was an old timer and when he came back shortly after Valentine’s Day and learned of the type of displays that were made, he started to raise the devil, but when he saw the figures he sang a different tune. The Valentine’s Day sales in that store were 20 percent over the previous year and the average in the area was only about a five percent increase.
Since making their debut shortly after Christmas, your Valentine’s Day displays may have seen shoppers come and go for a little over a month. Consider making some space for a fresh, new, attention-grabbing display, grouping your inventory of beautiful heart-shaped boxes near the front of the store or near the register. Keep in mind, the location of a mass display is important. This merchandising technique will be much more successful in a highly visible area of your retail space. If your space or inventory doesn’t allow for a mass display this Valentine’s Day, it’s not too late to incorporate one into your Easter and Mother's Day. Here's wishing you a successful Valentine's Day!
Learn more about how to build your sweet business and help us celebrate our 100th anniversary at RCI's Annual Convention & Industry Expo in Chicagoland, Illinois June 12-16, 2017. Click here if you would like us to send you an email notification when registration opens. Not a member? Learn what makes membership with RCI so sweet!
Tags:
Displays
From the Archives
Holidays
Marketing
Merchandising
Valentine's Day
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