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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Do you celebrate Sweetest Day? A favorite candy holiday in the Great Lakes region (more specifically Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit), it originated in 1922 when Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland candy maker, decided to give candy and small gifts to the city’s orphans and shut-ins, all who are often forgotten and neglected. With the help of friends and neighbors, he distributed these small remembrances on a Saturday in October. For years to follow, other Clevelanders began to participate in the tradition, which came to be known as "Sweetest Day.”
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Al Herz, RCI Board President, treats local orphans with
chocolates and entertainment from
the Little Rascals on Sweetest Day in 1928. |
In time, the idea of spreading cheer to the underprivileged broadened to include everyone from family and significant others to coworkers and acquaintances with a kind act or a small remembrance. With a little help from movie stars in the 1930s, the idea quickly spread to other cities all over the country.
For many people, remembering takes the form of gift giving. For this reason, Sweetest Day offers a unique opportunity to offer all kinds of gift items. Falling midway between Father's Day in June and Christmas in December, Sweetest Day provides an occasion for the opening of fall merchandising programs and the promotion of various products, not the least of which is candy and boxed chocolate.
Although Sweetest Day does present commercial opportunity, it is also a great opportunity to set aside time to show members of your community that you care. Consider organizing a group volunteer opportunity for your team, such as serving meals at a local shelter or visiting with the elderly at a senior living facility. Not only are these great opportunities to serve your community, they can help to foster a positive company culture.
Other Ideas to Promote Sweetest Day
- Remind your customers of Sweetest Day through social media, email and in-store signage. Click here to download our free graphic.
- Send press releases about Sweetest Day to your local media and let them know of ways your business can help customers celebrate. Click here for more information about the holiday on RCI’s website.
- Be prepared to explain Sweetest Day and to make suggestions regarding appropriate gifts, keeping in mind that the possibilities are limitless.
- Create a prominent display of merchandise for Sweetest Day.
Gaining in popularity throughout the country every year, some RCI members have reported sales from Sweetest Day exceeding Mother’s Day. This year, Sweetest Day will take place October 19, the third Saturday in October.
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.
Tags:
Holidays
Marketing
Sweetest Day
Volunteer
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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Do you celebrate Sweetest Day at your candy shop? A favorite candy holiday in the Great Lakes region (more specifically Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit), it originated in 1922 when Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveand candy maker, decided to give candy and small gifts to the city’s orphans and shut-ins, all who are often forgotten and neglected. With the help of friends and neighbors, he distributed these small remembrances on a Saturday in October. For years to follow, other Clevelanders began to participate in the tradition, which came to be known as "Sweetest Day.”
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Al Herz, 1929 RCI Board President, treats local
orphans in with chocolates and entertainment from
theLittle Rascals on Sweetest Day in 1928. |
In time, the idea of spreading cheer to the underprivileged broadened to include everyone from family and significant others to coworkers and acquaintances with a kind act or a small remembrance. With a little help from movie stars in the 1930s, the idea quickly spread to other cities all over the country.
For many people, remembering takes the form of gift giving. For this reason, Sweetest Day offers an unique opportunity to offer all kinds of gift items. Falling midway between Father's Day in June and Christmas in December, Sweetest Day provides an occasion for the opening of fall merchandising programs and the promotion of various products, not the least of which is candy and boxed chocolate.
Other Ideas to Promote Sweetest Day
- Remind your customers of Sweetest Day through social media, email and in-store signage. Click here to download our free graphic.
- Send press releases about Sweetest Day to your local media and let them know of ways your business can help customers celebrate. Click here for more information about the holiday on RCI’s website.
- Be prepared to explain Sweetest Day and to make suggestions regarding appropriate gifts, keeping in mind that the possibilities are limitless.
- Create a prominent display of merchandise for Sweetest Day.
Gaining in popularity throughout the country every year, some RCI members have reported sales from Sweetest Day exceeding Mothers Day. This year, Sweetest Day will take place October 20, the third Saturday in October.
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:
Candy Holidays
Free Graphics
Marketing
Sweetest Day
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Updated: Monday, April 27, 2020
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| Photo credit: Cristopher Rodriguez (left), Patrick Doheny (right), Flickr |
This year, Sweetest Day will take place October 21, the third Saturday in October. While the holiday is more significant for candy makers in the Great Lakes region (Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit being the biggest Sweetest Day cities), the holiday is gaining in popularity throughout the country every year. Some RCI members even report sales from Sweetest Day exceeding Mothers Day.
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Al Herz, RCI Board President 1929-1930, poses with the Little
Rascals as they treat orphans in his local community with boxes
of chocolates and entertainment on Sweetest Day in 1928. |
The history dates back to 1922 when Herbert Birch Kingston, a candy maker from Cleveland, decided to give candy and small gifts to the city’s orphans and shut-ins, all who are often forgotten and neglected. With the help of friends and neighbors, he distributed these small remembrances on a Saturday in October. For years to follow, other Clevelanders began to participate in the tradition, which came to be known as "Sweetest Day.”
In time, the idea of spreading cheer to the underprivileged broadened to include everyone from family and significant others to coworkers and acquaintances with a kind act or a small remembrance. With a little help from movie stars in the 1930s, the idea quickly spread to other cities all over the country.
Sweetest Day is not based on any single group’s religious sentiment or on a family relationship. It is a reminder that a thoughtful word or deed enriches life and gives it meaning.
For many people, remembering takes the form of gift-giving. For this reason, Sweetest Day offers an unique opportunity to offer all kinds of gift items. Falling midway between Father's Day in June and Christmas in December, Sweetest Day provides an occasion for the opening of fall merchandising programs and the promotion of various products, not the least of which is candy and boxed chocolate.
Other Ideas to Promote Sweetest Day
- Remind your customer of Sweetest Day through social media, email and in-store signage.
- Send press releases about Sweetest Day to your local media and let them know of ways your business can help customers celebrate.
- Be prepared to explain Sweetest Day and to make suggestions regarding appropriate gifts, keeping in mind that the possibilities are limitless.
- Create a prominent display of merchandise for Sweetest Day.
Tags:
Candy Holidays
Marketing
Press Release
Public Relations
Sweetest Day
Permalink
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Posted By RCI,
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Updated: Wednesday, April 29, 2020
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| Photo credit: (from left to right) Cristopher Rodriguez, Alex Yosifov, Patrick Doheny, Flickr |
Sweetest Day takes place on the third Saturday in October. While the holiday is more significant for candy makers in the Great Lakes region (Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit being the biggest Sweetest Day cities), the holiday is gaining in popularity throughout the country every year. Some RCI members even report sales from Sweetest Day exceeding Mothers Day!
The history dates back to 1922 when Herbert Birch Kingston, a candy maker from Cleveland, decided to give candy and small gifts to the city’s orphans and people confined to their homes, all who are often forgotten and neglected. With the help of his friends and neighbors, he distributed these small remembrances on a Saturday in October. For years to follow, other Clevelanders began to participate in the tradition, which came to be known as "Sweetest Day.”
In time, the idea of spreading cheer to the underprivileged broadened to include everyone from family and significant others to coworkers and acquaintances with a kind act or a small remembrance. With a little help from movie stars in the 1930s, the idea quickly spread to other cities all over the country.
Sweetest Day is not based on any single group’s religious sentiment or on a family relationship. It is a reminder that a thoughtful word or deed enriches life and gives it meaning.
For many people, remembering takes the form of gift-giving. For this reason, Sweetest Day offers an unique opportunity to offer all kinds of gift items. Falling midway between Father's Day in June and Christmas in December, Sweetest Day provides an occasion for the opening of fall merchandising programs and the promotion of various products, not the least of which is candy and boxed chocolate.
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Bon Bon Bon of Hamtramck, Michigan to build
World's Longest Boxof Chocolates for Sweetest Day. |
Bon Bon Bon of Hamtramck, Michigan created buzz by announcing plans to build the World’s Longest Box of Chocolate in celebration of Sweetest Day. Click here to read article covered by MLive Media Group.
Other Ideas to Promote Sweetest Day
- Remind customers when talking with them of the coming of Sweetest Day.
- Let your local newspaper know about Sweetest Day and what preparations your business has made to help customers celebrate it.
- Be prepared to explain Sweetest Day and to make suggestions regarding appropriate gifts, keeping in mind that the possibilities are limitless.
- Create a prominent display of merchandise for Sweetest Day.
Tags:
gifts
Holidays
Sweetest Day
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