When is the last time you invested
in your education? As an owner of a business it is easy to ignore learning
opportunities and get lost in the details as you scramble to complete daily
tasks before the sun sets. It is easy to make the budget decision not to invest
in education, because something else is more important or pressing. Despite
these beliefs, many would argue education is the best investment you can
make in yourself, your team and your business.
Education comes in all
different formats; print, online resources and webinars, seminars and
workshops, certifications and courses and even in-person meetings such as trade
shows or local networking events. You can purchase a new book on candy making (here’s
a few of our favorites) or subscribe to industry-related
publications like Candy Industry and Manufacturing
Confectioner. You don’t have to read everything, but pick
content that you find useful and relevant to your business.
In case you’re not already
familiar, education is deeply rooted in Retail Confectioners International’s
(RCI) mission, which is to advance the confectionery industry by offering
members the knowledge to build sweet businesses from entrepreneurial passion. For
over 100 years, RCI has developed a reputation as a valuable resource for small
business owners both established and new to the industry. Through our member-exclusive
publication, Kettle Talk, web
resources, regional conferences, annual convention and expo, as well as
education courses, we give confectioners the opportunity to take time out and
focus on their knowledge of the industry and learn from others. With that said,
we’re thrilled to share our month-by-month lineup of 2019 events, each designed
to help you expand your knowledge to build an even sweeter business.
JANUARY:
WINTER GETAWAY
RCI will kick off the new year
by hosting a sold-out group of confectioners in Costa Rica for our Winter
Getaway in January. Attendees will have the opportunity to unwind from the
hectic holiday season while gaining valuable insight of their craft while
exploring the origin or chocolate at local cacao plantations on this
unforgettable trip. This event is
currently sold out.
FEBRUARY:
TRUFFLES+MORE
Following Valentine’s Day,
candy makers are invited to attend RCI’s Truffles+More education course at
Savage Bros. Co. in Elk Grove Village, Illinois (near Chicago). Join us to
learn various formulations and trouble-shooting techniques for truffles,
meltaways and nut pastes. In addition to classroom-style learning, gain
hands-on experience in the kitchen making variations of these popular
confections. Space is very limited, so register now at retailconfectioners.org/truffles.
If you’re looking to elevate your candy making skills (or those of your staff),
this is the course for you!
JUNE:
ANNUAL CONVENTION & INDUSTRY EXPO
RCI’s Annual Convention &
Industry Expo is our premier event of the year! If you’ve never attended an RCI
event or if you haven’t been recently, our annual convention is like a mixtape
of RCI’s greatest hits all in one! Connect with fellow candy makers,
chocolatiers and suppliers looking to share ideas and grow their businesses at
the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Connecticut June 3-7. See, touch
and (in many cases) taste the latest and greatest equipment, ingredients,
packaging and services (and more!) our trusted network of industry suppliers
has to offer at our two-day expo. If it’s education your seeking, you can
expect relevant sessions on topics covering production, marketing and business,
all designed for the retail confectioner. RCI will conclude the week with
behind-the-scenes tours of local candy businesses, which takes education to the
next level. Look for more event details to come after the start of the new
year. Click here
to receive notification when registration opens.
AUGUST:
CHOCOLATE BOOT CAMP & FALL REGIONAL CONFERENCE
The ever-popular Chocolate
Boot Camp® course, which typically takes place in February, will now
be available during the summer. Make your way to Wockenfuss Candies, in
Baltimore, Maryland on August 5-8 for this brief yet, comprehensive, hands-on
course taught by industry experts. Sold out for the last eight years, the
course will give twenty-five students an opportunity to gain knowledge they can
take back to their businesses. This course is great for both veterans and
newcomers alike.
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RCI is headed to Music City
for its Fall Regional Conference in Nashville, Tennessee August 19-21. Here you
can find a great mix of education and connection opportunities, combined with
fun, local flair that can only be found in Nashville! Experience the sweet side
of Nashville by touring local candy businesses, like The Goo Goo Shop, home of
the iconic Goo Goo Clusters. Visit retailconfectioners.org/events
for updates on all RCI’s upcoming event updates.
Don’t skip another year
without investing in yourself and your business. Take advantage of the many
industry-related events; attend a conference, send an employee to one of the
upcoming RCI education courses, join RCI in Hartford or Nashville and connect with
fellow candy makers. Focus on learning this year and watch your business
benefit as a result. We hope to see you in 2019!