The Best of 2024: 5 Most-Read Posts from the RCI Blog

Happy New Year’s Eve! As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back on the highlights of the year. It’s been a sweet year, and we can’t wait for more exciting events and opportunities in 2025. Be sure to check out our upcoming events at retailconfectioners.org/events to stay in the loop!

To wrap up the year, we’re sharing RCI’s most-read blog posts of 2024. If you missed them the first time—or just want to revisit some great content—you’re in for a treat! These posts are packed with useful tips and fun ideas you won’t want to miss.

Elevate Your Boxed Chocolates with a Premium Centerpiece

In this popular post, we shared a simple but impactful tip that can elevate your boxed chocolates and potentially boost your profits without adding much to your cost per box.

Game Day Sweets: 5 Football-Themed Treats for the Win

Football season isn’t just for fans—it's the perfect time for candy makers and chocolatiers to get creative! With the Super Bowl approaching, demand for football-themed sweets is on the rise. Check out this popular post for fun, inspiring ideas to make your treats a touchdown at game-day gatherings!

Try this Viral Strawberry Treat with a Twist

Think chocolate-covered strawberries can't survive the summer heat? Think again! Inspired by a viral idea from a London market, this unexpected treat could be a hit for late summer and fall events. Read this post to start planning for spring and summer months—and maybe even Valentine’s Day?!

Best of Easter: Top 5 Easter Posts

Get ready for your best Easter season yet! Check out our favorite Easter-themed blog posts, packed with creative ideas for custom baskets, over-the-top egg offerings, and tips for hosting a fun, hands-on event. Don’t miss out on this treasure trove of inspiration!

5 Secret Weapons for Selling Chocolate at Outdoor Events

As you plan for the year ahead, consider selling at outdoor events to reach hundreds or even thousands of new customers. This blog post features 5 key tips for making the most of farmers markets and festivals, helping you boost your brand and sales in 2025!

We’re excited to share more helpful tips with you in 2025! Stay tuned for more ideas and inspiration to help you make the most of the year ahead!

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's 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.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

A Christmas Eve Message for 2024: Celebrate & Reflect

Merry Christmas Eve! For many of you in the candy business, today is likely one of your busiest days of the year. Orders are flying, last-minute customers are buzzing, and the sweet hustle is in full swing. But soon, things will begin to wind down, and you’ll have a chance to catch your breath.

As the day unfolds, remember—you’ve got this! All your hard work and preparation have brought you to this moment, and you’re making the season a little sweeter for so many. Take pride in that.

When the pace finally slows, take a minute to breathe and reflect on 2024. Celebrate the wins, big and small, and acknowledge what you have accomplished. Whether it was a standout year for your business, or a year of growth through challenges, every experience has shaped you and your team.

Plan a team lunch, organize a fun family outing, or simply share a heartfelt thank-you. Get everyone involved by asking them to share their favorite memories or personal achievements from the year—it’s a great way to connect and boost morale.

So, as you finish strong today, know that you’re doing amazing work. When the day quiets down, give yourself permission to pause, reflect, and enjoy the magic of the season. Here’s to a well-earned celebration and an exciting year ahead.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's 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.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Holiday Recap Checklist: Key Questions to Ask Now

As the week before Christmas unfolds, now is a good time to plan how you'll track important details during and after the holidays. Taking note of what works and what doesn’t work can make next year’s holiday season run more smoothly.

Questions to ask as a post-holiday recap may include:

• What day of the week did the holiday fall on? This can affect shopping patterns.
• How’s the weather? Does it help or hurt sales?
• Which sales or promotions did you offer? Pay attention to what gets the best response.
• How’s your inventory? Did you have too much of some products/supplies or not enough of others?
• Was staffing adequate for each day and time leading up to the holiday? Ensure your team can handle pre-holiday surges.

Get your team involved, too. They often hear useful feedback from customers that can help you plan better for next year. These questions can be used to track and review all major holidays, including Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc. RCI Members: Login to the member site to download a comprehensive Holiday Sales Recap template within “Templates and Tools” in the Business Tool Kit, under Member Resources.

By taking the time to track and review these things now, you’ll have a clearer picture of what to adjust for the future—setting yourself up for an even better holiday season next year.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's 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.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business. 

Winter Appeal: How to Keep Your Products Relevant Beyond Christmas

 

Here’s a surprising tip for the week before Christmas: stop making Christmas-themed products and packaging. It may sound a bit crazy but hear us out! Focusing on winter-themed items instead (think snowmen, snowflakes, cozy winter scenes) can make your products more versatile and appealing beyond Christmas, lasting into the New Year.

Why This Shift Works

Holiday-specific packaging and designs can lose their appeal as soon as Christmas is over. By pivoting to a general winter theme, you make your products suitable for both holiday gifting and as thoughtful treats into January. A snowflake-covered box or a snowman-themed treat feels just as festive now as it does in the depths of winter.

Ideas for Winter-Themed Confections

Photo credit: O’Shea’s Candies

Snow-Dusted Chocolates 

A sprinkle of luster dust or powdered sugar on top adds a "snow-dusted" touch, making your chocolate confections feel both seasonal and special. We love how RCI member, O’Shea’s Candies, transforms a chocolate-covered caramel marshmallow into a “Snowball” by coating it in shredded coconut.

Photo credit: Glerup Revere Packaging

Peppermint Bark in Snowflake Packaging

Peppermint bark is a classic, and when wrapped in simple, clear packaging with red and white ribbons, it looks festive without being holiday-specific. Place them in snowflake bags or boxes to make them great gifts through the winter.

Photo Credit: Mitchell’s Fine Chocolates

Hot Cocoa
Hot cocoa is perfect for chilly days and can be packaged in boxes with cozy knit patterns or winter themes. This warm, inviting look is ideal for the season and works well as a stocking stuffer or New Year’s treat.

Photo credits: Snowman Marshmallow Pops by Bomboy’s Home Made Candy; White Chocolates Snowflakes by Abdallah Chocolates

Snowmen and Winter Shapes
Moulded chocolate snowmen or snowflakes can be festive both before and after the holidays. Package them in clear or frosted bags tied with silver or blue ribbon.

Making this small switch can help keep your products relevant longer and cater to those last-minute shoppers looking for thoughtful gifts that go beyond the holiday rush.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's 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.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.

Best of Christmas: Top Christmas Posts from the RCI Blog

This “most wonderful time of the year” is officially here! We’re sharing a holiday-inspired compilation of tips and inspiration to help make this holiday season your merriest yet! 

10 Ways to Feature Candy Canes this Christmas

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with candy canes? These classic red and white striped treats are a staple of Christmas and can be used in a variety of ways to add a festive touch to your confectionery creations. In this blog post, we share 10 creative and easy ideas for incorporating candy canes into your product mix and presentation for the holidays. Read more.

Stand Out with Instagram-Worthy Holiday Treats

How Instagram-worthy are your holiday treats? Social media, like Instagram and Facebook, have proven to be effective tools 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. Click here to snag creative ideas to transform some of your potentially existing treats (like chocolate-covered cookies and rice cereal treats) into new holiday favorites.

How to Sell More Stocking Stuffers

With gentle nudging, you can help ensure stockings (and your bottom line) overflow with sweetness this holiday season! Stockings stuffers are the ultimate impulse purchase, representing the opportunity to add a few extra dollars to in-store and online purchases. In post, we explore two key components that make for great stocking stuffers and how to increase sales with effective marketing and merchandising. Read more.

5 Quick & Easy Treats to Add to your Stocking Stuffer Display

Add extra dollars to in-store and online purchases by selling more stocking stuffers this holiday season. Above, we shared how to sell more stocking stuffers by identifying products that meet two key components. Next up, we’ve got five quick and easy ideas for products to beef up your stocking stuffer display. Read more. 

How to Make a Very Merry Christmas Truffle Tree

While truffles make for a sweet holiday gift, a stunning truffle tree is sure to make any Christmas celebration unforgettable! This post highlights steps to make your own truffle tree from an RCI member, plus inspiration for creating a very merry holiday showpiece. Read more.

We hope that these posts inspire you to get creative this holiday season and make it one to remember.

Crave more? Click here to subscribe and start receiving weekly tips, like this, delivered straight to your email inbox. RCI's 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.

Not a member? Click here to learn how RCI can help you build your sweet business.