5 Sweet Ideas to Boost Sales for St. Patrick’s Day

 

St. Patrick’s Day is a golden opportunity for candy businesses to attract customers with fun, festive treats. Here’s five creative ideas that are sure to bring a little luck (and extra sales) your way!

Photo credit: Bruce’s Candy Kitchen

Snackle Box – A Treasure Chest of Treats

Turn a compartment-style container into a festive "Snackle Box" filled with green, gold and rainbow-themed goodies. Think chocolate coins, rainbow licorice, green gummy bears and green foil-wrapped chocolates. Add a St. Patrick’s Day tag and ribbon for an extra special touch. This is a great grab-and-go item for families looking to treat their little leprechauns!

Photo credit: Rosalind Candy Castle

Chocolate Shot Glasses – A Toast to the Irish

Make St. Patrick’s Day celebrations extra sweet with edible chocolate shot glasses! Decorate the rims with green and gold sprinkles to mark the occasion. Customers can fill them with Irish cream or a non-alcoholic dessert drink. These make for a fun and delicious party addition.

Photo credit: Fazio’s Chocolate

St. Patty’s Chocolates – A Touch of Irish Magic

A themed chocolate collection is a must for St. Patrick’s Day. Take inspiration from RCI member Fazio’s Chocolates with flavors like:

• Luck of the Irish: White chocolate filled with Irish cream ganache.
• Leprechaun’s Lime: A creamy lime ganache center.
• Hearts of Gold: Butter rum-filled milk chocolate with a shimmering gold exterior.

With creative names and unique flavors, these chocolates will have customers coming back for more!

Be sure to check your local liquor laws before selling alcohol-infused products!

Photo credit: BruCrew Life

Lucky Popcorn Mix – A Colorful, Crunchy Delight

This simple yet festive treat is easy to make and hard to resist! Mix popcorn with Lucky Charms™ marshmallows, pastel chocolate candies, mini pretzels and festive sprinkles. Package it in clear bags or decorative cups for a cheerful, ready-to-sell snack. Perfect for parties or a fun family celebration!

Photo credit: Sweet Ali CustomConfections

Candy Cones – A Pot of Gold in Every Bite

Create an edible pot-of-gold by filling waffle cones with an assortment of chocolate-covered treats made festive with drizzles of green chocolate and plenty of sprinkles. Wrap them in cellophane with a ribbon and label for a charming, gift-worthy presentation.

Get Ready to Go Green!

By incorporating these fun and festive ideas, you’ll not only boost sales but also create an exciting St. Patrick’s Day experience for your customers. So, start prepping your treats and get ready for a little extra luck in your sales this March! ☘️🍀

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.

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From Baskets to Bunnies: Top 5 Easter Posts from the RCI Blog

Congratulations—you made it through Valentine’s Day! We hope you’ve taken a moment to celebrate before diving into Easter preparations. To help make this your best Easter season yet, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite Easter-themed blog posts, packed with creative ideas and practical tips.

A Simple Solution for Custom Easter Baskets

Shoppers love the personal touch of custom Easter baskets, but for retailers, they can be time-consuming and challenging to price. Our blog post offers a simplified approach that makes the process efficient for both you and your customers. Read more to streamline your Easter basket offerings.

Creative Easter-Themed Product Names

Want to refresh your confections without changing recipes or investing in costly advertising? A simple name change can work wonders! Discover clever ways to rename existing treats with Easter themes to boost interest and sales—without altering the product itself. Read more for inspiration.

EGGS-tra Easter Egg Inspiration

Whether you love traditional chocolate Easter eggs or want to take an unconventional approach, we have creative ideas to elevate your chocolate egg offerings. Read more for inspiration on crafting unique Easter egg treats that stand out.

How to Create a Faux Chocolate Bunny Display

Looking for a stunning Easter display without the mess of real chocolate? Learn how to craft a lifelike, reusable chocolate bunny (or turkey, life-size football, snowman, Santa, and more) that will wow your customers year after year. Read more for step-by-step directions.

Increase Easter Sales with a Peeps® Pop Event

Hosting an “Easter Bunny Peeps® Pop Event” is a fantastic way to generate buzz, attract foot traffic, and boost sales in the lead-up to Easter. Learn how to plan and execute this fun, engaging event that will have customers hopping into your store. Read more for details.

Make this Easter season unforgettable with ideas from our collection of blog posts. Whether you're looking for ways to simplify your process, refresh your offerings, or create an egg-citing Easter event, we've got you covered!

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.

College-Themed Treats for High School Grads

As high school graduation season approaches, candy makers have an opportunity to tap into a growing trend: family and friends gifting college-themed treats to celebrate graduates' next big step. Elevate your graduation offerings with festive, school-color-inspired confections that make a statement. Here’s how you can incorporate these ideas into your product lineup.

Photo credit: Marie’s Candies

Candy Cups

Create a memorable keepsake by packaging your signature sweets in a licensed travel cup or mug. RCI member, Marie’s Candies, fills university-branded mugs with assorted chocolates. Chocolate-covered espresso beans are another idea for an energizing treat for incoming freshmen.

Photo credit: Sweet Ali Custom Confections

Gummy Candy Jars

Fill glass mason jars or reusable containers with layers of gummies, jelly beans or other colored candies in school colors. These vibrant treats can be customized with color combinations to match the college spirit. Consider mix-and-match options where parents can choose a variety of candies in their child's college hues.

Photo credit: Treats by Taryn

Chocolate-Covered Cookies

Decorate chocolate-covered sandwich cookies with colored sprinkles to match school themes. These eye-catching treats can be arranged on candy boards or boxed for gifting.

Photo credit: PopCentral Popcorn

Colored Popcorn

White chocolate popcorn drizzled with school colors adds a sweet and salty crunch to graduation celebrations. Offer variety by using flavored white chocolate—such as blueberry and lemon—to naturally achieve school color themes. School-themed popcorn can double as a fun snack for dorm rooms and tailgate parties.

Photo credit: Bruce’s Candy Kitchen

Sprinkle Letters and Candy Boards

Spell out celebratory messages like “Congrats” or the graduate’s initials using chocolate letters adorned with sprinkle mixes that match college colors. These can be packaged as stand-alone gifts or used as toppers for cakes and candy boards.

Photo credit: Anthony-Thomas Candy Company

Licensing Considerations

If you plan to use official college logos or mascots, be aware of trademark regulations. RCI member Anthony-Thomas Candy Company, for example, is officially licensed by Ohio State University, allowing them to create branded confections. Depending on your market, obtaining a license with a local university could be a great way to boost sales from students, alumni and fans who want to show off their school spirit.

Many colleges offer licensing programs that allow businesses to feature official branding on their products, which can greatly enhance credibility and appeal. Unauthorized use of logos can lead to legal issues, so contact the college's licensing department to obtain the necessary permissions.

By offering college-themed treats, you can create customized treats while also increasing your sales during graduation season. With a little creativity, your business can be the go-to destination for graduation sweets this spring!

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.

5 Smart Purchasing Habits for Candy Businesses

Purchasing for a business is a daily challenge, especially when balancing quality and cost. Adopting smart purchasing habits can help businesses manage expenses while maintaining or improving product quality. Here are five key strategies to consider.

1. Staggered Deliveries
Scheduling deliveries strategically can help maintain a steady workflow. Candy makers need to ensure they receive raw materials for production and packaging materials for finished goods while keeping storage space manageable. By staggering deliveries, companies can avoid overcrowding their facilities and optimize production. This approach also allows for better planning when hiring seasonal employees, as production schedules can be aligned with delivery dates.

2. Keeping Records
Maintaining detailed purchasing and sales records is essential for future planning. Businesses that track inventory levels, sales patterns, and seasonal demand can make more informed decisions for the following year. Reviewing past records helps determine whether the timing of purchases was effective and if inventory levels were adequate. By analyzing this data, companies can adjust their purchasing strategies to avoid shortages or excess stock.

3. Asking the Right Questions
Before making large purchases, especially for equipment, candy businesses should carefully evaluate their needs. Key questions to consider include:

• Is this purchase necessary?
• Will it improve efficiency?
• Is there sufficient space for it?
• Are electrical or plumbing modifications required?

By addressing these questions in advance, your business can avoid costly mistakes, such as purchasing equipment that does not fit in your facility or requires expensive modifications.

4. Tracking Weather Trends
Weather can significantly impact customer buying habits. Businesses that track weather patterns year over year can better predict demand. For example, a snowstorm before Valentine’s Day or an unusually warm Easter can influence sales. By understanding these patterns, businesses can adjust inventory and marketing strategies to maximize sales opportunities.

5. Cooperative Purchasing
Collaborating with other candy businesses can lead to better purchasing power. By combining orders, businesses can meet higher minimum purchase requirements and receive better pricing on supplies and ingredients. However, this approach requires flexibility. If this strategy interests you, it is important to identify the best partners for joint purchases, ensure they have adequate storage for larger shipments, and align their purchasing schedules with others. While it may require adjustments, cooperative buying can result in significant cost savings.

Adopting these purchasing habits can help businesses operate more efficiently and reduce unnecessary costs. Implementing even one or two of these strategies can lead to better financial management and long-term success.

Get ahead for the fall/winter holiday season! Make plans to attend RCI’s Annual Convention & Industry Expo, scheduled for June 16-19, 2025, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky—across the river from downtown Cincinnati. Connect with fellow industry professionals and grow your business through impactful education, tours and collaboration. Explore what's new in the confectionery industry and take away effective business and production strategies. Sign up to get notified when registration opens for this event to secure the best rates!

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.