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!

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Valentine's Day Roundup: Top RCI Blog Posts

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and we’ve got seven blog posts to spark your creativity! From unique gift ideas for kids and teens to tips for crafting chocolate treats and boosting sales, this collection covers everything, including "smash hearts," chocolate charcuterie boards, and Atomic Fireball creams. So let’s dive in! 

5 Super Simple Valentine’s Day Gifts for Kids & Teens

We all know Valentine’s Day isn’t all about romance. Many shoppers will also be looking for gift ideas for the kids in their life, which is why we’re sharing inspiration for fun and easy gift ideas that are sure to make any kiddo feel the love this Valentine’s Day. Read more.

Have a Smashing Valentine’s Day with Smash Hearts

Despite the irony, smash hearts aren’t reserved exclusively for soon-to-be exes. In fact, they make for fun, interactive gifts that make friends and family members really feel the love! Read this blog post for inspiration before for adding these trendy smash hearts to your product line, including simple solutions for transforming your existing chocolate moulds and ideas for filling your smash hearts. Read more.

5 #Adorbs Ideas to Transform Treats for Valentine’s Day

Looking to celebrate this Valentine’s Day in a big way, but with little extra effort? If you already make chocolate-covered sandwich cookies or pretzels, these ideas will require very little, if any, additional ingredients and minimal effort. Read on for five quick and easy tricks to make your existing treats #adorbs this Valentine’s Day. Read more. 

Valentine’s Day Inspiration: Sweet Heat

What started as a nod to these classic hot candies has become a popular Valentine’s Day treat and the limited availability of a once-a-year batch adds to its appeal. If you are a fan of Red Hots^® and Atomic FireBalls, then you’ll love this Valentine’s Day inspiration from RCI member Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections. Read more.

Build Your Own Chocolate Charcuterie Boards for Valentine's Day

Learn how to make beautiful chocolate charcuterie boards for Valentine’s Day using what you already have in your store! This post shares simple tips to build, decorate, and sell these eye-catching treats. Perfect for gifts or gatherings—check out this blog post to find out how! Read more.

3 Tips to Make Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Last Longer

If you sell chocolate-covered strawberries for the holidays, more specifically Valentine’s Day, and have found yourself working from sunrise to sunset to keep up with demand, these tips are for you! Read this post for three pro tips to maximize your efforts and extend the shelf-life of these delicate fruit confections. Read more. 

Red Hot Tips for Increasing Valentine’s Sales

Get ahead for Valentine’s Day with simple tips to boost sales and stand out! From using bold red themes to encouraging pre-orders and clear shipping dates, these ideas make shopping easy and stress-free. Read on to learn more! Read more.

Make this Valentine’s Day your best yet! With these simple ideas and tips, you can wow your customers, increase sales, and share the love. Start planning today!

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.

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.

Best of Christmas: Top Christmas Posts from the RCI Blog

 

This “most wonderful time of the year” will be here before we know it! We’re sharing a holiday-inspired compilation of tips and inspiration to help make this holiday season your merriest yet! 

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 Create Your Own Holiday Gift Guide

Holiday gift guides are a visual and trendy way to promote your popular holiday items both online and in your retail store. According to a recent survey by Dynata for Redpoint Global, “nearly two-thirds of the 1,000 adult shoppers surveyed (62%), planned to do all their holiday shopping online.”

If you think you have to hire a graphic designer to create a professional gift guide, think again! In this blog post, we’ve also shared one of our favorite resources that requires zero design experience and comes with a FREE subscription option. Read more.

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.

We hope that these posts have inspired 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.

The Best of 2022: 5 Most-Read Posts from the RCI Blog

Happy New Year! As we bid farewell to another year, we welcome you to join us in remembering the sweet moments of 2022. As an association, we are so grateful for the many opportunities we’ve had to gather together this year. Yes, we’re still celebrating the return of a full roster of events including education courses, regional conferences and the Annual Convention & Industry Expo! It was so nice to connect with old friends and welcome many new members! We’re already looking forward to another great year of events in 2023. Stay up-to-date on RCI’s event schedule by visiting retailconfectioners.org/events.

Here’s RCI’s most-read blog posts from 2022, in case you missed them the first time or could use a refresher.

1. Create Your Own Gourmet Hot Cocoa Mix
In this popular post, we shared tips for creating your own brand of gourmet hot cocoa mix (including packaging ideas) and a few creative flavors which could be applied to your packaged hot cocoa mix or inside hot cocoa bombs.

2. Halloween Candy Shortage Could Mean Opportunity for Candy Makers
We highlighted three Halloween shoppers who may be left in the lurch with the impending candy shortage and how your business could capture sales by seizing the opportunity to meeting their unique needs.

3. EGGS-tra Easter Egg Inspiration
No matter if you like your chocolate Easter eggs more traditional or if you prefer a more unconventional approach, this post offered 5 sweet EGGS-tra themes to try for the holiday.

4. Fresh-Squeezed Inspiration: Lemon Confections 4 Ways
A quintessential spring and summer flavor, lemon and other citrus fruits are experiencing increased popularity as a source of immune-boosting vitamin C.

5. Retail Therapy: How to Create Merchandising Speed Bumps

As part of this five-part series, retail strategists and instructors at RCI’s Merchandising Boot Camp, Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender, of KIZER & BENDER, shared how slowing shoppers down can increase sales.

We look forward to bringing you more great tips to help you build your business in 2023!

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.

The Best of 2021: 5 Most Popular Posts from the RCI Blog

As we bid farewell to another year, we welcome you to join us in remembering the good memories of 2021. As an association, we are so grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to grow closer together, even when apart. And, we’re still celebrating the fact that many of our members and friends were able to physically gather for the 2021 Annual Convention & Industry Expo in Columbus, Ohio this summer! It was so nice to connect with old friends and welcome many new members! We’re already looking forward to another great convention week in Pittsburgh July 25-29, 2022!

In light of focusing on the positives that came from 2021, we’re bringing back RCI’s most-read blog posts from 2021, in case you missed them the first time or could use a refresher.

5. Tips for Building a Signature Trail Mix

With the snacking category experiencing substantial growth in the last two years, offering ready-to-enjoy trail mix is a great opportunity to create everyday snacking options, in addition to your special occasion gift options.

4. Build Your Own Chocolate Charcuterie Boards

One of the biggest breakout trends of 2021 was quite possibly the charcuterie board. Traditionally consisting of cured meats, cheeses and other savory snacks, it’s only natural for those of us with more of a sweet tooth to long for a spread of the chocolate variety.

3. 7 Buying & Inventory Tips for Retail Confectioners

With so many unknowns in our industry involving long lead times, shortages or challenges predicting demand, this post covers seven ways businesses can avoid or at least help mitigate the effects of supply shortages.

2. Dusting Colors: Edible or Not?

Ever wonder if those shimmery and glittering powders are really edible? In this post, we pull back the curtain on what's really safe for consumption and what to look out for when sourcing dusting colors.

1. 3 Expert Packaging Tips to Rule Retail Sales

Want packaging that will help you rule the retail scene? This post shares 3 expert tips to help your brand capture consumer attention and gain more sales.

Even though the challenges experienced in 2021 won’t disappear when the clock strikes midnight, we will celebrate a fresh start with a grateful heart, while leaning on new skills, stronger relationships and hope for a better tomorrow. Wishing you a safe and happy New 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.

The Best of 2020: 5 Most Popular Posts from the RCI Blog

Collectively, I think we are all looking forward to putting the year 2020 behind us (far behind us). With that said, as challenging, and at times heart-wrenching, the past year has been we hope you can take a moment to focus on the good (however minuscule) that came out of year 2020.

There’s no doubt it is stretched, burdened and bewildered everyone one way or another, it has also challenged many people to learn new skills, think on their feet and be more imaginative and creative than they ever thought was possible. This year has literally and physically pulled people apart, but it has also brought together many families, friends, coworkers and neighbors (even if only virtually) who have bonded together and created shared memories that will last a lifetime.

In light of focusing on the positives that came from 2020, we’re bringing back RCI’s most-read blog posts from 2020, in case you missed them the first time or could use a refresher.

5.   How to Create a More Efficient Candy Kitchen

Looking to improve the efficiency of your candy kitchen? Rethinking the layout of your kitchen is a great place to start. Read on for impactful ways to improve efficiency in your candy kitchen.

4.   52+ Hilarious Quotes for Chocolate Shops to Use on Letter Boards

What was once a relic that could only be found in diners, church basements or outside school gymnasiums, letter boards can now be found all over social media. Snag 52 of our favorite chocolate-related quotes for your letter boards—enough to share one a week for the whole year, plus a few bonus quotes for the holidays.

    3. All About Sponge Candy: What is it and how is it made?

The label typically reads “sponge candy,” but you may also know this candy as cinder block, sea foam, fairy food, angel food or a multitude of other names. Learn the basics, plus tips and tricks for making sponge candy (or whatever they call it where you’re from) that customers crave.

2.   40 Ways for Candy Makers to Navigate the COVID-19 Crisis

Originally published in March of 2020, this post was intended to offer guidance, support, inspiration and hope to retail confectioners in a quickly changing world. Though much has changed since March, we are confident you could still find some ideas and inspiration to better your business.

1.   Hot Chocolate Bombs

Hot chocolate bombs are easily one of the biggest breakout trends of 2020. Here we shared ideas and inspiration for creating your own hot chocolate bombs, plus how to set the tone with packaging.

Even though the challenges experienced in 2020 won’t disappear when the clock strikes midnight, we will celebrate a fresh start with a grateful heart, while leaning on new skills, stronger relationships and hope for a better tomorrow. Wishing you a safe and happy New Year!

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. 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.

Tip #250: The Best of 2017: Top 5 Tips of the Week

As we prepare to bid farewell to 2017, we’ve pulled the topics most important to candy makers with the top five most-read tips from the year.

#5: Troubleshooting: Hazy Chocolate Moulds

A little hazy on what’s causing the buildup of a film on the surface of your chocolate moulds? You’re not alone. Learn what causes this common problem and get preventative tips on how to avoid it.

#4: Give Your Candy Shop the WOW! Factor on a Budget

Save money by finding new uses for old items to create eye-popping displays with “wow factor!” Old ladders, tables, or wooden crates can make for unexpected and memorable ways to display your confections.

#3: Making Meltaways with Untempered Chocolate

Consider this alternative method to making stable, smooth-textured meltaways with untempered chocolate.

#2: Here’s How to Clean Chocolate Moulds the Right Way

Did you know chocolate moulds that aren’t cleaned properly can cause chocolates to lose their desired smooth and glossy shine? Follow these five easy steps to ensure your plastic moulds are cleaned properly and produce perfectly glossy chocolate masterpieces every time.

#1: Turn Caramel Apples Upside Down

This simple tip is about to turn your world upside down, literally. Long-time RCI member, Fascia’s Chocolates started using this unconventional approach to caramel apples after practicing the traditional method for 53 years.

We look forward to bringing you more great tips to help you build your business in 2018! Wishing you a safe and happy New Year!