As we say in the "retail biz", Easter is early this year.
What that really means is that Easter is in March and not in April. From a retailer's point of view, that means "early".
In years like 2013, the months of February and March are overloaded with special occasions. We start out with Valentine's Day (not to mention Mardi Gras) and then in a matter of 4 weeks we have St. Patrick's Day. You already know, if you are tuned into this blog, that St. Pat's is a BEER holiday. Even though Sweet Tooth doesn't sell BEER, the idea of celebrating another holiday so soon is contrary to the usual build up for special occasions.
Only 2 weeks after St.Pat's, we have Easter (and Passover, actually).
Our retail minds have been working on this situation for months, but non-retail folks are just waking up to the fact that there is another holiday around the corner.
Making the switch from reds and pinks, to greens, to pastels is a strange color chart. We simply aren't always ready to tackle this quick path of holiday after holiday.
And then there is the practice of observing Lent. Believe it or not, in my unofficial survey, giving up candy for Lent is one of the most popular rituals every year. We understand the practice and respect it, but why can't folks give up green beans or Oreo cookies or hamburgers?? Why does it always have to be candy?
And what about those folks who declare a "free day" and decide on that one day to indulge in the item which they have given up for Lent? The day picked for "free day" always seems to be on a Sunday when Sweet Tooth is closed!!
The countdown to Easter is happening now. There are eggs to color, Easter baskets to prepare, candy to buy, new outfits to purchase and a big dinner to prepare. There are religious services to attend and prayers to be said.
We expect a big rush of candy purchases to take place on the day after Easter.....Monday April 1..... for all those folks who gave up candy for Lent. But holy cow!! April 1 is April Fools Day!! Don't tease us, people....we are looking forward to seeing you at Sweet Tooth on that day.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
St. Patrick's Day is a Beer Holiday
Every year about this time we face a real dilemma: what to do for St. Patrick's day, March 17 which this year is on a Sunday.
I'm just saying: St. Patrick's Day is a Beer Holiday.
And now you know the dilemma. We are a CANDY and GIFT store, not a bar or even a restaurant with a bar or even a grocery store with a beer cooler.
So what to do when a customer wants a St. Pat gift? We don't even have beer flavored candy, although I have no doubt that it is out there.
We dig deep into our somewhat limited experience of St. Pat's day and come up with green candy, green candy bags, shamrocks on candy bags and of course, the ole Pot of Gold (chocolate foiled covered coins) as suggestions for a St. Pat's gift.
Some of the novelty stores do carry hats, bow ties, spinning and lighted lapel decorations, long twisted pipes, shamrock decorations and such....all for those who have parties on St. Pat's day or just want to show up all decked out for the holiday. I have to say that we have none of those items. The day comes and goes so quickly that for us it just doesn't make sense to stock up on novelties and decorations.
And I've had some really painful and disappointing experiences with Shamrock plants. I just don't have the luck of the Irish when it comes to keeping a healthy Shamrock around the house.
This year we are just preparing ourselves for the inevitable question: what do you have for St. Patrick's Day? We will show that customer our green chocolate sixlets, our green M & Ms, our green Jelly Bellys, our green Rock Candy, our green salt water taffy, our green Kiwi gummis....you get the picture....and hope that wonderful green candy can take the place of green beer!
I'm just saying: St. Patrick's Day is a Beer Holiday.
And now you know the dilemma. We are a CANDY and GIFT store, not a bar or even a restaurant with a bar or even a grocery store with a beer cooler.
So what to do when a customer wants a St. Pat gift? We don't even have beer flavored candy, although I have no doubt that it is out there.
We dig deep into our somewhat limited experience of St. Pat's day and come up with green candy, green candy bags, shamrocks on candy bags and of course, the ole Pot of Gold (chocolate foiled covered coins) as suggestions for a St. Pat's gift.
Some of the novelty stores do carry hats, bow ties, spinning and lighted lapel decorations, long twisted pipes, shamrock decorations and such....all for those who have parties on St. Pat's day or just want to show up all decked out for the holiday. I have to say that we have none of those items. The day comes and goes so quickly that for us it just doesn't make sense to stock up on novelties and decorations.
And I've had some really painful and disappointing experiences with Shamrock plants. I just don't have the luck of the Irish when it comes to keeping a healthy Shamrock around the house.
This year we are just preparing ourselves for the inevitable question: what do you have for St. Patrick's Day? We will show that customer our green chocolate sixlets, our green M & Ms, our green Jelly Bellys, our green Rock Candy, our green salt water taffy, our green Kiwi gummis....you get the picture....and hope that wonderful green candy can take the place of green beer!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Mary Engelbreit, You are Back!!
When we purchased Sweet Tooth in 1992, the store was sort of a hodge podge of candy, cards and gourmet cookware. It was all rough hewn shelves, strangely understated and lodge-like. Since we never had any retail experience, we just went along with the "decor"...that is until I went to a college reunion in St. Louis and friends took me shopping at the converted train depot.
There I found Mary Engelbreit!! Well, not the person, but her glass-enclosed kiosk. I was immedately taken in by the colors in her art, the bemused quotes and sayings on her cards and some of her small framed drawings.
When I came back to Tulsa, I was determined to put Mary Engelbreit in our store. No other gift shop in Tulsa had discovered Mary and I felt confident that her gift items would really perk up our drab little shop.
Over the years, we became known as the "Mary Engelbreit" store....sometimes I thought that Mary's followers did not even know the name Sweet Tooth.
I could spot Mary's artwork, ceramic pieces, calendars, mugs, greeting cards, etc. from a distance. There was no denying that she had a special style and it was easily identifiable. Even other artists and manufacturers began copying some her style. You could find black and white checks, cherries, "flat" flowers creeping into other gift lines.
None could truly compete with Mary Engelbreit...she was an original and always ahead of those who tried to copy her style.
A number of years ago, Mary began to disappear from the Gift Market and her Tulsa fans, who so loved the black and white, the bright reds, the whimsey of her art, were disappointed. Sweet Tooth continued to search Mary out, but basically all that was left was her calendars and books. Even her original card line from Sunrise Greetings was turned over to another card company.
Well, Mary is coming back...or at least some of us hope so. Right Amy?? Today I just put out a new line of totes, iPad holders, placemats and laptop holders from a wonderful company called Suburban Silk. Gone are the cherries and the black, white and red. In their place is tangarine and olive green....but the fun and the whimsey of Mary Engelbreit is still alive.
That saying, "What goes around, comes around" may just be true. Or as Mary put it, "Wherever you go, there you are!" And Mary's art will brighten up any store and any home. Thank goodness for artists like Mary Engelbreit.
There I found Mary Engelbreit!! Well, not the person, but her glass-enclosed kiosk. I was immedately taken in by the colors in her art, the bemused quotes and sayings on her cards and some of her small framed drawings.
When I came back to Tulsa, I was determined to put Mary Engelbreit in our store. No other gift shop in Tulsa had discovered Mary and I felt confident that her gift items would really perk up our drab little shop.
Over the years, we became known as the "Mary Engelbreit" store....sometimes I thought that Mary's followers did not even know the name Sweet Tooth.
I could spot Mary's artwork, ceramic pieces, calendars, mugs, greeting cards, etc. from a distance. There was no denying that she had a special style and it was easily identifiable. Even other artists and manufacturers began copying some her style. You could find black and white checks, cherries, "flat" flowers creeping into other gift lines.
None could truly compete with Mary Engelbreit...she was an original and always ahead of those who tried to copy her style.
A number of years ago, Mary began to disappear from the Gift Market and her Tulsa fans, who so loved the black and white, the bright reds, the whimsey of her art, were disappointed. Sweet Tooth continued to search Mary out, but basically all that was left was her calendars and books. Even her original card line from Sunrise Greetings was turned over to another card company.
Well, Mary is coming back...or at least some of us hope so. Right Amy?? Today I just put out a new line of totes, iPad holders, placemats and laptop holders from a wonderful company called Suburban Silk. Gone are the cherries and the black, white and red. In their place is tangarine and olive green....but the fun and the whimsey of Mary Engelbreit is still alive.
That saying, "What goes around, comes around" may just be true. Or as Mary put it, "Wherever you go, there you are!" And Mary's art will brighten up any store and any home. Thank goodness for artists like Mary Engelbreit.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
The Story of Duck with a Hat
When we purchased Sweet Tooth September 1, 1992 we didn't know one thing about managing a gift and candy store. In fact, I had never had a retail job...babysitting was my talent in high school.
Therefore as we moved from holiday to holiday to everyday ordering, we generally followed what the previous owner had done or what our sales reps advised us to do. We did tweak things a bit but not much the first year.
When it came to Easter, that same approach applied. That would have been Easter, 1993...20 Easters ago. That year, among other chocolate items, we had what we affectionately called "The Duck with the Hat." He was and still is a gold foil covered chocolate duck, with what appears to be a blue-ish hat on his head. I immediately loved that chocolate duck and he became my favorite Easter item.
Year after year, Duck with a Hat appeared in our order and was always the first Easter candy to sell out...well, that is until a few years ago when Duck with a Hat slowed down and occasionally some ducks were still on the shelf after Easter.
Duck with a Hat resembles the sort of duck you would find as a illustration in a children's book. He has that old-world look about him. As years come and go, candy manufacturers attempt to keep up with trendy looking chocolates and many of our chocolate rabbits have a more modern design about them.
European designs are not as popular or familliar to most of our customers. For example, for several years we attempted to sell the Perugina large chocolate egg filled with small toys...a popular item in Italy. Our customers simply didn't get the idea or perhaps didn't want to pay a few extra dollars to have a chocolate egg different from the standard American Easter candies.
So it is with Duck with a Hat. He may just be too old-fashioned in a world of Sponge Bob, Dora the Explorer, Hello Kitty, etc. Many of those characters have been re-designed with tatoos and mustaches.
Nonetheless, I still love Duck with a Hat and this year I am hoping that more of our customers will see the value in a good chocolate with a nostalgic flair about him. I am hoping he flies off the shelf and ends up in lots of Easter basket. Join me in cheering on my old chocolate friend, Duck with a Hat.
Therefore as we moved from holiday to holiday to everyday ordering, we generally followed what the previous owner had done or what our sales reps advised us to do. We did tweak things a bit but not much the first year.
When it came to Easter, that same approach applied. That would have been Easter, 1993...20 Easters ago. That year, among other chocolate items, we had what we affectionately called "The Duck with the Hat." He was and still is a gold foil covered chocolate duck, with what appears to be a blue-ish hat on his head. I immediately loved that chocolate duck and he became my favorite Easter item.
Year after year, Duck with a Hat appeared in our order and was always the first Easter candy to sell out...well, that is until a few years ago when Duck with a Hat slowed down and occasionally some ducks were still on the shelf after Easter.
Duck with a Hat resembles the sort of duck you would find as a illustration in a children's book. He has that old-world look about him. As years come and go, candy manufacturers attempt to keep up with trendy looking chocolates and many of our chocolate rabbits have a more modern design about them.
European designs are not as popular or familliar to most of our customers. For example, for several years we attempted to sell the Perugina large chocolate egg filled with small toys...a popular item in Italy. Our customers simply didn't get the idea or perhaps didn't want to pay a few extra dollars to have a chocolate egg different from the standard American Easter candies.
So it is with Duck with a Hat. He may just be too old-fashioned in a world of Sponge Bob, Dora the Explorer, Hello Kitty, etc. Many of those characters have been re-designed with tatoos and mustaches.
Nonetheless, I still love Duck with a Hat and this year I am hoping that more of our customers will see the value in a good chocolate with a nostalgic flair about him. I am hoping he flies off the shelf and ends up in lots of Easter basket. Join me in cheering on my old chocolate friend, Duck with a Hat.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Sunset on Valentine's Day
The sun is setting on Valentine's Day. Overall, it appears to have been a Valentine's Day like most have been for us in recent years.
Many of my earlier observations have been authenticated and I feel good about that.
I did overhear a few conversations that I have to put in this blog.
One of our favorite customers commented that coming to Sweet Tooth is "like therapy". He often tells us that we should charge him just for entering the store!! You can imagine that we like this customer very much.
The women standing behind him when he made that observation quickly agreed. What a special moment that was for all of us....to know that people feel better after shopping at Sweet Tooth.
It is a goal of ours to be a home away from home for our customers. We like people to think of our store as a happy place and one like the television show "Cheers".....where everybody knows your name.
Another customer commented that she really liked our choice of music playing in the store.
On the surface that may not sound like a big deal, but in fact, it really is. We spend a cosiderable amount of time choosing the music to play, what I called "Shopping Music". Have I written about that before?
It is the sort of music which is familiar to most people, upbeat, tuneful, a song or two that inspires you to hum along. Jeff has a rather large collection of C.D.s and even some cassettes!! He and I discuss what to put on if the music is new to the store. Jeff also creates tracks which are seasonal, not just Christmas music but Valentine's. Spring, Summer and so on.
To hear that a customer recognizes the effort we put into the music playing in our store is an affirmation that we are looking after what some might call the little things.
So as we come to the close of our Valentine's season and tomorrow put our Valentine candy on at half price, we will see if my other observation......that no matter what, people just don't always want to buy 1/2 price candy......comes true.
Many of my earlier observations have been authenticated and I feel good about that.
I did overhear a few conversations that I have to put in this blog.
One of our favorite customers commented that coming to Sweet Tooth is "like therapy". He often tells us that we should charge him just for entering the store!! You can imagine that we like this customer very much.
The women standing behind him when he made that observation quickly agreed. What a special moment that was for all of us....to know that people feel better after shopping at Sweet Tooth.
It is a goal of ours to be a home away from home for our customers. We like people to think of our store as a happy place and one like the television show "Cheers".....where everybody knows your name.
Another customer commented that she really liked our choice of music playing in the store.
On the surface that may not sound like a big deal, but in fact, it really is. We spend a cosiderable amount of time choosing the music to play, what I called "Shopping Music". Have I written about that before?
It is the sort of music which is familiar to most people, upbeat, tuneful, a song or two that inspires you to hum along. Jeff has a rather large collection of C.D.s and even some cassettes!! He and I discuss what to put on if the music is new to the store. Jeff also creates tracks which are seasonal, not just Christmas music but Valentine's. Spring, Summer and so on.
To hear that a customer recognizes the effort we put into the music playing in our store is an affirmation that we are looking after what some might call the little things.
So as we come to the close of our Valentine's season and tomorrow put our Valentine candy on at half price, we will see if my other observation......that no matter what, people just don't always want to buy 1/2 price candy......comes true.
Monday, February 11, 2013
We're Not Just a Hershey Bar!
This past week we had a mother and her 3 younger children come shopping in our store. We had a good time observing the kids who were walking around the candy section checking out all the candy we had.
The mom had apparently said each could spend a certain amount of money and when that happens, it is truly amazing how much time and thinking a kid puts in to not waste their "allowance"on just any ole thing.
These 3 kids were searching for the sorts of candy they were familiar with: Hershey bars, Snickers and so on.
Sweet Tooth just doesn't carry those brands of candy. We gently explained to them that Sweet Tooth attempts to offer all sorts of candy which cannot be found in drugstores and groceries.
All of that presented a problem for these kids and was just exactly what the mom wanted to see happen. It was her intention to bring her children to a store which wasn't part of the mainstream, didn't carry the "ordinary" chocolates and candies. In her world she wanted to broaden the awareness and the taste of what we at Sweet Tooth think of as "specialty candy and chocolates".
It was actually fullfilling to hear a customer comment that our store was different...that we had items not always available elsewhere, and that the "allowance" given to her children should be spent in a new world of confections.
Toeing the delicate line between very special candy and the perceived value of these confections is a tricky challenge. The media is full of warnings about unhealthy eating, about calories and weight. There is, of course, a great need for this information. Who has time to read all the labels and count calories and carbs? Those who make it a part of their shopping experience are fewer in number than those whose time is spent otherwise.
As a retailer, we want to adhere to many of the healthy guidelines while at the same time offering a special treat in our candy section for "just the right price and value".
It actually takes a lot of time, research and effort to make that happen. We attempt to know what candy might be gluten free (not too much yet), what will happen if someone eats a candy which has been manufactured in a factory where nuts are used (peanut allergies being very prevalent), how many carbs are in a Sugar Free chocolate for those who can't or don't want to eat sugar.
Not many people who work in groceries or drug stores can answer those questions for their customers. Being able to do that is what small specialty retailers like Sweet Tooth call "customer service". We are aware of the available information and want to provide it for our customers. Many times we hear from a new staff member that they never realized how much there is to know about candy or how many questions we will get from customers.
In the world of Sweet Tooth, we are both sweet and serious about the work we do.
The mom had apparently said each could spend a certain amount of money and when that happens, it is truly amazing how much time and thinking a kid puts in to not waste their "allowance"on just any ole thing.
These 3 kids were searching for the sorts of candy they were familiar with: Hershey bars, Snickers and so on.
Sweet Tooth just doesn't carry those brands of candy. We gently explained to them that Sweet Tooth attempts to offer all sorts of candy which cannot be found in drugstores and groceries.
All of that presented a problem for these kids and was just exactly what the mom wanted to see happen. It was her intention to bring her children to a store which wasn't part of the mainstream, didn't carry the "ordinary" chocolates and candies. In her world she wanted to broaden the awareness and the taste of what we at Sweet Tooth think of as "specialty candy and chocolates".
It was actually fullfilling to hear a customer comment that our store was different...that we had items not always available elsewhere, and that the "allowance" given to her children should be spent in a new world of confections.
Toeing the delicate line between very special candy and the perceived value of these confections is a tricky challenge. The media is full of warnings about unhealthy eating, about calories and weight. There is, of course, a great need for this information. Who has time to read all the labels and count calories and carbs? Those who make it a part of their shopping experience are fewer in number than those whose time is spent otherwise.
As a retailer, we want to adhere to many of the healthy guidelines while at the same time offering a special treat in our candy section for "just the right price and value".
It actually takes a lot of time, research and effort to make that happen. We attempt to know what candy might be gluten free (not too much yet), what will happen if someone eats a candy which has been manufactured in a factory where nuts are used (peanut allergies being very prevalent), how many carbs are in a Sugar Free chocolate for those who can't or don't want to eat sugar.
Not many people who work in groceries or drug stores can answer those questions for their customers. Being able to do that is what small specialty retailers like Sweet Tooth call "customer service". We are aware of the available information and want to provide it for our customers. Many times we hear from a new staff member that they never realized how much there is to know about candy or how many questions we will get from customers.
In the world of Sweet Tooth, we are both sweet and serious about the work we do.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Valentine's Day Observations: Part 2
We are 9 days away from Valentine's Day. I have been speaking to a few other retailers about the observations they have concerning buying habits for this holiday. So far we all agree on the ones I posted last time.
So what other observations can I provide?
Observation OneA: No matter what, chocolate is always high up on the list of gifts for Valentine's Day. Someone could be giving jewelry (a typical V Day gift) or clothes or hopefully not a vacuum cleaner, but just like Christmas, most folks want to add some truffles or other chocolates to the gift.
Observation TwoA: I remember when people used to wear Green on St. Patrick's Day and Red or Valentine's Day. I'm not so sure that coordinating colors with the holiday is as typical as it was years ago. The color Red is firmly associated with Heart Health for Women and Pink for Breast Cancer. We need to go around to apparel stores and see if the clothes departments are full of red.
Observation ThreeA: Jeff is bound to get out all his Valentine's Day ties to wear at the store. Think about it!! What accessory do men have to coordinate with holidays? Ties, of course and Jeff has a few very clever ones. On the other hand, I may be found wearing my Betty Boop jewelry because there is no other icon for Valentine's Day which equals America's Sweetheart, Betty Boop.
Observation FourA: I have absolutely no research or data to back up this observation, but I just bet that lots of couples get engaged on Valentine's Day. We have often been asked to hide an engagement ring in a box of chocolates or a bag of Valentine's candy. Or I've heard of putting the ring in a cocktail....how many have almost choked on that ring? This is the stuff that Trivia games are made for.
Observation FiveA: This observation is true for every holiday.....no one wants to buy Valentine's Day candy at half-price on February 15. Come on, peeps. It is chocolate and at half-price who cares if it says "Be Mine"???
Since Observation Five A is the truest of the true, all the Sweet Tooth staff are hoping to be Sold Out of Valentine candy on February 14. Don't wait too long to shop for your sweeties...what we have now is all we will have for Valentine's Day.
So what other observations can I provide?
Observation OneA: No matter what, chocolate is always high up on the list of gifts for Valentine's Day. Someone could be giving jewelry (a typical V Day gift) or clothes or hopefully not a vacuum cleaner, but just like Christmas, most folks want to add some truffles or other chocolates to the gift.
Observation TwoA: I remember when people used to wear Green on St. Patrick's Day and Red or Valentine's Day. I'm not so sure that coordinating colors with the holiday is as typical as it was years ago. The color Red is firmly associated with Heart Health for Women and Pink for Breast Cancer. We need to go around to apparel stores and see if the clothes departments are full of red.
Observation ThreeA: Jeff is bound to get out all his Valentine's Day ties to wear at the store. Think about it!! What accessory do men have to coordinate with holidays? Ties, of course and Jeff has a few very clever ones. On the other hand, I may be found wearing my Betty Boop jewelry because there is no other icon for Valentine's Day which equals America's Sweetheart, Betty Boop.
Observation FourA: I have absolutely no research or data to back up this observation, but I just bet that lots of couples get engaged on Valentine's Day. We have often been asked to hide an engagement ring in a box of chocolates or a bag of Valentine's candy. Or I've heard of putting the ring in a cocktail....how many have almost choked on that ring? This is the stuff that Trivia games are made for.
Observation FiveA: This observation is true for every holiday.....no one wants to buy Valentine's Day candy at half-price on February 15. Come on, peeps. It is chocolate and at half-price who cares if it says "Be Mine"???
Since Observation Five A is the truest of the true, all the Sweet Tooth staff are hoping to be Sold Out of Valentine candy on February 14. Don't wait too long to shop for your sweeties...what we have now is all we will have for Valentine's Day.
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