My Chocolate Fantasy

Linda Kling asked:


Whether you’re planning a kid’s birthday celebration or wedding reception, you’ll have to make a decision about party favors.  One of the most popular options for these little giveaways are candy bars covered with personalized wrappers. But is this a good idea for your occasion? Here are the pros and cons to consider when choosing these chocolate treats.

Pros

* Everyone likes chocolate. According to recent surveys, chocolate is the number one flavor of choice for people living in the United States. And the average American eats 10 -12 pounds of this treat every year.  So, if you decide to give candy bars with personalized wrappers to your guests, they will undoubtedly appreciate the favors.

* They’re inexpensive, but not cheap looking. If you’re searching for party favors for your celebration that won’t break the bank, then these are a good way to go.  You can get personalized candy wrappers with chocolate bars for under two dollars each.  You don’t have to spend a lot, but it doesn’t look like you raided the dollar store, either.

* They can be customized.  If you order from an online company, they can add your photo, change the font, include your message, transform the color and adapt the candy bar wrappers to fit your occasion.

* A variety of chocolate options are available. All kinds of candy bars in all sorts of sizes can be ordered with personalized wrappers.  If you have a favorite, it shouldn’t be hard to find. Some business are offering Belgian chocolates. You can also find a few that work with a chocolatier to make your confection according to your specifications.

* You can make them yourself. Although there are plenty of companies that will produce these for you, this is one favor you might want to try creating.  You can download a free printable wrapper from the internet, design one using software on your computer or use your scrapbooking skills to fashion one from scratch. Then just cut, wrap and glue.

Cons

* You’re not always guaranteed freshness.  Yes, chocolate has a relatively long shelf life (about a year).  But you may not know how long those candy bars have been hanging around the company’s warehouse. It’s important to buy from a reputable business or one that uses a chocolatier and makes the confections fresh for each customer.

* Chocolate bars can melt.  This is especially a problem if you order these party favors during the summer or you live in a warmer climate. 

* You may have to pay extra shipping. Since these treats can melt, you may want to arrange overnight delivery of your package, which costs more money. You may also need to add a cold pack with your candy or choose an insulating box.  This can add to the expense, as well.

* They’re not exactly a keepsake.  If you’re looking for favors that your guests will save as a reminder of your special occasion, then these aren’t for you.  A few people might save the personalized wrapper and put it in a photo album or scrapbook. But most will just enjoy eating them and that will be end of it.

* You might need extras.  People find chocolate irresistible. If you scatter these candy bars around, you might find them disappearing before the end of the party. Unless you have a way of placing them into goodie bags with individual’s names on them, it might be a good idea to buy more than you think you need.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for inexpensive party favors that everyone will really like, then chocolate bars with custom wrappers might be right for you. Browse online until you find the right company with great personalized designs or make then yourself. Just be aware that the candy should be fresh and protected from the heat. Although there are a few drawbacks, these treats are always a hit with guests.

Ginger Marks asked:


Chocolate is unquestionably the number one comfort food. Worldwide, no other word excites our hearts and minds, yes, even our palates to action. It can be obtained in many forms. There is hot chocolate, cold chocolate, and spicy chocolate. If your passion is rich, dark, bittersweet, or milky sweet it can be easily satisfied. There is even white chocolate for those who fancy a light, creamy taste without the flavor that the alternatives deliver. What is it about chocolate that so permeates our subconscious until we ultimately indulge our craving?

If you look at all the characteristics that this confection is noted for you will undeniably find the list lacking nothing. The very first few that come to my mind are:



Sweet or bittersweet taste

Rich, creamy indulgence

Warm, inviting, comfort food

Nothing quite smells like chocolate



And that is just for starters. However, its features are not what we crave. We crave it for what it does for us. As I ponder this subject, to better focus on the answers to these questions, I can think of no other chocolaty indulgence that I would rather have than My Little Taste of Italy’s sinfully, sensual, rich and luscious cappuccino brownies. They are so well known, on both coasts of America and in between, that they have been dubbed, “Orgasmic!”

Mama Gloria and Liz have discovered the key to satisfy the most discerning palate. Their tasty treats include chocolate biscotti that are to die for fabulous. Did I tell you their treats are known all across America? Well, that isn’t quite accurate. They are also ship their goodies overseas to our armed forces, but this is another tale for another time.

So, what is it that Mama Gloria and Liz have discovered that has enthralled the world? They have figured out that we cannot live without chocolate and have used that knowledge to capture our appetites and our hearts. When we look at what chocolate does for us, and what makes the desire so strong that we cannot ignore it, we discover the essence of true marketing potential. What is it that My Little Taste of Italy’s Cappuccino Brownies do for the lucky soul Let’s uncover their secret.

What chocolate does for the consumer is summed up in how it makes them feel. Some of these benefits are:



Satisfies our senses

Soothes our nerves

Makes us feel good about ourselves

Provides health benefits



It is a well known fact that chocolate increases our endorphins, actively producing a sense of well being, and serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant. Recently I discovered that it is also beneficial to smokers. “It has shown promise in that it may reverse some of their smoking-related impairment in blood vessel function,” according to a study in the Oct. 4, 2005, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

But what does all of this have to do with marketing? The answer is simple, EVERYTHING! Think of it, if you could harness the benefits of chocolate in your advertising you would ensure your business’ success. If you simply find a way to make your product or service compelling to your consumer you will seldom loose a sale. Sit down right now and create a list of all of your product or service’s features. Then from that you will be able to build the list that will clearly define the benefits to your customers. With that knowledge firmly in hand you will have the key to the best marketing plan that you have ever prepared.

Copyright © 2007 Ginger Marks