Retail 101.

Before the summer kicks in this weekend (80's expected here for you long distance ICD readers), I thought today, a 48 degree rainy one, would be a good day to talk candy shop. Granted, running the candy store part of the biz isn't what might be considered rocket science, it does require its own care and feeding. Like any retail business I suppose, two simple rules hold:

1. Keep the shelves stocked.
2. Keep the shelves stocked with stuff people actually want.

Or in my case, keep the jars stocked with stuff people want.

So aside from usual 'supply chain management' stuff (coincidentally, this was what I did in my first career, albeit I was managing optical network components and not giant gummy snakes), I'm always on the lookout for which jars are 'moving' and which ones are not. Case in point above, the gummy techno bears, were definitely not.

So they have been replaced by...


Salt water taffy. Just in time for this weekend's arrival of summer.

And with the come and gone of Easter, that freed up some spots for a few new SKU's, (If I actually used the term 'stock keeping unit'. I much prefer 'candy jar'.) Let me introduce a few of the new candies on the block...


Jelly Belly Soda Pop Shoppe mix. Cream soda, Dr. Pepper, Grape, Orange... They actually have an Ice Cream Parlor mix too, but unfortunately it's associated with some 'other' ice cream shop. Lame.

Moving right along...

Gummy Fried Eggs.

Because I can.

Sixlets. By the scoopful. (Hat Tip: Kris P.) Which reminds me, suggestions are more than welcome. If I can get it, I'll bring it in for you. It's still gotta earn its rightful place on the shelf to stay, but I'm always up for trying a new candy variety.

Tried to get this one, but apparently it's only available in Wisconsin. The cool part of this story is the customer who requested it actually went to Wisconsin and brought some home. Even better, they brought one in for me. Thanks to that guy, didn't catch his name...


And on another nutty note, we now have buttercrunch... (FYI: I made a batch of buttercrunch ice cream with it today too.)

And the return of Kookaburra black licorice. If you're into black licorice, this is the stuff...

So that's about it from candyland. Hope this entry left you hankerin' for somethin' sweet.

We're open until 9.

4 Words: Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Peeps.

As if this beautiful 65 degree sunny Friday couldn't get any better, I give you the annual return of Easter favorite here at Mt. Tom's - Chocolate-dipped Marshmallow Peeps.

You know you want some.

They come in sets of two, and it'll only set you back a buck. How sweet is that?

Marshmallow Peeps, kicked up a notch.

Yes, it's that time of year once again. With due respect to all otherwise religious significance this time of year, I'd like to quickly mention another tradition that may have slipped under your Easter Bunny radar. As if a marshmallow peep wasn't decadent enough, I give you the chocolate-dipped marshmallow peep. Does any more need be said?

And if that's just too darn sweet for your basket, feel free to defer to the more traditional 'speckled malted milk eggs', solid chocolate bunnies, Jelly Belly jellybeans, and the rest of the candy gang.

Happy Easter to you and yours.

The Cell Project.

Right around this time of year, I get a bunch of kids who come into the shop looking for candy. This group isn't the usual 'fill a bag with all your favorites...gummy teeth, lego blox, airheads, and Pop Rocks' type. Seems there's a local schoolteacher who has come up with an interesting way to teach her class what's in a cell. Their assignment - build a model of a cell using edible products (I don't know if the teacher specifically says 'candy', but one rule is it must last three days unrefridgerated). So for a couple days every year, I see a number of kids in the shop, assignment tucked under their arm, dilligently hunting through the jars for all the essential elements of their model cell. It's fun to watch. I don't want to give away too much, in case there are kids out there still coming up with their incredible edible cells, but I will say that the giant jawbreakers have been a big seller this week. Why didn't I get cool projects like this when I was a kid? All we ever did was boil stuff with bunsen burners...

Abba Zaba Do.

Chewy taffy-peanut butter center. According to Winkipedia, they're 'Found almost exclusively in California.' Not any more. Someone asked for them, turns out my supplier carries them. Before you can say, 'next Tuesday delivery', they're on the shelf. To be honest, I'd never heard of this one. My candy distributor order person called it one of those 'nostalgia items'. I'm all about the nostalgia items. One of my favorite reactions in the shop is when someone says, 'I used to love these as a kid!' Those are the kind of candy items I seek out to stock.

I remember the first new candy I brought in after I took over what was once 'Sunrise Sweeties', formally 'Sweet Expectations' in Northampton for all you local candy trivia buffs. It was satellite wafers. Remember these?











Another recent add was Chick-o-sticks. Crunchy peanut butter wrapped in toasted coconut. I must admit, the name is much less tempting then the description.





Then there's the holiday special candy. How about some Gummy Skeletons?

Or my nephew Wil's favorite, the gummy horror bag....scary...

These bad boys go fast. Don't worry, Will, I saved one for you.

So it's 93 degrees and humid today, and the shop is bustling. Can't complain about that for late September in New England! I could ramble on about candy for pages, but must go back to help scoop. If this didn't wet your sweet tooth enough, try this.

If you have any candy suggestions, nostalgic, scary, or otherwise, no need to wait for the suggestion jar here in the shop. Just drop me a line... jim@mttoms.com

Stay cool.