Happy Valentine’s Day, Blossomers!  We wanted to celebrate this day by sharing the love with one of our retailers.  I know you’re going to LOVE our friends from:

Tell us the story behind Candles & Such.  How did it all begin?
It all began with a candle. My mother has made her own candles ever since I can remember.  In 2003 I started helping her sell them at local craft shows.  We decided to expand and offer candle accessories and other small little gifts. Our booth became so popular we had to start renting two spaces.  We sold out at every show.  The craft shows were seasonal and customers started calling in the off season wanting more candles, a few even called asking if they could order them to use as wedding favors. That’s when I had the idea that she needed a website. As I was researching personalized labels to use for the candle favors I realized that with our website we could offer more than just her candles. Unlike our craft show space, our website had unlimited space. I started attending bridal shows to research the wedding industry, attended webinars about e-commerce and building a website.  By 2005 our first website was live, designed by me, and our first order came in about two months later.  The high point for us was when her candle tin favors were featured in Parents Magazine in 2009.

Fast forward to 2013, we still offer her candles but we also offer over 5,000 other party favors and gifts.  She is now retired, although she will always be making candles. It’s been an amazing experience working with my best friend and sharing the success of our business together.

You have a great reputation for providing excellent customer service.  What do you believe is the key to creating a positive experience for your customers?
I believe the key is that you need to remember your customer is a person, not just a “sale” or a client. We take the time to get to know our customers.  In our industry we are providing something small but important for a very special occasion in their life.  Whether it’s a wedding, a 1st birthday party or a baby shower, they are celebrating a significant milestone.  These little favors are a key part of their event so we take the time to make sure each customer is taken care of.  A large percentage of our business is repeat customers, we are very proud of that.

What do you like best about Event Blossom products?  Any favorites?
I remember the first time I saw the products on Event Blossom’s website and I couldn’t have been more excited.  I loved the unique favors and the clean and modern design of the personalized labels.  I couldn’t get the items on my website fast enough.  I felt the product line synched well with what we wanted to offer our customers and I was right, they are some of our best sellers.

It’s hard to pick a favorite but I do love the Sweet Shoppe Candy Boxes. The boxes are top quality and I love all the different label designs and options that are available.  The Lollipops are another favorite of mine.  I have personally used the Candy Boxes, the Lollipops, the Lip Balm, the Mint Tins and the Candy Jars. When helping customers I almost always direct them to Event Blossom’s products because I know they will get a quality product. I really like the new Kid’s Birthday Designs, the Milk Bottles and the Candy Tubes. I think they will be best sellers this year.

Happy Valentine’s Day! What sort of ideas would you suggest to a bride who wants to have a Valentine’s Day wedding
Valentine’s Day makes me think of candy and chocolate. I think a Candy Buffet that offered candy hearts, small chocolates, red and pink M & M’s, and some Personalized Lollipops would be a fun way of incorporating Valentine’s Day without going overboard with Hearts everywhere. Of course the Sweet Shoppe Candy Bags would be the perfect way for friends and family to tote around their treats!

We had a little debate over here and I’d love to hear your input: Valentine’s Day weddings/proposals, classic or cliché?
I think Valentine’s Day will always be a classic day for weddings and proposals.  It’s not cliché but it’s also not a big surprise if a man wants to propose that day.  If he really wants to surprise her he shouldn’t do it on Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day isn’t the only day that couples can go out of their way to show their love for each other.  True romance happens on the most random of days.

We couldn’t agree more with that last notion — random acts of romance on random days are the best kind!  Thank you again, Kara, for being a part of our Quick Q+A!  Want more of Candles and Such?  Find them on Facebook and Twitter.

One more time — Happy Valentine’s Day, Blossomers!
-Kim