The iPad might be one of the most recognized images in our technological world. For Adrian Vargas, CMO of iSuites in Pompano Beach, FL, iPads are central to the core of his company’s focus, creating Smart Hotels. In a Smart Hotel, which is the hottest trend in the hospitality industry, guests are able, with a single iPad, to control their lighting, temperature, TV, and personalized music, as well as schedule wake-up scenes, request housekeeping, valet service and more. What better way to catch the eye and attention of a potential client than a sweet edible 3D iPad with his company’s photo printed on the screen created by Tasty Image.
Vargas wanted chocolate iPads to promote his electronic concierge services, and he did what everyone would do to find them. “I researched online,” he said. “I was looking into making a chocolate mold of the iPad to send to potential clients and it was going to cost me $350. Then I found Tasty Image. Printing on chocolate was a much better idea and the price was right.”
Once he started working with the design team at the Tasty Image Chocolate Shop in Jupiter, Florida, the process was quick and simple. “They didn’t ask for a design fee and made one up right away for me. [They were] easy to work with,” Vargas said.
Tasty Image founder Derri Cerbone was invited to appear on Fox News “Small Business Spotlight” for Happening Now with Jon Scott and Jenna Lee on Valentine’s Day. Chocolates, sweethearts and Tasty Image were the topic of the day for host Jenna Lee.
“How is the chocolate business these days?” asked Jenna.
“The chocolate industry is sweet!” replied Derri. “Chocolate is pretty forever .. and personalized chocolate makes it even better. Our business is recession proof.”
Jenna complimented Tasty image on the chocolate portrait featuring a Fox News logo, and a heart-shaped portrait of herself and co-host Jon Scott. “I think that is the best Valentine’s Day chocolate I’ve ever had,” she said in closing.
See the entire interview here: http://video.foxnews.com/v/2165371978001/small-business-spotlight-21413/?playlist_id=930909745001
January was a busy month for Tasty Image franchisees, with two Grand Openings!
Tasty Image owners Nelson and Sara Bendeck kicked off the action on January 29 in Bethesda, MD and owners Arpan and Neha Kotecha celebrated their Grand Opening a few days later on January 31 in Mount Pleasant, SC.
The Grand Openings were fantastic events, with free truffles, chocolate fountains, Fun-Do desserts, digital-screen ‘prize wheels’ and ongoing raffles. Our mascot Ruffle the Truffle was on hand to greet families and wave everybody inside—his job wasn’t too hard with the smell of warm chocolate wafting through the mall.
Families also enjoyed entering the ChocoDoodle contest. Kids were allowed to choose a lollipop with a black-and-white edible image on it, to color as they chose with edible markers. Parents or staff members would take a picture of the child and his or her ‘Doodle and then upload it directly from their phones to our contests on Facebook. The child with the most votes per entry by February 13th would win a free iPad and a week at Cocoa Camp for two! “I don’t know who had more fun,” one parent posted, “the kids or the adults!”
Some of the comments on Facebook from happy customers …
“By the way, the chocolate is simply...AMAZING! (My boys and I are officially addicts now.)”
“Fabulous chocolate...looking forward to having my son's graduation announcement and senior picture done in chocolate!”
February is a busy month for our Tasty Image franchisees. Custom chocolates are in huge demand as Valentine’s Day approaches. There is always a rush of orders for custom chocolate gifts for children, family members and sweethearts. And sometimes people just wander in for a sweet chocolate treat after a romantic dinner.
February also kicks off bridal sales. Think about it—men often propose over the holidays, so by February excited brides are already planning their weddings. Custom chocolates from Tasty Image make clever invitations, place cards and party favors.
Neha Kotecha, co-owner of Tasty Image in Mount Pleasant, SC says, “We’re planning a special offer just for brides. They can come in for a free consultation and enjoy free truffles and a discount on their purchases while they are here.
Shelli Eicher in Paso Robles, CA says, “I want to print ‘Save the Date’ notices on chocolate squares to send now. We’re sending our invitations later this spring—I think this will be a great way to let everyone know to mark the date on their calendar now.”
Tasty Image's latest menu offering is a gift that you give yourself.
Fun-Do is our unique take on fondue, with a twist. With Fun-Do you start with fruits, cookies or marshmallows then cascade warm milk, dark or white chocolate over the top. The result is a decadent dessert like no other.
Arpan Kotecha, franchisee of our Mount Pleasant, South Carolina store
agrees, “Our customers have been going crazy for it. Fun-Do is one of
our most popular items right now.”
Fun-Do is positioned to compete with yogurt and cupcake shops, by
offering a consumable on-the-spot snack. It brings repeat business to
your Tasty Image store and increases your per customer purchase.
“Customers can’t resist the smell of warm chocolate. Most will order a
personalized gift and a cup of Fun-Do to eat while they wait for it to
print,” says Cerbone.
For additional income potential, add Fun-Do to your chocolate catering
service menu. Fun-Do is a unique alternative to chocolate fountains.
Want to know what success tastes like? Stop by a Tasty Image store and
try a cup of Fun-Do. We guarantee it won’t be your last.
Let's see, kids ... chocolate ... drawing and doodling ... what's not to LOVE?
This month we celebrate the Grand Openings of two new Tasty image stores with a ChocoDoodle contest for kids! Two new Tasty Image stores in Bethesda, MD and Mount Pleasant, SC are sponsoring ChocoDoodle contests for families and children who visit their stores.
Two lucky children, one from each store, will win a Grand Prize iPad and a week at Cocoa Camp for two. An additional first prize winner will win one full day at Cocoa Camp for two.
The contest lasts until February 13, and winners will be announced on Valentine's Day, February 14.
ChocoDoodles are chocolate lollipops with an edible black-and-white drawing on them. Kids visiting the new Tasty Image stores may pick their ChocoDoodle from among a selection of themes and color them with edible markers. The child with the most votes wins!
Go to http://woobox.com/5aqq5x to vote for Mount Pleasant, SC kids.
Go to http://woobox.com/pwvvjf to vote for Bethesda, MD participants.
You can vote every day!
Here are some more of our favorite ChocoDoodles (gee, it's so hard to choose)! Follow us on Facebook to see more ChocoDoodle entries and to see who our lucky winners are on February 14!
by Tasty Image founder Derri Cerbone
The holiday season has passed and now we can all sit back and slow down. Calm and quiet fills the house now that family has returned to their homes, and the hustle and bustle in the shopping malls has all come to a screeching halt. Now that we have regained our composure, it’s the perfect time to plan a post-holiday party!
More and more party planners and finding that, people are moving their home parties to January for a range of reasons. The most recurrent ones that I’ve heard have been based on the fact that holidays tend to be about family. This means that for people with extended, blended or large families, scheduling time with each of them takes up the entire holiday period. For people with families out of the city, or country, the holiday season generally means travel.
So what does this mean?
Join us in the fun on Facebook! This luscious chocolate truffle tray retails for $84.99, and we are auctioning it away to the highest bidder! Place your bid before midnight on Monday, December 17 and you could be the lucky winner.
This delectable tray has six tiers of chocolate and over 1.5 pounds of chocolate. Chocolate, caramel, champagne, and coconut ... what's not to love? Offer this tray at your holiday open house, give it as a gift to your office staff, or surprise your mom. Bids are welcome, no minimum raise!
ChocoDoodles are a new Tasty Image product, available soon!
ChocoDoodle is a chocolate coloring kit for kids of all ages. It consists of chocolate lollipops with black and white images, and food coloring markers in five colors (pink, blue, orange, green, purple). They can be created by theme (travel, hearts, farm, toys, butterflies, princess, etc.) or by holiday (Christmas, Easter, Valentine's, etc.).
In test marketing at our flagship store in Jupiter, Florida, people love ChocoDoodles and buy them for their kids and grandkids.
Each Chocodoodle set includes four lollipops and five markers, and retails for $24.99. Dress them up in special packaging or even make birthday bouquets with them!
ChocoDoodles will soon be availabe on the website in at least two packages—a single set like the one pictured, and a big party pack in a bin (15 lollipops, 15 markers). Franchisees will also be able to order the lollies and pens to sell separately. So many ways to have fun!
Two new Tasty Image owners have social media accounts up and running! Arpan and Neha Kotecha of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina are rocking their Facebook page with interactive questions and a visual “tour” of their new shop as their space is being renovated.
Tasty Image owners Nelson and Sara Bendeck of Bethesda, Maryland are also heading toward their grand opening soon, and already have over 250 ‘Likes’ on Facebook, in just one month.
Please give them each a thumbs up on Facebook. Let’s show our support!
Tasty Image helps its owners get set up with their own customizable Tasty Image identities on Facebook, Twitter and coming soon … Pinterest. Our marketing and social media staff will create an attractive landing page, get you set up with exciting tweets and posts, and design custom tabs for your Facebook page. We also send out invites and get you started on the road to social media success.
There's a reason we ask our franchisees to bring a swimsuit when they arrive for training at our Florida store! Our hospitality is as warm as the sunshine, and if you are up for adventure, we'll take you kayaking and exploring.
Berta Vergara, manager of a new Tasty Image shop in Carmichael, California was treated to a field trip during her chocolatier training. Berta and Cindy Patterson, manager of Tasty Image’s flagship store in Florida, enjoyed a kayak excursion, along with Cindy’s twin daughters Emily and Kim.
Continue reading "Bring Your Swimsuit to Chocolate Training Day " »
Send us your photos!
You gotta love it when people invent a "national" day just to smother random items in chocolate. The history of this event is smothered in obscurity - no one really knows who started it, but it's quickly going viral. The idea is to pick any random item (or person), dip it in chocolate, and publish the photo on your blog, Facebook, Pinterest, or social media account of choice.
Some suggestions, wild claims, and ideas for your inspiration:
Holiday entertaining is easy and impressive when you invite Tasty Image to create a magnificent buffet of chocolate treats, dipping items and shimmering chocolate fountains. These photos are from a recent event we did at Frenchmen's Reserve in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
You can choose from milk, dark and white chocolate (or have all three!) and a wide variety of dipping items.
Here are some ideas to whet your appetite! Can't you just smell the chocolate?
With the holidays fast approaching, the Team at Tasty Image's flagship store thought you might like their recipe for home made marshmallows! The flavor is fantastic, especially if you use REAL vanilla extract! You can also use any other flavoring--mint, orange, lavender, chocolate (!)--for a totally custom marshmallow experience. And they are so easy to make. They just require a little sugar and a little patience--20 minutes worth, come on, you can handle it! A great project to do with kids!
Homemade marshmallows make great toppings for Thanksgiving yams, wonderful treats for classroom festivities, and fun party favors. You can dip them in chocolate and decorate with sprinkles, pretzels and bows.
Check out our Facebook Page for these exciting new tabs! Now you can join our email list, shop for seasonal specials and even save money on Tasty Image chocolate, directly from Facebook.
Did your mom teach you that it's good manners to take a gift to your dinner party hosts? Of course she did! And we have the perfect solution for that "what to bring" dilemma. Our Truffle Party Platter and Truffle Bouquet can be shared with the whole family, and the Kids' Gobble Gift Set is always a huge hit with kids and adults.
If you can't be there in person, why not send a hand-painted or hand-drizzled Chocolate Turkey to stand in for you? Your loved ones will be thinking of you during dinner, and then get to "bust you up" and share you later. Our Chocolate Turkeys come in three sizes, and your choice of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate.
Our logo, Ruffle the Truffle, is going to be very busy this holiday season, starting with these fabulous Thanksgiving ideas.
One of the best things about chocolate is that people simply cannot get enough of it! Once your Tasty Image location is staffed and open for business, you can expand your horizons by going mobile. Get ready to take your chocolate show on the road! By catering parties and events you can sell customizable chocolates to large groups in a short amount of time—and that means profits!
Express your personality and create the career you’ve always wanted. Your chocolate catering business can be as unique as you are.
Are you outgoing and love to teach? You can specialize in conducting tastings of chocolates from around the world, or give cooking and candymaking demonstrations.
Are you a busy mom-on-the-go and you relate well to other parents? Perhaps you’d like to specialize in customized birthday parties. Tasty Image can help you get started with our extensive list of party ideas and activities!
If you’re a romantic at heart, then maybe weddings are your thing. In addition to creating lovely and customized chocolate party favors for bachelorette parties, weddings and receptions, you can also specialize in chocolate fountains, candy buffets, and mobile chocolate printing.
If you have a background in sales or are simply a natural salesperson, then catering for corporate events and holiday parties would be a great fit for you. Businesses are always looking for something unique to offer, whether it’s for an employee Christmas party or an open house to the public, and with all your chocolate options—mobile chocolate printing, candy buffets, chocolate fountains—you’ll be the caterer they covet!
Click here to read about Tasty Image catering for Microsoft during Social Media Week in New York.
Want to be a star? If you have an outgoing personality and love to be the star of the show, then the sky is the limit. Click here to read about Tasty Image at the New Jersey Food & Wine Festival. If you are a fan of FoodTV, you’ll recognize some of the people who were present—like Alton Brown, star of Good Eats and Iron Chef America, and Thomas Keller, who owns the two most prestigious restaurants in the United States and was the driving force behind Pixar’s animated film Ratatouille.
With a Tasty Image franchise, you can expand your services with catering options that offer customizable treats to your customers, and a customizable career for you!
Real buckeye nuts falling from the tree. Buckeyes were a source of food for Native Americans.
With the holidays just around the corner, we thought you might like to try this recipe for Chocolate Buckeyes, courtesy of our flagship store in Jupiter, Florida. The real buckeye is a nut related to the horse chestnut. When acorns were sparse, some native Americans would rely on buckeye nuts to sustain them. Like acorns, which are very tannic, buckeyes would need to be leached in fresh water for several days before grinding into meal. Trust us, the chocolate version is much tastier, and a fun way to honor native traditions at Thanksgiving!
Deliciously decadent served on their own, these chocolate buckeyes also make great toppers for pies and cakes!
CHOCOLATE BUCKEYES
IN A LARGE BOWL, MIX TOGETHER THE PEANUT BUTTER, BUTTER, VANILLA AND CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR. THE DOUGH WILL LOOK DRY. ROLL INTO 1 INCH BALLS AND PLACE ON A WAXED PAPER-LINED COOKIE SHEET.
PRESS A TOOTHPICK INTO THE TOP OF EACH BALL (TO BE USED LATER AS THE HANDLE FOR DIPPING) AND CHILL IN FREEZER UNTIL FIRM. ABOUT 30 MINUTES.
MELT CHOCOLATE SHIPS IN A DOUBLE BOILER OR IN A BOWL SET OVER A PAN OF BARELY SIMMERING WATER. STIR FREQUENTLY UNTIL SMOOTH.
DIP FROZEN PEANUT BUTTER BALLS IN CHOCOLATE HOLDING ONTO THE TOOTHPICK. LEAVE A SMALL PORTION OF PEANUT BUTTER SHOWING AT THE TOPE TO MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE BUCKEYES. PUT BACK ON THE COOKIE SHEET AND REFRIGERATE UNTIL SERVING.
"I’m going to use them at an upcoming trade show as a giveaway," says marketing associate Casey Kittredge. "The QR code drives traffic to our newly designed website. Specifically, people will land on a video that explains FK’s current capabilities."
Maria Abascal has been printing on chocolate in her home country of Venezuela for four years. Specializing in corporate and business printing, Maria has built a loyal clientele by printing company logos on chocolate for trade shows, conventions, and private company seminars.
Maria, what made you choose chocolate printing as a career or business option?
We chose chocolate printing as a business option because it is another way to promote companies and a way to explore advertising other than the traditional routes, like television, magazines, and newspapers.
What has the reaction been so far for your edible image chocolates?
It is always a positive reaction; people are always surprised, imprinted chocolates always seem new!
How do you market your business?
We sell direct to consumers online, of course, and we also take orders by phone. We get a lot of word-of-mouth business, but we also visit businesses and show them samples. We like to do chocolate printing for company events, we also sell to caterers, and of course we like to show people that we can fill any need, any other idea that they have.
Do you have plans to expand your business?
Yes, we want to grow, hire more employees, and sell more!
We want to come back next year with more ideas, expand our store footprint, network and cross-promote with other stores, and begin doing live chocolate printing at events.
What do you see as the future of the edible chocolate imaging industry?
I see that people are always going to love chocolate, and will always be making new designs and coming up with new ideas. People love to see new things.
During the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Tasty Image will donate 10% of all proceeds from online orders to the Susan G. Komen Memorial Fund.
Tasty Image prints completely edible images on chocolate lollipops, bars, coins and cookies. "Our product is in demand by people organizing or promoting fundraising events and races," according to marketing manager Mary Baker. "Pink, women, and chocolate - the ideas just naturally go together."
Store manager Cindy Patterson adds, "We have a library of "Think Pink" slogans and logos, but we can also print anything a customer wants on the product of their choice."
"We want to give back to our community and to this cause," says Baker, "because many of us here at Tasty Image have either faced cancer or lost someone dear. We always rejoice when we get a Think Pink order because it makes us feel that we're contributing."
Several folks recently posted their comments and experiences on TripAdvisor. Read more here to find out details and get information on other local experiences. Make your next family visit to Palm Springs unforgettable!
Cindy Zakalic is the newest member of our chocolate printing team. Cindy lives on Long Island in New York with her husband and two children. As her children were growing up she helped create yearbooks and leaflets for school events, and made invitations for their parties and candy bar wrappers using CorelDRAW. She has always enjoyed being creative and making sure these personalized items brought that special "it" factor to parties.
Tasty Image has now elevated her ability to be creative and share customized gifts. Here is how Cindy got started in chocolate printing.
How did you hear about Tasty Image?
One night while searching the internet I came across your website. I was searching the internet for a new idea, a new business. Right then and there I knew it was something special. It seemed like such a great opportunity that I had to learn more about it. Once I knew more I decided to pursue this new endeavor and I am so excited for all of the chances to bring more smiles to the world.
How long have you been doing chocolate printing?
We have only been printing for three months and we are really excited for the future! Everyone that has seen and/or eaten the printed chocolates, truffles, and cookies has absolutely loved it and taken an extra one to show a friend.
My family is helping me with the business; working with Photoshop, printing the chocolates, and spreading the word about the new creations we are bringing to our community.
How do you plan to market your business?
Right now we are selling online and through word of mouth. As we build the business we will expand our physical and online presence. Social media is a powerful tool and will be a large part of our marketing strategy.
Do you have plans to expand your business?
We are focused on filling the needs of our local community first and then expanding the business.
What part of your training did you enjoy the most?
Seeing the first product I designed printing onto chocolate for the first time was extremely exciting!
What do you see as the future of the edible chocolate imaging industry?
The edible chocolate imaging industry is just getting started and has a bright future. It’s exciting.
One of the delights of owning your own chocolate business is hosting
parties. Candymaking or ‘chocolatier’ classes are a fun way to engage
with adults and children.
Everyone loves learning how to temper chocolate and work with the chocolate enrober. You can show guests how to make non-pareils and other goodies. Who doesn’t love sinking their hands into warm gooey chocolate?
At our Tasty Image store in Jupiter, Florida, students first learn how to temper chocolate—which makes it warm, flexible and ready to mold. Next, they get to operate the chocolate enrober, which coats items in chocolate. We like to use pretzels—one person passes a pretzel into the enrober on a conveyor belt. The pretzel is coated in chocolate, the machine shakes off the excess like a happy dog after a swim, and another guest on the other side catches a perfectly coated pretzel as it leaves the enrober.
Guests also make their own demi cup (and fill it with ice cream), a tuxedo marshmallow, and non-pareils. And of course, everyone gets their photo on a customized chocolate lollipop!
You can choose to offer other refreshments as well or allow guests to bring their own birthday cakes. Guests can also make and design their own goodie bags, and carry home all their personally made chocolate creations.
The countdown is on; September 16 marks 100 days until Christmas. While the majority of your sales will be after Thanksgiving, it’s likely you’ll have some early shoppers. Plan well to set yourself up for success.
Order early. Place all third party orders (cookies, non-chocolate candies, etc.) at least two months in advance of any selling season (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc.). Additionally, any holiday-themed molds or preprinted items should be ordered from the warehouse before Halloween. Placing these orders in advance of the holidays will help prevent out-of-stock-issues for you and your customers.
Continue reading "Tasty Image Store Owners: 100 Days Until Christmas. Are you ready?" »
October is the right time to start pursuing corporate Christmas orders. A little early, you ask? Not at all!
Although the personal gift shopping frenzy traditionally begins the day after Thanksgiving, smart assistants and business owners begin selecting their client gifts much earlier in the season. Imagine you are working for a stock brokerage firm with over 200 clients, and you’ve been given the task of finding a Christmas gift that will please everyone and can be imprinted with the company logo. If you wait until November, the personal shopping pressure will make it harder to get your order filled—that’s when things get put on back order. Plus, at many larger firms, an assistant may be asked to find several gift suggestions and run them by the director or a board for approval before ordering.
Continue reading " Corporate Gifts - How to Market for Multi-Unit Sales" »
Looking for great ideas for those August birthdays? At Tasty Image, we have great ideas for your family birthdays!
If you live near a nice beach, have a fun party there. If not, you can still have a "beach" party at a nearby park that has a large sand play area, or even in your own yard!
Just fill a few kiddie pools with sand, break out the sand toys, the beach towels, and the lawn chairs and create your own beach. Even the grownups will have fun!
Here are some more ideas for invitations, decorations, games, activities and food . . .
Continue reading "Have a Ball with a Birthday Beach Party" »
It’s that time of year again! Autumn leaves, warm coats, football chants are just around the corner. And now is the time for you to begin thinking creatively about ways to turn all that youthful enthusiasm and energy into income. August is the month that school administrators and committees plan their fundraising activities for the coming school year. So now is the time to meet with decision makers to offer fundraising ideas.
Before meeting with a school official, print an image of the school mascot on chocolate lollipops and decorate your pops with ribbons in the school colors. Come prepared with pricing, quantity discounts and suggestions for selling the items at bake sales, in the school commissary, and as student projects. Also bring high-quality digital photos of your product so teachers and students have photos to use in student newspapers, sport schedules and posters. Think your fundraising project through, and make it as easy to implement as possible. Provide a written, step-by-step guide and include the profit that the school can make.
Schools depend on fundraisers to raise money for teams, bands and other activities. They are always looking for fresh, new ideas, but the thing to remember when approaching a school and its board committee with a fundraising idea is to do it in the right manner. Your idea should be concise and fully detailed in order to convince them that the fundraiser is executable and will have great results.
There are several ways to approach a school with your fundraising suggestions. You can contact the school board treasurer and ask to make a presentation at the next board meeting. For faster results, go directly to someone in the school’s Booster Club and make an informal pitch for their next fundraiser. Or talk directly to students who are planning their own fundraising activities. Remember, in most schools, all fundraising activities must be approved by the administration so have your idea completely written out in easy steps to make it easy for students to give their own presentation.
Facebook walls see an uptick of activity. A nice dinner or working lunch is interrupted by waitstaff singing. People are wandering your shopping plaza with bags and a purpose.
It's birthday season!
True, every season is birthday season but, statistically*, more birthdays occur in the months of August and September.
Maximize your pre-holiday sales and take advantage of these extra birthday celebrations with:
Additional birthday displays - This time of year people will be shopping your store with a gift in mind. Having an attractive array of birthday-themed baskets and bouquets will make their decision easier. For custom gifts, train your store staff to ask the right questions. This makes the shopping experience less of a chore for the gift giver.
Events and parties - Moms are always looking for something different for kid birthday parties. Be the talk of the play group with your one-of-a-kind in store events. Spread the word through local camps, church groups and other non-competing gift and toy stores in your area.
Marketing and ads - Any ads you place should have a birthday theme. Create flyers that feature birthday themed in store events.
With a little extra focus, this time of year can still be sweet!
*According to National Center for Health Statistics, 1995-2002 and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008
Jo Keeble is a mother of two in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and a new member of our global chocolate printing team. Jo’s business is taking off like a rocket, and no wonder. Her creative approach and fun personality are a perfect match for chocolate and with her talents as a baker, she has added yummy offerings like cake pops and cupcakes topped with printed chocolate coins.
What made you choose chocolate printing as a career or business option?
Who doesn't love chocolate!! And the mere fact that it can be personalized just adds to the appeal.
How did you hear about Tasty Image and chocolate printing?
I literally stumbled across it.... I was looking to involve myself in something fun and interesting, and Tasty Image was it. The first time I saw it, I wasn't in the financial position to forge ahead, but the idea stuck, and I couldn't shake it. However, once my financial position improved, there was no holding me back!
How long have you been doing chocolate printing?
I only started in March this year, so four months.
What has the reaction been so far for your edible image chocolates?
Having opened up a chocolate shop in a highly populated tourist destination, the reaction has been phenomenal. All aspects of my business complement each other, but the chocolate printing is definitely what blows everyone away!
Do you sell online, through personal live imaging at events, personalization for bakeries, catering, or other activities?
We sell EVERYTHING chocolate, so we sell online and through a shopfront. Orders are constant, and we are forever busy.
How do you market your business?
Facebook has been our main form of marketing. We launched our page in late March, and already have over 1500 followers to date.
I never expected anything like it! Word-of-mouth is always a positive and viral sales tool too.
And the biggest secret? Always have broken chocolate (all your misprinted items broken up into bite size pieces) on hand for customers to try! The minute they taste the quality of the chocolate, they are sold on it. I promise!
Do you have plans to expand?
Absolutely! I'm currently organizing my finances in order to buy a second printer later this year.
What part of your training did you enjoy the most?
Because we are located in Australia, one on one training was not possible.
However, we found the remote training with Marat and Alex to be very informative and beneficial.
What part of our customer service have you found to be most helpful?
Alla in International Sales is outstanding. We are not only friends, through our love for chocolate, but we have become genuine friends, regardless of the physical distance!
Were you able to start selling immediately after your training?
I was printing the very same day. We had Orders BEFORE we knew how to use the system!
What do you feel have been your most successful marketing activities?
Facebook for sure. We have also started at the local markets here with chocolate lollipops and our own cake pops, and the kids just swarm. It gives us a high turnover of product, and a great deal of exposure.
What is your advice for anyone else going into this business?
Don't hesitate! It's so lovely to wake up every day and look forward to going to work. It's a total pleasure, and I have absolutely no regrets.
What do you see as the future of the edible chocolate imaging industry?
The sky's the limit!
Pass the SPF 70% Cacao
Headline-making chocolate has been lauded by the scientific community as a mood enchancer, heart healthy food and a tonic for your skin. The latest study takes chocolate where it’s never been before—the beach.
German researchers recently tested chocolate’s ability to protect the skin from sunburn. In a trial of 24 women, half drank antioxidant-rich hot cocoa every morning for three months, then exposed their skin to ultraviolet (UV) light. The second group drank hot cocoa with a lesser amount of antioxidants for three months and were exposed to the same amount of UV light as well.
The results: Those who drank cocoa with more antioxidants received the most benefit and their skin didn’t redden as much when exposed to UV light.
Turns out the same natural antioxidants in dark chocolate that make it heart healthy are also responsible for UV skin protection. But before you start slathering cocoa powder all over your body, note that this study is very preliminary.
As a chocolate lover I’m all for adding more chocolate to my regimen. If approved, would you trade in your Coppertone for a Chocolate-tone suncreen?
Information gathered from ScienceNews
"Working with Tasty Image aboard our yachts, the Lady Atlantic & Lady Delray, has been an enjoyable experience for both our guests and our staff. Tasty Image has a very professional, knowledgeable staff with a great product! The candy tables & photo imaging make for a great event & conversation piece for adults & children alike! The Tasty Image team is great to work with, and really know their stuff – the displays are beautiful and clean up is always a breeze. From all of our passengers & our staff at Delray Yacht Cruises, we love working with Tasty Image!"
Meghan Christian, Asst. Vice President, Delray Yacht Cruises
Whether on the high seas or in a ballroom you can expand your Tasty Image income potential with fun party services, just like this chocolate buffet we prepared for a Bat Mitzvah on the Lady Atlantic.
Growing your business outside of the retail space is highly encouraged! Connect with hospitality venues, caterers and party services in your community. By offeirng discounts on live printing and chocolate catering, they can spread the word and help you book events.
Think outside of the store and your Tasty Image could be the next to set sail.
Arpan and Neha Kotecha are our newest franchise owners, and will soon open the first Tasty Image store in the beautiful and historic city of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. They are already considering expansion with the possible addition of Tasty Image locations in Charleston or northern South Carolina. Find out what their first Tasty Image experience was like.
Why did you decide to take a closer look at Tasty Image?
We LOVE everything chocolate and we wanted to make it accessible to others so they can get the same pleasure out of it. When we saw a business built around it, we decided to give it a closer look.
What made you decide to explore franchises as a business?
There are many advantages to going with a franchise for someone who is starting their first business. Since there is a working model and store already out there making money, it feels like less of a risk. Also you don't feel too overwhelmed because somebody who is running the exact same business is guiding you along the whole process.
When you traveled to Florida to visit the store, what were you curious about? What questions did you have?
It was a 9-hour drive so we talked about anything and everything. We talked about possible locations in our area where a business like this would click. And how our life would completely change, including our schedules.
We were curious about what the store would look like. And we had questions that all new business owners would ask, like how much capital will be required, business hours, store layout, mobile application for the business.
What was your Discovery Day like? Did you have fun? What did you learn?
Discovery Day was a lot of fun and tons of information. It was great to see the business in action. Everyone was very friendly there. We learned about the various revenue streams and the whole process of owning a franchise.
What did you talk about on the way home? Were you excited? Did you have more questions?
On the way home it was another 8-9 hour drive. We were definitely excited and it was just like we imagined. We talked to family and friends that have owned businesses and asked for their opinions. It was a matter of processing all the information we received.
Has the Discovery process answered your questions? Did you enjoy the experience?
The Discovery process definitely answered our questions. We think Derri did a fantastic job.
This month we're releasing a children's storybook, coloring book and audio CD set featuring our adorable mascot, Ruffle the Truffle.
Ruffle sets sail for the New World in this adventure inspired by the voyages of Christopher Columbus. Kids will learn about the real history of Christopher Columbus and his adventures as they follow Ruffle around the globe. They will also discover where chocolate comes from, how it was discovered and brought to Europe, and how cacao beans are processed.
The storybook set is included in our Tasty Image franchise samples kit, and is also available for order. It's a great addition to your product inventory, summer chocolate camps for kids, and welcome gift bags for chocolate club members. You can also use it for classroom appearances and library story times ... where you can network with parents and teachers and hand out order forms for personalized Tasty Image chocolate!
As a Tasty Image owner, you'll be provided with a whole "wardrobe" of Ruffles for some marketing fun. Our company logo walks, talks, dances and shines in the spotlight! He's also very entertaining and kids love him.
Tasty Image was a proud sponsor of the Relay for Life event to support cancer in Walla Walla, Washington. The weather was gorgeous, bands were playing, and families and friends of cancer survivors and victims gathered to celebrate, remember, and contribute to the cause.
Relay For Life is the main volunteer-driven fundraising event of the American Cancer Society. Originating in the United States, Relay For Life has spread to 21 countries. Relay events are held in local communities, campus universities, military bases, and even in cyberspace. Although the main objective of Relay is to raise money for cancer research and cancer patients, the event is held to spread cancer awareness, celebrate the lives of survivors, remember those who lost their lives to cancer, and unite a world-wide community in the fight against cancer.
For more information on how to join Relay for Life or start your own Relay team, visit the Official Relay for Life Website.
Expand your income exponentially by adding custom events and catering services. In addition to store traffic and customized online orders, catering allows you to bring your chocolate printing and chocolate candies directly to large groups of people, resulting in high profits and excellent cash flow.
For instance, the Tasty Image store in Jupiter, Florida offers candy buffets, customized ice cream buffets, and mobile chocolate printing.
Here are 4 ways to get started in custom chocolate catering!
1. First, decide on your niche.
Choose a catering option that suits your style and temperament, and gives you the biggest return on your investment of time and product. If you enjoy teaching and lecturing, then maybe offer to conduct chocolate tastings. There are so many options to choose from: weddings, corporate holiday events, private parties, new business open houses. Eventually you can add more venues and types of catering to your portfolio, but when you are starting out, choose one niche and get comfortable with it.
2. Partner with other caterers.
As a custom chocolate caterer, you can support other caterers in your area by covering their dessert table needs. Introduce yourself to all the caterers in your area and bring them a sample of your custom chocolates—deliver a selection that includes some edible images, and also any other specialties you are proud of, like molded and hand-painted chocolates or handmade truffles. If you get orders for custom chocolates from catering companies, remind them that you are also available to handle their dessert and candy catering needs.
3. Contact party planners and event planners in your area.
If you live in a town or small city, a quick perusal of your local phone book will reveal a goldmine of potential contacts. In a larger city you can hire someone to compile a list of contacts for you.
Prepare an attractive email campaign and contact party planners every 2 weeks. We even have a Tasty Image template for you! Let them know what you can do to make their events special.
4. Watch for opportunities to directly approach businesses and corporations for holiday and event catering. Read your local news with an eye to event schedules and announcements. Also peruse the new business and license filings; then call those businesses and offer to cater their open house events.
From the moment you open the doors of your new Tasty Image chocolate shop, you can begin dreaming big!
by Derri Cerbone, Founder of Tasty Image
It’s here, the sizzling summer days that every school age child waits for—and the days when every parent begins to wonder what to do with their children during the long, hot summer! As if it were yesterday, I hear the tiny voices of my own children as they asked me, “Mom, there’s nothing to do….what can we do today?”
Tasty Image has the answer! Behind the doors of Tasty Image, there’s lots of summer fun going on. Tasty Image is home to one of the most unique and memorable experiences a kid can have. Cocoa Camp is in full swing, with school age children spending the day with our candymakers, enjoying the chocolate-y shenanigans that we do all day long.
With Father’s Day just around the corner, our little chocolatiers are getting down and dandy creating chocolate Father’s Day creations such as chocolate fish, chocolate tools and tool boxes, and chocolate signs that read, “Worlds Best Dad”.
Welcome to the concept of entertaining and teaching a skill set while having fun and being enriched! We adults don’t want to ever let on that our little candy makers are actually learning something too (ssshh, that would ruin everything)! Let’s not let on that they are learning the basics of food handling, and concepts of math and measurement as we mix and mingle a variety of flavorings and coloring to chocolate in just the right measurements to make delicious cocoa creations. Oh no, we would never want the campers to know that they are getting a dose of weights and measurement as they prepare ingredients for a project … and we’ll never let on that they are practicing reading while we follow written instructions before embarking on a new project. Problem solving is always part of the process as campers are asked to alter projects slightly, so as to customize the outcome for their special Dad or recipient. Learning has never been this much fun or so tasty!
Summer fun, at Tasty Image—crafty, clever and oh so Tasty, too!
Cocoa Camp starts Monday June 11 at Tasty Image in Jupiter, Florida! Come in for a day or a week, ages 7 to 14 welcome. Camp runs Monday-Friday 10 am to 5 pm for all kids living or visiting in the Palm Beach area.
Do you LOVE CHOCOLATE? And fun? What can be more FUN for kids than a chocolate-filled summer!
Come to Cocoa Camp at Tasty Image and print EDIBLE PHOTOS on lollipops! Learn to make all kinds of chocolate treats and become a real chocolatier. Lots of fun, chocolate-themed activities. Every camper gets a goodie bag of cool stuff too - your very own Ruffle apron and tee shirt, and a Ruffle storybook, coloring book and audio CD.
Price $55 per day. Register for a full week and enjoy a $25 discount! (One week: $250.00)
M-F 10am-5pm
Call 877-742-2626 for details!
It's time for Chocolate Lovers everywhere to rejoice! June 7th is a combined culinary event called Taste in the West & Chocolate Lover's Festival, coming to chocoholics in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Get your tickets early and we'll see you there!
Order a candy buffet for your next party or event. We deliver an amazing presentation of glass display dishes and jars heaping full of truffles, chocolates, caramel, dipped cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries and more! You can also order "theme" treats and edible image lollipops.
Starting at $9.99 per person. Call toll-free 877-742-2626 for more information. Currently available only the Palm Beach, Florida area.
Here are some more photos of our fabulous candy buffets!
Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business? Most of us have at one time or another. The idea of unlimited income, creative freedom and the power to control one’s destiny—these are powerful and healthy desires, and in our hearts we know it’s all possible! You have the power to start a small business and succeed beyond your wildest expectations.
A Tasty Image franchise allows you to open your doors and start making money immediately. Our friendly training staff is there to support you every step of the way. Our national branding campaigns and marketing materials make you look like a star from the moment you open your doors.
But Tasty Image is not about us—it’s about you! Here are five ways that you can find independence and realize your true potential with a career in custom chocolate.
1. Income potential
Having your own business creates an opportunity for unlimited income. Owning your own business means there is no longer a cap on your earning potential. You are no longer turning your best ideas over to a manager or CEO to be folded into the corporate batter and turned into gold for the company oven. As a business owner, you will reap 100% of the rewards from your ideas, knowledge and experience.
Continue reading "5 Reasons Why You Should Own a Tasty Image Franchise" »
Recent Comments