What better way to say, “I Love You”, than with chocolate?

Well, how about chocolate with a twist?

This Valentine’s Day, offer your customers some unique sweets that will boost your holiday sales and have everyone talking. Be on the cutting edge of what’s hot for this lovers’ holiday by choosing unique chocolate items rather that the traditional box of chocolates. This FGmarket newsletter, highlights a few wholesale candies and confections suppliers that will inspire your Valentine gift ideas. Boost your sales by offering your customers the most unique chocolate selections — with a twist.

A New Approach to Wholesale Chocolates

Chocolate Heart Box by Chocolate Impressions

Develop a brand new approach to chocolate by including photos and messages (anything you want to say) with products from Chocolate Impressions. Select a high-quality chocolate gift from their wide range of Chocolography products, then customize with your uploaded image, clip art, frames, backgrounds and greetings. Offer this to your customers for custom orders, or choose your own personalized messages that customers will love. Their Chocolate Heart Box (great for enclosing an engagement ring or other jewelry), Heart Lollipop, Portrait with Truffles or Personalized Chocolates will draw customers in for that one-of-a-kind Valentine gift.
While Chocolate Impressions’ products are great for year-round sales, they can certainly boost your sales during the Valentine’s Day holiday. By adding their chocolates to your gift baskets, balloon bouquets and that showstopper - dozen red roses, you will offer your customers the ultimate Valentine gifts.

Custom Chocolate Heart & Jelly Bellies

Join the ranks of celebrities, Jennifer Lopez or Elton John, by ordering high-quality chocolates from Custom Chocolates. They specialize in custom-molded chocolates in four enticing flavors (milk, dark, dark mint and white vanilla) with over 3,000 shapes to choose from, including hearts, long stem roses and champagne bottles.
Some of their treats: include a large Chocolate Heart Box filled with Jelly Bellies; a Valentine Treat Bag filled with six Lindt truffles and six heart-shaped chocolates. They also have Cupid’s Arrows (red licorice sticks dipped in white chocolate) and for that quintessential cookie lover a Valentine Oreo Treat Bag filled with six dark chocolate mint dipped Oreo Cookies — who wouldn’t love that!

Luscious Gourmet Chocolates

Hand Made Chocolates From The Artfull Chocolatier

If you cater to horse lovers in your locale, the equine-inspired products offered by The Artful Chocolatier Inc. are just the ticket. Each confection is made by hand, using only the freshest creams, caramels, nuts and flavorings. Then, one by one, each candy is hand-dipped in rich, creamy European chocolate for a luscious taste experience that lingers on the palette. Assorted chocolates, assorted creams, nut assortment and cherry cordials can be purchased separately or in gift baskets. These gourmet chocolates can be combined with chocolate filled tack trunks or little gold bags of pure milk chocolate covered stallions.
Add a specialized touch to a Valentine’s gift basket for equestrians with their all-natural soaps and lotions made from cocoa butter, shea butter, Vitamin E and botanicals. Let your customers eat gourmet chocolate and pamper their skin at the same time with products from The Artful Chocolatier.

Chocolate Caramel Lips From Mille-Lac Gourmet Foods

If you’re looking for gourmet chocolates with a kick, Mille-Lac Gourmet Foods offers several products for the wine and chocolate connoisseur. Be “the toast of the town” with their Chocolate Martini confections or Chardonnay Wine Truffles. Give customers a twist to the traditional boxed chocolates with Margarita Chocolates and Pina Colada Chocolates. Valentine’s Day just wouldn’t be complete without Chocolate Caramel Lips. They’re lip-smacking delicious! Women adore Mille-Lac’s Chocolates in Rose Box, but men will love their Delicious Fishes (milk chocolate caramels) and Fudgie Frogs (mint chocolate truffles). With these great gourmet chocolates, you’ll be everyone’s favorite Valentine on Valentine’s Day.
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, so don’t forget to offer some heartier selections for men this Valentine’s Day. Chocolate may be a girl’s best friend, but men may want something more meaty. Mille-Lac offers gourmet cheeses, meats and other food items, like their Heart of Wisconsin gourmet meat and cheese selections that will puts a smile on any man’s face. Help your customers celebrate every day and the holidays with the many festive products from Mille-Lac Gourmet Foods.

Chocolate Alternatives

Chocolate Lovers Gift Basket McJak Candy Company

“Lollipop, lollipop, ooo lolli-lollipop!” If you want to offer your customers an alternative to chocolate, gourmet lollipops from McJak Candy Company are the way to go. Made the old-fashioned way in copper kettles, these high-quality gourmet lollipops make great additions to gift baskets, that young and old alike will rave over. Their Dear Heart heart-shaped lollipops come in five flavors and colors. McJak also offers several gift baskets that are sure to be a hit. The Lollipop Sampler basket has 50 assorted-flavored lollipops (like cherry cheesecake and strawberry daiquiri) and 10 Javapops (coffee lollipops with natural coffee flavor and caffeine).
Customers will adore the Chocolate Lovers basket. An alternative to traditional chocolate candy, this basket contains an assortment of chocolate lollipops, Javapops and gourmet fudge. Offer your customers the ultimate lovers gift, McJak’s Valentines Basket, filled with 20 Dear Heart lollipops and gourmet fudge. To carry chocolate or not to carry chocolate, that is the question. Either way, McJak Candy Company can hook you up.
These are just a few of the fine suppliers of wholesale candy and gourmet chocolate items in our FGmarket wholesale Candies and Confections category. Offering these unique chocolate and candy products to your clientele will boost your Valentines Day sales. Adding a twist on the traditional Valentines gifts will put your name on everyone’s lips and chocolate on their fingertips.
Need other Valentine gift products to go with your chocolate? Check out the suppliers in the FGmarket Holiday & Special Occasion wholesalers category.

Contributor: Jill Evans

Inspirational keepsakes from Messages of Love

Jewelry and romantic collectibles are very popular gift choices for Valentines Day, and this occasion presents a great opportunity for selling these keepsakes, even if they’re not part of your usual product mix. In this newsletter issue, FGMarket.com showcases some excellent places to find hand-crafted jewelry, out-of-the-ordinary gift assortments, and Valentine’s Day treasures that customers will fall in love with. They’ll even enjoy adding to their own personal collections.
Messages of Love Jewelry carries a sparkling line of bejeweled bracelets, earrings, bookmarks and watch chains. Handcrafted with genuine Swarovski crystal beads, high-quality silver beads from Bali, freshwater pearls and other semi-precious gems, each item in the line is a special treasure. What’s more, each piece of jewelry is accompanied by a special message that helps the giver communicate his or her feelings toward the recipient.

Stylish glass jewelry at The Glass Cafe ©

More exquisitely crafted jewelry is available from The Glass Cafe, whose unique rings and pendants are sure to satisfy your visual appetite. They’re definitely worth a look! Delicate heart-shaped pendants come with a 16″ or 18″ choker in a variety of colors and treatments. Glass ‘Sparkle’ hearts (in the cooler colors) are manufactured with silver leaf, while the warmer-hued ‘Twinkle’ versions incorporate gold leaf. Their limited-edition heart rings are all accented with gold leaf. This product line is getting great reviews wherever it’s seen, and minimum order requirements are low enough that you can get into it without a big commitment in inventory.

Bryson Studio's collectible charms in purse boxes

Bryson Studios is a company that creates silver charms, bracelets, and new this year, gemstone necklaces, all cleverly packaged in handcrafted paper purses. The whimsical charms are 100% sterling silver and are accompanied by clever and witty fortunes, printed on vellum strips and attached to each charm with a ribbon. Each fortune is unique to the charm style; the umbrella, for instance, carries the message, “You will be showered with love.” Charms are sold individually packaged in one of three purse styles. The Valentine Collection features vivid red purses, each of which includes the choice of a silver charm (the ‘Cupid’ charm might be a good choice here). Other uses for the charm-within-a-purse include hanging it on a bottle of wine or champagne, tying it onto a gift-wrapped package, or affixing it to a greeting card. Bryson also offers a retail counter top display rack, which makes for easier sales.

Fun Cereal Bowls for Lovers at Our Name is Mud

More great Valentines Day gift ideas can be found at Our Name is Mud, manufacturers of ceramic ware such as over-size mugs, cereal bowls, picture frames, platters, etc. All of this company’s products are hand-painted, lead free, non-toxic, and dishwasher and microwave safe. Their sense of humor is visible in products like the Cereal Bowl for Lovers; terms of endearment like “Sweetie,” “Honey” and “Baby” encircle the rim, whereas inside the bottom of the bowl is a “Let’s go back to bed” message that’s revealed once all the cereal has been eaten. Also, especially suited for Valentines Day is the red, heart-shaped ceramic box, which says “I love you …” on the top, and “from the bottom of my heart” on the inside bottom. One more item that stands out (though not particularly romantic) is the scornful, yet entertaining “Ex-Boyfriends in Hell” votive candle holder.

AE Wholesale heart plaque with tealight candle holder

Gift shops can find a selection of keepsake items at AE Wholesale, an importer that is able to offer a wide variety of merchandise at reasonable prices. One of their heart-shaped satin boxes (sold as a nested set of three) makes a lovely container for a special gift. Their gorgeous cut glass rose is beautifully detailed, right down to the leaves and thorns on the stem. They also have a modestly priced, double panel, hinged glass plaque that has the look of stained glass and carries an inspiring message of love. And their paired, frosted glass swan candle holder is a romantic gift that symbolizes so much.
Florists and gift basket makers can benefit from the products offered by Baskets, Containers and More. This is a great source of Valentine-themed merchandise, including white-painted baskets embellished with red hearts, glass and plastic vases and other vessels for fresh flowers, and heart-shaped ceramic containers that could be used by florists to create in-house special arrangements for the holiday. A plastic, heart-shaped box could be used to fill with candy and tuck into a gift basket.

Ceramic heart bags found at Baskets, Containers & More

We’ve hardly scratched the surface of all the Valentines Day goodies out there. You’ll find more quality vendors and even more products when you visit the Valentines Day Holiday & Special Occasion category at FGMarket.com.
Do it now; you don’t want to be caught with your quiver empty when it comes time to help Cupid fire one of his arrows of love! Let your shop be the destination for those who are seeking just the right thing to delight their heart’s desire.

Hico Balloon's 'Funny Love' Mylar and Coordinating Vase

Wonderful Valentines Day balloons, new balloon gift items, and unique valentine balloon ideas are featured in today’s newsletter, showcasing products from just a few of the excellent wholesale companies listed on FGMarket.com!
Balloons are another easy add-on sale that can be highly profitable. Your sales staff ought to suggest one or two of them with everything they sell, reminding your customers that they’ve got great visual impact. Fun and festive balloons are available from Hico Balloons, who carry a full line of everyday latex and foil balloons as well as all the accessories - such as ribbon, balloon sticks, weights, helium valves, air inflators, etc. - that go with them.

Their ‘Seasonal Promotions’ pages are updated monthly, so you’ll be able to check back for Valentines Day features, like the 18-inch one sided Valentine mylar patterns, 18-inch two sided Valentine mylar patterns, 36-inch Valentine mylar patterns, Valentines latex balloons, and other Valentine vases, accessories, and gifts.

21-in. Google-Eyes Balloons are NEW from Betallic!

For more inflatable ideas, visit the website of Betallic, one of the most innovative balloon manufacturers in the industry. Their outstanding line encompasses the new ‘Holographic’ designs, giving foil balloons that extra bit of sparkle.
Some of their latest products - just in time for Valentines Day - are the ‘Google-Eyes’ balloons. These 21-inch, heart-shaped balloons feature a variety of characters with those wiggly eyes that seem to move when you shake them. The dancing peanut declares “I’m Nuts About You” (what else could he say?). The cutest one may be the Boston terrier with the lipstick smudge on his forehead and the caption “Love At First Sight.”

Betallic also has a unique assortment of ceramic floral containers, mugs, picture frames, plush, and candy items that make it easy to create beautiful coordinating arrangements. Remember, Betallic products are only sold through local distributors, many of whom are listed on their website.

Wrinkle-free Bubble Balloons available at TK Innovations

One of the most exciting products to hit the balloon industry is the amazing wrinkle-free Bubble Balloon from T K Innovations. These crystal clear balloons are intended to be inflated well past the “wrinkle stage” that would be recommended for most foil balloons. Many of the designs have smaller balloons of various sizes and shapes inserted within them, giving them a unique three-dimensional look.
For Valentines Day, TK offers a cluster of variously-sized red foil hearts floating within a clear bubble that’s printed with a “Happy Valentines Day” message. Or, select a bouncing inflated teddy bear inside a balloon that’s embellished with hearts, X’s and O’s.

Several patented inventions are the secret behind TK’s unique Bubble Balloons, which will last inflated from three to five weeks. No special equipment is needed. The company’s website features a video that explains how it’s all done.

Find these and other fine wholesalers and suppliers of Valentine’s Day gift items in our FGMarket Valentines Day Holiday & Special Occasion vendors’ category.

As promised, today’s newsletter features wonderful Valentines Day teddy bears, stuffed animals, and plush gift items from just a few of the excellent wholesale companies listed on FGMarket.com!
Speaking of teddy bears, there are probably more plush animals sold at Valentines Day than during Christmas. According to their manufacturers, the bears at First & Main, Inc. have been “stitched with love.” Their Angel Bears sport cupid-like wings and wear dainty floral necklaces and headbands (cleverly draped over one ear). ‘Minky’ is an old-fashioned style teddy bear constructed of soft faux mink material, making him perfect for cuddling. ‘Tucker’ is a little shaggier, a little plumper, and wears an appropriately red bow around his neck. ‘Delaney’ is a white bear with a soft pink snout and a burgundy bow, make him an ideal Valentines Day messenger. First & Main offers an entire menagerie of bears, stuffed animals, and other plush characters - even people - designed especially for the holiday, as well as for year-round sales.

Find these Adorable Animal Vase Huggers at Fiesta Toy!

Another excellent source for Valentines Day stuffed animals and plush, Fiesta Toy Company has a website with several pages of whimsical critters that are dedicated to the occasion. From a wide range of bears, gorillas, puppies, tigers and other plush fauna, their 9″ Sitting Polka-Dot Frog has got to be the star! His big, floppy feet keep him balanced as he stretches his arms as wide as he can to reveal the words, “I love you THIS MUCH!” emblazoned on his belly. He’s irresistible, and he’s only one of a large selection of plush valentine creatures at Fiesta. A few noteworthy standouts include the floppy-eared, Assorted Comical Puppies, each dragging a string of hearts in his mouth, as well as the cuddly 9.5″ Sitting Bears, holding heart-shaped Valentine Gift Boxes that can be used to contain a special, personal Valentine’s Day surprise. Did someone say “diamond ring?” For flower shops and florists, Fiesta has a fun, loveable assortment of Vase Huggers - bears, monkeys, pandas and puppies - whose arms can easily slide over a valentines bud vase of roses. What a great, eye-catching way to upgrade an otherwise ordinary sale!

6-in. Precious Pink Beanie in Anico's Valentine Assortment.

Retailers can enjoy special pricing on quantity purchases for Valentine’s Day and everyday, at Anico Plush. Browse their Everyday product section to find a vast array of plush bears in all shapes, sizes, colors and species, any of which could be easily spruced up for the holiday. ‘Minky Bear’ is especially soft, as his name implies, and he’s available in standing or lying down versions. Their Valentine 2006 collection features an assortment of adorable bears and puppies, appropriately decked out in pinks and reds with hats, ribbons, and heart accents. One especially cute shaggy white 11″ bear, with red nose and ears, carries a red heart that reads “XO XO.” There’s no mistaking that message!
Balloons are another easy add-on sale which can be highly profitable, but those important details will have to wait… Soon to come is FGMarket’s Valentines Day Is On Its Way - Balloon Gift Ideas. In part three of our series, we will showcase Valentines Day balloon gifts and products, as well as some of the latest design innovations in Valentine’s Day balloons and balloon accessories, specials on valentine balloon packages, valentine gift promotions, etc.
More quality Valentines Day gift vendors are easy to find in the Holiday and Special Occasion category at FGMarket.com!

Melt-In-Your-Mouth Chocolate from Quality Candy

Valentines Day is on its way! There are just a couple of months left until Christmas, which means that it must be time to start thinking about Valentines Day … already! Maybe it seems a little early, but remember that you’re going to have to fill all those empty shelves and display cases with something once the holiday merchandise is gone. Valentines Day merchandise ought to hit the sales floor by January 1st (if not sooner), so it’s a good idea to get it all ordered now; then you won’t have to worry about it during the Christmas rush. To help you along with your purchasing decisions (and make shopping a little easier), we’ve identified just a few of the excellent suppliers from our extensive FGMarket Valentines Day Holiday & Special Occasion vendors’ category. These companies offer a wide array of traditional as well as unconventional Valentines Day merchandise. For gift ideas that go from romantic to whimsical, from stylish to silly, from tempting to tasty to downright tawdry, read on …

Pecan Turtle Hearts from Robicheaux's Specialty Candy

Not a Valentines Day goes by without someone, somewhere getting a heart-shaped box of chocolates. You can be part of that time-honored tradition with the high quality, award-winning chocolates from Quality Candy/Buddy Squirrel (as the name suggests, the candy operation merged with the nut company some years ago). A family business since 1916, Quality creates premium melt-in-your-mouth candy in all the traditional milk chocolate and dark chocolate varieties, including double-dipped cherry cordials, buttery caramels, creamy nougats and savory nut clusters. They’re available in a wide range of beautifully boxed sizes and assortments, and they can even be paired with deluxe nut mixes, rich caramel corn or jumbo cashews from the Squirrel side of the business, all presented in an attractive gift tin.
From the Southern part of the country comes Robicheaux’s Specialty Candy, makers of some of the best handmade chocolates in Dixie. As you might expect, pecans figure heavily in their product line, with chocolate-covered pecan turtles being their number one seller. For Valentines Day, they do their traditional turtles in the shape of a heart, either “plain” (not frosted) or dipped in white chocolate and decorated with red, pink or white drizzles… yum!! Robicheaux’s has a large selection of gift bags, boxes, tins and crates filled with their delicious chocolates, or you can buy them in bulk and market them in your own containers. Their 8-ounce red heart-shaped tin, filled with 14 individually wrapped assorted candies, is sure to be a great Valentines Day gift. It’s even comes filled with sugar-free candies.

Say LOVE with Chocolate Bars from chocolateTalk

To help your customers communicate what’s in their own hearts, check out the verbal candy bars from chocolateTalk. Smooth, creamy milk chocolate or scrumptious dark chocolate is hand-molded into a 2.5 ounce bar that delivers a special greeting. For Valentines Day, the ones that proclaim “LOVE” or “SMOOCH” are the likely choices. Each bar is packaged in an eye-catching, multicolor striped wrapping with an attached gift tag. A handy 32-bar counter display comes free with the first order. This is a great impulse item to keep near the cash register, and it can be an easy add-on sale to go with something like a flower arrangement or a teddy bear.
And speaking of teddy bears (did you like that segue?), there are probably more plush animals sold at Valentines Day than during Christmas. For more information, watch for our upcoming newsletter, Valentines Day is on Its Way - Plush Animals Gift Ideas, part two of FGMarket’s newsletter series featuring some great gift ideas for Valentine’s Day. Find these and other fine wholesalers and suppliers of Valentine’s Day gift items in our FGMarket Valentines Day Holiday & Special Occasion vendors’ category.