Valentine's Day gift Archives - The Happy Chocolatier

What’s the Best Gift for Valentine’s Day? It’s Not Just Chocolate….

One might assume that, as chocolatiers, we would instantly propose our fine chocolates. While we think great chocolate – especially dark chocolate – is a close second for many reasons, the best gift may be to “give happiness.”

This Valentine’s Day consider giving your sweetie the simple gift of happiness. To do this, you must be happy. And to be happy, you must be joyful, appreciative and positive. Be thankful for your sweetheart, family and friends. Before you know it you’ll be happy and able to share that happiness. It sounds simple, but it takes a conscious effort.

Happiness is, indeed, contagious!

Back to chocolate. Chocolate can actually make you happy, according to numerous studies looking at the health benefits of chocolate. This article from The Washington Post provides a nice overview: “Why chocolate really is the secret to happiness.”

We do think that chocolate is a nice addition to Valentine’s Day. Perhaps the chocolates from The Happy Chocolatier might be a great way to highlight your gift of happiness in a fun way. Our signature truffle Cubze each come with a statement about happiness. Now for Valentine’s Day, our gift collections will also include an inspirational statement about happiness: “Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

Celebrating Five Years of Spreading Chocolate Happiness…Despite the Odds

Based on statistics from the Small Business Administration, The Happy Chocolatier is in the 50 percent of businesses that make it this far. Yes, half of all small start-up businesses don’t make it to year five. We are proud that our simple idea has matured into an established business in our community. It hasn’t been easy. There have been many challenges – some we should have anticipated and some we couldn’t have

Nagog Park Location

imagined. We’ve reached the five year milestone thanks to the hard work and commitment of our team, continued support from family and friends, learning from all of our challenges and successes, and persistence.

It seems like we were just writing a business plan, thinking through the chocolate line and deciding on packaging. It all started with a conversation about making a cubed truffle and sharing some “chocolate happiness.”

Acton Woods Plaza Location

Launching and managing a small
business has been the toughest professional challenge we’ve experienced. No longer were we focused on performance reviews and promotions to measure success. Now, continuing to pay our bills and the mortgage, while investing in a new business defined success.

We are very pleased with what our dedicated team has accomplished in five years:

Created a new brand and built solid consumer awareness in our market area
Opened and then moved a local retail store, and developed a local following
Expanded our corporate gift business by providing “chocolate solutions” for business needs
Increased the number of gift, specialty food and fine wine shops that sell our signature truffle Cubze
Broadened our product line (and had fun doing it)
Employed members of our area communities including over a dozen high school and college students
Hosted fun, educational chocolate making events for moms’ nights, scouts, school groups, clubs and birthday parties
Supported our local community through donations to: Household Goods Recycling, The Miracle League of MA, Acton Food Pantry, Beacon Santa, United Way, Girls Inc., area elementary, junior high and high schools, local houses of worship, The Discovery Museum and too many more to name.
Created a fun video with our truffle Cubze dancing to Pharrell Williams – take a look, it’s fun!

Our competition is fierce. People can purchase chocolates at the grocery store, drug store, specialty food shop and the mall. People can also choose to buy mass produced chocolates simply because the products cost less. Yet, we are still pushing ahead. We remain focused on our mission: “To offer consumers an indulgent and affordable chocolate experience that makes them happy and enables them to pass the happiness along by sharing.”

We deeply appreciate all of our customers. We thank you for shopping locally, because it enables us to continue supporting the local community and economy. And, that makes us happy.

Why Chocolate for Valentine’s Day?

Every Valentine’s Day, chocolate becomes part of the romantic holiday. Why? Is it because of all the health benefits of chocolate? Is it because it is simply satisfying? Or, is it just the tradition of it all? I think the tradition angle wins out.

Chocolate has been referred to as “the food of the gods” since the time of the Aztec Indians. In fact the Aztec ruler, Montezuma believed chocolate was an aphrodisiac. Christopher Columbus enjoyed the chocolate he discovered in the Americas. So, he brought it back as a tribute to Queen Isabella of Spain along with other treasures like gold! This new luxury, chocolate, and its legend as an aphrodisiac quickly made its way across the aristocracy of Europe.

In time though, chocolate made its way to the masses. By the 1800s, the Cadbury Brothers had set up shop in England making and selling chocolate to average citizens. In 1861, Richard Cadbury created the first ever heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day. Thus, began the common link between chocolate and Valentine’s Day. A new tradition was started.

And a few fun factoids:

1) Modern science has linked the chemical phenylethylamine in chocolate to feelings of excitement, attraction and even pleasure. Maybe Montezuma was, indeed, onto something. You can decide on that one for yourself.

2) Though women make most of the chocolate purchases during the year (75%), men make the most purchases for Valentine’s Day (75%).

3) A survey of local women conducted by The Happy Chocolatier indicated that most wanted the chocolate Valentine’s Day gifts delivered to the home (not work). And, that they would share the treats with their loved ones – great news for the buyer!

So, our guess is that men buy chocolate because it is part of the Valentine’s Day tradition. From what our survey found, part of that chocolate giving tradition is now to send the gifts home or to simply bring them home as a surprise!

And, don’t forget our signature truffle Cubze are TWO gifts in one and sure to bring a smile to your sweetie’s face. Each is hand wrapped with an inspirational statement about happiness…..

Give Sweets to Your Sweetie and Help The American Heart Association

Every Valentine’s Day, chocolate becomes part of the romantic holiday.

At The Happy Chocolatier we’ve started a new tradition. This is our third year of making a donation to the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women. Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States? We support this fight against heart disease.

So, while dark chocolate is noted to have health benefits, this program from The Happy Chocolatier brings the concept of “health benefits of chocolate” to another level. Your sweetie can enjoy some rich chocolate creations and you can help us help The American Heart Association and Go Red for Women.

So Why Do We Give Chocolate for Valentine’s Day?

Dark Chocolate Double Hearts Handmade at The Happy Chocolatier

I think the tradition angle wins out. Chocolate has been referred to as “the food of the gods” since the time of the Aztec Indians. In fact the Aztec ruler, Montezuma believed chocolate was an aphrodisiac. Christopher Columbus enjoyed the chocolate he discovered in the Americas. So, he brought it back as a tribute to Queen Isabella of Spain along with other treasures like gold! This new luxury, chocolate, and its legend as an aphrodisiac quickly made its way across the aristocracy of Europe.

And a few fun supporting factoids:
1) Modern science has linked the chemical phenylethylamine in chocolate to feelings of excitement, attraction and even pleasure. Maybe Montezuma was, indeed, onto something. You can decide on that one for yourself.

2) Though women make most of the chocolate purchases during the year (75%), men make the most purchases for Valentine’s Day (75%).

3) A survey SuzySaid and The Happy Chocolatier conducted with local women indicated that most wanted the chocolate Valentine’s Day gifts delivered to the home (not work). And, that they would share the treats with their loved ones (great news for the buyer).

So, my guess is that men buy chocolate because it is part of the Valentine’s Day tradition. And, from what our survey found, part of that chocolate giving tradition is now to send the gifts home or to simply bring them home!

This year, as part of the chocolate giving tradition, The Happy Chocolatier will make a donation to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women for every gift box of chocolates purchased for Valentine’s Day. It’s a cause near and dear to our family and the pledge carries forth our goal of giving back.

So Why Do We Give Chocolate for Valentine’s Day?

And a few fun supporting factoids:

1) Modern science has linked the chemical phenylethylamine in chocolate to feelings of excitement, attraction and even pleasure. Maybe Montezuma was indeed onto something. You can decide on that one for yourself.

Valentine’s Red Grand Gift Box from The Happy Chocolatier

2) According to HolidayInsights.com, though women make most of the chocolate purchases during the year (75%), men make the most purchases for Valentine’s Day (75%).

3) A survey SuzySaid.com/Acton and The Happy Chocolatier conducted with local women indicated that most wanted the chocolate Valentine’s Day gifts delivered to the home (not work). And, that they would share the treats with their loved ones (great news for the buyer).

So, my guess is that men buy chocolate because it IS part of the Valentine’s Day tradition. And, from what our recent survey found – part of that chocolate giving tradition is now to send the gifts home or to simply bring them home!

Guys: Send the Flowers and Chocolates to Your Sweetie at Home

The Happy Chocolatier and SuzySaid.com/Acton recently conducted a survey of women and found that:

– nearly 75 percent want to have flowers or chocolates delivered at home rather than at work
– more than 80 percent will share chocolates with loved ones (i.e. you and the kids) as opposed to hoarding the treats for themselves

So send those chocolates and flowers home and then you can enjoy them, too!

On Chocolate for Didrik’s Dinner Series

Our friends at Didriks, a high-end tableware, glassware and home furnishings store based in Cambridge, MA, visited The Happy Chocolatier and took some great photos of our store and interviewed us for their blog, Dinner Series. Check out the high quality outdoor furniture, tableware and bamboo offerings on the Didrik’s site as well. They also took some photos of our Fudge Cubze on the store’s great looking tableware.

Photo by Didriks taken at The Happy Chocolatier

An excerpt from the Dinner Series blog: “You probably can tell how much we love cooking, dining, and dinnerware…but the Dinner Series has one more love. Local business. We love small businesses and entrepreneurs doing new and interesting things, providing personal service and unique products to customers, and getting involved in their communities…Paul McMahon…recently retired from the corporate world and opened The Happy Chocolatier in Acton.” Read on…

Fudge Cubze Art – Bringing a Whole New Meaning to Recycled Art!

One of our customers, a dear friend, shared these photos with us at The Happy Chocolatier. She brought a whole new meaning to recycling by using the colorful foil from our Fudge Cubze for some truly wonderful origami. It was especially satisfying to see what would normally be thrown into the trash transformed into artwork that has spread some happiness.

What would you do with the
foil or happiness statements
from Fudge Cubze to spread
the happiness? Share with us!