Meg Randall's Page

"Thanks for the response Brad. As a lurker with similar questions to the OP, I appreciate your insight about customers selecting chocolate flavors out of habit and comfort.  "

"Thanks, Brad!  Appreciate your input.   The shop will only have about 25% chocolate - the rest will be in candy, so I'm not too concerned about the business model being the wrong fit.   I fully agree that opening a chocolate…"

"Meg;   You asked for advice....  Ok.  Here's my weigh-in:\   What market research have you done to ensure you aren't wasting money?  Have you conducted any surveys?   You are banking the success of your…"

"Clay - since I am going to be doing a full build-out of any space I rent, and I will also be stocking candy and gum lines, do you think I'm better off trying to fashion some type of mock walk-in to keep the chocolate and candy cool?   Many…"

"Meg: You can go to Sears or some other appliance store and get a chest freezer. These are way cheaper than commercial freezers for the capacity. You can find a ~15cu. ft. chest freezer for under $500. Then use a temperature controller to raise the…"

"I'm pretty sure I know the resort you were at.  It's always feels steamy in there to me.  lol   But, an excellent point.  I guess I can have that checked in the space before I move in just to make sure I get it…"

"Meg: It can be lower than 55% - that's ideal - but not too much lower. I was in Phoenix (Scottsdale, actually) a couple of years ago for a competition and we had the reverse problem. The humidity was so high it was affecting the sugar work. The…"

"Thank you, Clay!  :)   I will do just that - inquire with the chocolatier about their recommendations.  I know a reputable chocolate maker will be very committed to ensuring their product isn't sold beyond its ideal…"

"Meg: Welcome to Your ChocolateLife!  The shelf life of individual chocolates (bonbons) can vary widely. Some might last 2-3 weeks from the date of manufacture, some 3-6 weeks, some 3-6 months, and some longer. It depends on the recipe and they…"