When most people start thinking about Thanksgiving (which seems to sneak up on us faster and faster with each passing year!), our thoughts automatically turn to the word “gratitude.” We naturally take stock in all of the wonderful things in our lives, and sometimes even give thanks for parts of our past that have come and gone. A few weeks ago, as I was getting organized for the holiday season at For the Love of Toffee, I came across a photo from when we were first launching the business back in 2018. In an instant, I was transported back in time, and flooded with a sense of gratitude that could fill an NFL football stadium on Thanksgiving Day!
A Family Affair
The photo that I found was of my extended family in our first commercial kitchen. My parents, my sister, her three young children, myself and my fiance – we were thrilled about the batches of toffee that we’d just produced, and our smiles and laughter lit up that room. When I think about it now, it was an all-hands-on-deck kind of mission to get the business up and running. Yet today, not much has changed. Yes, we’ve all gotten a little older, but the passion is still there, and as we grow by leaps and bounds, there are even more hands on deck helping us succeed!
Looking Back with Gratitude
From that early photo, to the days and months of 2022, it is mind-boggling to think how far we’ve come. We started with just a few expos back in 2018, with the first being at the Hackettstown Oktoberfest Street Fair, organized by Kim and Kevin of Marketspace Vendor Events. Through that opportunity, we got our feet wet and learned the ins and outs of what it meant to participate, produce/sell our inventory, and build relationships with our customers. Fast forward to this past year where we had booths at over 220 events up and down the East Coast, and even opened a flagship store in Ringwood, NJ. We jumped from offering three flavors to eight, and have numerous gift items, favors, and party platters available in our online store. But the one constant that remains is our tight knit team.
Nothing but Thanks
It is almost impossible to articulate how thankful I am to all of our employees (many of whom are family or close friends). For the Love of Toffee is able to thrive because of these dedicated individuals who have given up weekends and holidays, learned the ins and outs of sales, mastered customer service, etc., to keep this business running smoothly. Leading into the holiday season we will all be working tirelessly to deliver the product that so many of you love. Stop by one of our upcoming expos or drop into our Ringwood store. Please introduce yourself and let us get to know you! That is truly the cornerstone and the greatest joy in what we do. And finally, Happy Thanksgiving! May you enjoy a wonderful celebration with your families filled with laughter and much love.
In the coming months, we will be sharing more stories about our incredible team. Make sure to come back to the blog so you do not miss out!