Personalized Sweets Make Big Business for Macomb Mom

They say the best ideas can sometimes come to you when you least expect it.

It wasn't that Dawn Tocco was looking to start a business when her son was born, she was just looking for a special candy bar birth announcement. But after searching the web for a company to produce her announcement, she came upon a business opportunity.

With the ability all moms have to multi-task, she decided her son's announcement would be her company's first order.

Speed up five years to today, past lots of hard work and genuine creativity, Tocco is doing much more than just multi-tasking. She is now working full time and has expanded her business to include a variety of special occasion personalized candy treats.

KatieJoe's Sweet Treats supplies customers with personalized candy bars, gum packages, candy cakes, candy bouquets, favors, water bottles, invitations, mints, personalized music CDs and the favorite this time of year–the personalized Letter from Santa.

"I believe the personalized Letter from Santa is our biggest seller during the Christmas holidays," Tocco said. "It comes with a personalized candy bar with the child's name on it and is mailed directly to their homes."

Tocco began selling her personalized items at local bridal and craft fairs along with school Santa Shoppes. She would have a display of all the various items and could even produce personalized pieces while customers shopped.

The basic idea is the candy bar wrapped with a personalized covering for almost any occasion. Be it a big candy bar or a bite size one, there are plenty of wrapper designs to choose from that can be personalized as well.

In recent years, Tocco has taken her business beyond the candy bar wrapper to incorporate other personalized gifts, too. From the personalized children's music CDs popular with toddler-age kids, to candy bouquets and cakes made entirely of chocolate bars, every item can be personalized with your favorite candy and choice of wrapping.

With that said, the holiday season is especially busy for Tocco.

"I'm chairing the on Nov. 10 and then I've got a booth at the Nov. 12. I'm also going to be at the Beacon Tree Ladies Night Out Nov. 18 and Santa Shoppes for Immaculate Conception and Ashley Elementary," Tocco said. "At Chippewa, we will bring our computer and wrappers with us to personalize candy bars while you are shopping. Everyone loves to see their name or picture in print!"

For the schools, Tocco offers the Letter from Santa as a fund-raiser, donating money back to the school for each letter ordered.

"We have questionnaires to get some real personal information to help make the letter as personal as possible," Tocco said. "The kids love to read that Santa knows the names of their pets or their siblings and a little bit about them. It makes it so much more special."

KatieJoe's Sweet Treats also has a website for online orders, and additional products can be seen on the new Facebook page. Tocco can be contacted directly through email katiejoessweettreats@yahoo.com or by phone 586-263-9627.