When One Chapter Closed
The last time Candy Connections made a sale before Pretty in Pink was Christmas 2024.
We were finishing up QVC holiday orders, loading cotton candy machines and leftover inventory into storage, and quietly closing a chapter that had defined more than a decade of my life. When the last order shipped, we were done with cotton candy—for good.
Or so I thought.
A New Focus: Future Founders
We entered 2025 fully invested in our Future Founders Program, an initiative teaching teens life skills through entrepreneurship. We leaned hard into course creation—virtual sessions, Outschool classes, and mentoring local Delaware teens—with a plan to wrap the program with a Market Day where students could sell their products to the community.
Then… plans fell through.
When our local mall couldn’t commit to a clear path forward, we pivoted (because of course we did) and stumbled into an opportunity that would unexpectedly change everything: Pretty in Pink.
When Pink Turned Into a Full-Circle Moment
Pretty in Pink was an event I’d attended before as a guest and loved. Suddenly, it became the commencement for our 2025 Delaware teens. I was genuinely, joyfully—tickled pink—watching the plan come together.
And then the entrepreneur bug bit. Hard.
I found myself glued to my laptop designing a greeting card line—one that felt aligned, meaningful, and doable as a team of one. That’s when Candy Grahams was born, tying back to the already-established Candy Connections brand.
It felt fast… almost unreal. But then I remembered—when we sold cotton candy, encouragement was always part of the experience.
We didn’t just send sweets. We added inspirational quotes to the labels on our containers, little reminders meant to spark confidence, joy, or a smile long after the last bite. We tucked greeting cards into our boxes too—Valentine’s Day, birthdays, celebrations big and small—quietly honoring whatever moment our customer was celebrating.
That’s when it clicked. This wasn’t a new idea at all.
Encouragement had always been part of the Candy Connections brand. Candy Grahams was simply a return to what we’d been doing all along—just in a form that could stand on its own.
December 6th: Nerves, Buttons, and a Big Lesson
On December 6th, at St. Anne’s Clubhouse, I showed up with:
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3 Future Founders graduates present
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5 businesses represented
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A Candy Connections table featuring Candy Grahams
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A commitment to donate a portion of sales back to the Future Founders Program
And yes—after more than a decade in business—I was still incredibly nervous.
Thank goodness for setup night. Seeing the space early showed me exactly what was missing and how customers might interact with the cards—even if they didn’t buy.
So I improvised.
I added mini mason jars and small trinkets, inviting guests to “vote” by dropping one into the jar in front of the card that resonated most with them. It turned our table into an experience and gave us real-time market research.
The Card That Stopped People in Their Tracks
While votes were fairly even, one card stood out.
People didn’t just read it.
They read it out loud.
“Rest is productive too.”
Instead of traditional business cards, we handed out buttons and branded stickers—something useful, something fun, something that wouldn’t get tossed. We collected emails because growing the list means growing a community of bold dreamers.
The event was beautifully organized by Delaware Female Creatives, the guests were incredible, our teens made sales—and so did we.
So… Where to Next?
Pretty in Pink reminded me that pivots don’t always mean starting over. Sometimes they mean returning to what was always there, just in a smarter, sweeter form.
Candy Connections is evolving.
The Future Founders are growing.
And this pop-up? It was just the beginning.
Now the only question left is…
Where should we pop up next?