“Selling nostalgia” vintage candy turns into a modern success story
The company offers personalized packaging for birthdays, wedding favors, corporate gifts and local fundraising. Photo: Provided.
It all started out with a fundraiser. Jonathan Blakely’s son is autistic, and his educational needs were no longer being met at the school that he was attending, but the family couldn’t pay the tuition for the private Christian school where they wanted him to attend.
Blakely said that the baked goods market was saturated with sales, but he realized that old-fashioned hard-tack candy was scarce. With that discovery, Sweet Tooth Memories came to life.
Jonathan said the secret to their success is simple — “God, faith, a lot of prayer and samples!”
Many associate the treats with the Christmas season, but with an array of flavors, it can be a year-round product. “We started with traditional flavors, but at our customers’ request, we started experimenting with different alcohols and liquors to enhance the flavors,” Blakely said.
Jonathan Blakely’s company Sweet Tooth Memories started out as a fundraiser, and has turned into a thriving business with sales across the US. Photo: Provided.
The leap from fundraising to business formation was a journey the Blakelys couldn’t navigate alone. “We didn’t know the process for starting a business. Startup Alleghenies connected us to resources and individuals to ensure all the documents, numbers and the business plan were viable and correct,” he shared.
“They have exceeded what we expected and even helped us advertise,” he said. “We are forever grateful for the help and often refer others to them.”
“If you could package nostalgia and sell it, it would be Sweet Tooth Memories,” Startup Alleghenies coach Matt Reckner said. “The authenticity of the old-fashion feel is a key ingredient and the purpose behind what they do combine to make a successful recipe.”
“We started this business out of a need to help our son, but we want to give back to the community and the organizations within it through scholarships and high-return fundraisers so they can easily meet their goals,” Blakely shared. “Success, for us, is not measured simply in numbers.”
Sweet Tooth Memories offers traditional flavors like banana and wintergreen along with adult flavors infused with drinks like Jack Daniels, Crown Royal and Smirnoff. Photo: Provided.
The candy has been shipped to 16 states, and the product line continues to expand. “We have ramped up our favors to include weddings, graduations and baby showers,” Blakley said.
“While we want to grow into different markets and stores, we are very selective to protect the integrity of the fundraising side of our business,” he shared.
He said the secret to their success is simple — “God, faith, a lot of prayer and samples!”
Local support and encouragement keep Sweet Tooth Memories moving forward. “We love watching customers taste the product at vendor shows. The facial expressions say it all,” he shared, “and the taste exceeds their expectations.”
Startup Alleghenies helps startup and emerging small businesses succeed by providing free coaching to entrepreneurs in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon and Somerset counties. To access personal, one-on-one support from a coach in your county, including guidance, resources, tools and networking opportunities, sign up at startupalleghenies.com.
