Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Strickland.
Robin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Fudge has always been my favorite candy. I used to follow my dad around the flea market just so I could stop in at the fudge counter. Anytime we took a family trip, if I saw a billboard for “fresh fudge” at the next exit, you better believe I was making my dad exit on 2 wheels. So, in 2009, when I learned of a little mom and pop fudge operation down in Houston that was for sale, I could not wait to learn more. After meeting the owners and tasting the best fudge EVER, I talked my long-time friend and business partner, Kevin Graham, into launching our very own fudge brand.
I had sampled many different fudge products throughout my life so I knew we were sitting on the best tasting, highest quality fudge around. We spent the next year learning the candy industry and in 2010 we launched Big Little Fudge (big taste in a little package) and set out to turn fudge on its side. We took an old-fashioned candy and created a fun, hip unique brand with a nice Texas feel. Fudge is most often found in a slab, sitting out in the air (its biggest enemy). The consumer then has to wait for it to be cut down, weighed and placed in a paper bag. If you do find it prepackaged, it is either in a plastic tub or wrapped in cellophane. Blah!
We knew we had to create a fun package that would keep our fudge fresh and moist. Soooo … we did! We have a long way to go to be a nationally recognized candy brand, but we are making ‘BIG’ progress. Big Little Fudge bites can be found in stores all across the US. We didn’t stop there! Fudge makes the perfect gift for any occasion too. We also offer a wide variety of fudge gifts at www.biglittlefudge.com. Watch for us on QVC’s Gourmet Holiday Show this Fall.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There is a big wooden sign in my office that says “Success is a winding road.” It was a gift to remind me that building a business is not easy after experiencing many challenges. In the first year of business, due to a non-paying customer, on a very large order, we ended up in a 2 year litigation that drained our personal resources and crippled our growth. We managed to press on and grow sales year after year but not without additional challenges. One of our biggest challenges and one that is ongoing is managing risk when selling to large retailers and distributors. Buybacks are for real and we have learned that sometimes ‘BIG’ opportunities may result in ‘little’ to no rewards. They can even be quite costly.
Please tell us about Big Little Fudge.
Big Little Fudge is located in Montgomery, TX where we make small batches of fudge in a variety of flavors. Our fudge is available at our store in Montgomery, online at biglittlefudge.com and in stores across the US. We specialize in giving our customers the very best fudge experience by providing the highest quality of fudge in the most unique packaging. Our customers can also come tour our facility M-F from 9 am to 5 pm. We also offer a Wine Not Make Your Own Fudge Night the 4th Tuesday of every month at Whitley Wine Bar in Montgomery (reservation required).
What makes us different from our competition? EVERYTHING! From quality to packaging to service, we run through ourselves to exceed our customers’ expectations. We customize gifts with logos, pictures and custom messages. For business owners, we take the headache out of remembering employee or customer birthdays and anniversaries by managing their lists to make sure a gift arrives on time, every time.
Our staff works work hard but we also make time for fun. Just follow us on social media. We say… Live a little. Fudge a lot. We refer to our customers as “fudge faces” – a term of endearment that derived from becoming a follower on our Facebook page. Now, our customers regularly refer to themselves as a “fudge face”. There is a lot about Big Little Fudge that makes me proud. I am proud that we have created a fun environment for our employees and that we have created jobs. I am proud that our website is full of 5-star reviews with testimonies that confirm we are accomplishing what we set out to do. I am also very proud that Big Little Fudge has been able to support Big Brothers Big Sisters. This year Kevin and I both got matched to a little. I am also proud that Big Little Fudge will appear on QVC’s Gourmet Holiday show for the third year this Fall!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If we had to do it all over again, we would control our growth by first selling direct to the consumer, then regional retail, then state, then national.
Pricing:
- Our 1.6 oz fudge bites retail at $1.95
- Our gift tins on our website are $24.95
- $6.00 shipping for all online orders
Contact Info:
- Address: 15522 Summit Park Drive, Suite 201
Montgomery, TX 77356 - Website: www.biglittlefudge.com
- Phone: 888-543-8343
- Email: sales@biglittlefudge.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biglittlefudge/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigLittleFudge/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BigLittleFudge
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/big-little-fudge-montgomery
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