Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Ernst.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Tracy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I had been meditating for many years and had recently begun to fine-tune the practice with a different approach and focused spiritual awareness. I set out on a long bicycle ride, choosing to be alone with my thoughts and feelings. I had received some news that our dear friend was about to undergo another set of chemotherapy treatments, and I had a strong desire to help him but making chicken soup just didn’t feel like enough. As I rode into the grueling windy day, I pedaled along, pondering how I could help him. The wind subsided, and the music I was listening to in one ear seemed to stop – for an answer came. In what was a personal spiritual moment, a clear voice told me to make candy using essential oils. It was truly a moment I had never felt before, leading me toward feeling a sense of calm mixed with bewildering emotions.
I set off home, and when I shared it with my then-11-year-old son, whom I homeschool, the process of learning how to make hard candy was put into our school day. We were to surprise our friend with two different flavors of candy: lemon/lime and spearmint. The South Florida heat rendered these two candies to melt and blend, which was a blessing as it became our first Signature Blend, Greg’s Blend, aptly named after our friend. After many months of research and development, Essential Candy was born, with a variety of hand-crafted Signature Blends and Signature Plus CBD Blends, each containing individually wrapped candies in a moisture-barrier zip-closure bag.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My husband, Dean, and I have been blessed from the start from our name and branding, through to the introduction of our product in the marketplace, as well as being welcomed with enthusiasm to which we can give hope to helping people. Our go-to-market strategy was introducing and selling our hard candies at craft shows, farmer’s markets, and festivals.
COVID-19 brought a halt to meeting people and hearing their stories with our healthy candy offerings as a way to help them. Although it was a challenge, this allowed us to transition quickly to online sales with an introduction of new products, Variety Pack 1 and 2, which offers a sampling of our blends. Ultimately, this proved to be positive for our company, given that we wanted this e-commerce approach anyway. We just happened to introduce it sooner than anticipated.
Essential Candy – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
At Essential Candy, Dean and I pride ourselves in creating healthy hard candy using organic and non-GMO ingredients, and keeping true to its natural source in creating a low sugar, low carbs treat. Essential Candy is “Candy With A Purpose,” and I am most proud of our Get One Give One mission: for every bag purchased, we donate a bag to cancer support groups.
While we started helping those individuals going through cancer and its treatments, we have expanded our product line to help everyone looking to take health into their own hands. Additionally, we have added to our product line CBD hard candies, of which we now have four blends. Overall, our goal at Essential Candy is to help everyone with a healthy, easy to take, and consume on-the-go candy while spreading kindness and positivity.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I believe that a successful day begins with stepping out of bed with the right mind-set, as well as having a positive and clear vision for the projects ahead. In doing so, I make it a point to dedicate 15 minutes every morning to meditation, while also going through my “gratitude” list. When a day is not successful, I see it as an opportunity to learn from the mistakes, if any, or guide the team back on using positive affirmations throughout their day, which I also implement when raising my teenagers. Just as important, I define success as giving back and helping others. This is at the core of who we are and why we do what we do at Essential Candy.
When a project has been completed, I will assess the process and purposefully look for where I could have achieved a better outcome. This gives the team the opportunity to learn and work on future projects in a more informed and careful manner. When Dean and I introduce a new Essential Candy blend, sometimes the inspiration comes from the people we speak with at various events and cancer support groups and, in the case of these collaborations halting as a result of COIVD-19, we provide free samples to our customers for their feedback. Currently, Essential Candy is reaching another growth opportunity as we bring our product lines to retail.
Dean and I apply this same mindset, of learning through mistakes, to our personal lives. We’re certain that when raising our children and observing their growth, trials and tribulations, we, too, will experience bumps along the road. Taking it all in stride with a positive attitude and learning from mistakes is part of life’s long journey.
Pricing:
- $10 – $12, Signature Blends in 3-oz. bags, with 23-25 individually wrapped candies in each bag.
- $19, Signature Plus CBD Blends in 1.6-oz. bags, with 12-13 individually wrapped candies in each bag.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.essentialcandy.com; www.essentialcandycbd.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essentialcandy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essentialcandies/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/essentialcandy/
Image Credit:
Credit for product images: Essential Candy.
Credit for headshots, portraits and unwrapped candy: Tracey Benson Photography.
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