In 1998, we boldly envisioned the future of candy was in online commerce, blazing a trail for others to follow.
Rest assured, many people thought we were "crazy" for going down this road. At times, we thought so too!
As the years passed, the exact dates faded into history, but our first site, McKandy.com - an amalgamation of McKeesport and Candy and, ironically, an indirect tribute to the first candy company founded by Ernest Prince - was devoted to providing information about Concession and Fundraising candy.
The website was a groundbreaking novelty, being the first of its kind at a time when internet access was not widespread. As to the medium's ability to endure, even we had our doubts.
In 2003, we decided to take a big step forward and embarked on a daring venture-online purchasing!
McKandy.com was the FIRST online candy store to advertise on the internet!
Despite the majority of the population having no internet access, we had a custom-made store created for McKandy.com, making us the FIRST online candy store.
It was one of the first sites to have JavaScript animation and featured a playful "out of this world" design theme.
The first sale of Brach's Ice Blue Mints - sadly discontinued, much to the dismay of candy enthusiasts worldwide - to West Virginia marked a significant milestone, swiftly leading to a surge in orders.
It was the 'Wild West' era of the internet, and we found ourselves as pioneers in a new unknown digital frontier.
In the midst of a late-night brainstorming session, we had an epiphany about the necessity for a fresh brand identity, leading us to excitingly explore concepts around the words "candy" and "favorites."
The Original CandyFavorites.com logo, our registered trademark, was doodled on a cocktail napkin and hasn't changed!
The domain was up for grabs at $2500, a hefty sum back then, but with e-commerce on the rise, we were eager to establish a distinct brand separate from our wholesale business with a name that could easily be remembered.
The transformation went beyond merely adopting a new name; it embodied our belief that the "future of candy is rooted in the past.".
Our goal was - and continues to be - to establish an online candy shop that not only sold sweets but also honored our heritage and celebrated the legacy of the American candy industry.
With its emphasis on retro design and authentic photos from our history, the new website was visually groundbreaking and gave new life to our wholesale company, which was in its 8th decade. CandyFavorites.com soon became its corporate own entity.
This expansion unlocked the potential for shipping well beyond our regional distribution, reaching customers and destinations we never dreamed possible!
CandyFavorites was the first wholesaler to export American candies to the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland, and introduced Twinkies to the United Kingdom, too!
We also sold candy to the Vatican, helped design the first candy buffet and did custom candy mixes and fulfillment for several nationwide chains whom we still service.
As the years unfolded, our brand evolved, yet we remained steadfast in our commitment to our heritage and focusing on customer service.
We continued to use archival photos, provide educational material, created the first blog, called candyblog.org and, most importantly, never lost sight of our mission to make purchasing candy a delightful experience!
The 2024 redesign presented a formidable technical challenge, but our persistence paid off. We've achieved functionality and a design that not only aligns with contemporary needs but also radiates a retro charm.
Two and a half decades later, a lifetime in the world of online commerce, we stand proud as the sole surviving online candy store still under original ownership!
Our enduring relationship with customers, many of whom discovered us during the era of dial-up Internet, stands as a testament to our commitment.
