Our 2011-2012 Catalog and Calendar has been printed and posted and should be arriving in your mailbox any day now.  You may be seeing it for the first time, but I’ve been working on it for the past 11 months!  Of course, like any big project, I didn’t do it alone.  I had help from my family and friends.  It all started with the front cover:  I’m lucky to have a Mom who is a talented seamstress and knitter.  She’s quite accustomed to my crazy requests, so she didn’t bat an eye when I asked her to knit 7 miniature winter hats in colors that matched our bon bon foils.  Did you notice?  Each flavor and it’s signature color foil is represented.  From left to right they are:  Cafe au Lait, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookies ‘n Creme, Coconut, Fudge Brownie, Peanut Buttah, and Pistachio.  Those little hats are so cute, don’t you think?  Mom did a fantastic job!

My dear friend, Millie Holloman, is the uber-talented photographer behind all of these gorgeous bon bon vignettes.  I arrived at her photography studio with boxes full of miniature props and materials that we would need during the shoot (an iron, tape, lots of bon bon “models”, knives, towels and more).   Millie spent most of the shoot lying on the floor in order to get the proper perspective on the world of bon bons, as I worked to prep each shot.

The final result may look effortless, but the process is anything but.  Our July centerfold, for example, is featured lying on a hammock.  The hammock sits on top of wheat grass (purchased by Pascal at Tidal Creek co-op).  It is supported by two bamboo chopsticks.  The problem?  Getting a rather plump bon bon to balance in the middle of the hammock without rolling off of the hammock and into the grass.  It took many failed attempts before we got the shot that finally ended up in our catalog.

Another challenging set-up proved to be our December shot of two bon bons sitting around a fireplace.  In this case, “the stockings were hung by the chimney with care” is a huge understatement!  The miniature garland for the fireplace coupled with the two custom-made stockings (did you notice Bon and Bon embroidered on each one?) proved too heavy to stick to the resin fireplace with any of the tapes we had in our supply kit.  I ended up chewing a piece of gum and sticking it into the back of the garland to get it to stay.  Even then, Millie had to work fast to catch a shot that didn’t include drooping garland!

Each month has its own story, its own unique details, and its own “inside messages”.  For example, take a close look at the December scene, and you’ll see a shopping bag from the famous Parisian department store, Galleries Lafayette.  In February, the books on the nightstand are Harlequin romances with actual miniscule text printed on each page!   March (an autobiographical month) features my favorite brand of bottled water, Volvic.  And,  April is a nod to two of my own nicknames–my girlfriends call me “Bon Bon”; my Mom has always called me “chick”.  The miniature vintage refrigerator for November and December 2012 was borrowed from my friend Matt. (It is a part of his extensive Hallmark ornament collection.)

As the year continues, I’ll share more behind the making of our calendar.  Meanwhile, we hope that you appreciate this gift from “our house to yours”.  Like our bon bons, it was a labor of love, made with plenty of thought, heart, humor, and personality. 

Thanks to you for being a part of the extended South ‘n France “family” and thanks to my immediate “family”– Pascal, Mom, Millie, Matt, my brother Chad, and the others–who played a role in making our calendar come to life! 

If bon bons had resumes, our product would have a diverse job history.  They’ve taken on jobs as get well gifts, forgive me gifts, birthday gifts and more.  But perhaps one of their greatest job titles is that of “The Closer”.

You see, many of our customers use bon bons to win over new clients for their businesses.  For example,  a medical billing specialist often sends bon bons as an extra touch before landing a new account.  A lawn maintenance and landscaping company uses bon bons to ’sweeten the deal’ with prospective clients.  And another talented salesperson will often put our bon bons as a way to showcase her creativity and personality, putting her in a completely different league from her competition. 

We’re proud to say that we our bon bons have successfully landed new business, big accounts, and many dollars in profit our loyal customers.  In fact, it seems that are bon bons are fast becoming synonymous with ’sealing the deal’, ‘closing the case’ and ‘clinching the sale’. 

As evidence, take this recent Facebook conversation between a stellar sales professional and her support system.  She starts the thread by writing: Please send good vibes my way…HUGE meeting this morning with a prospect…praying we can pull this off!!!!

Friends send their support by ‘liking’ her post and sending comments such as:

Good Luck- I know you will do well!!

Once they encounter your charm, it’s all over!

You GO, girl!!!

Praying for you – wish I was there!

Here’s what happens after the meeting:

Although our bon bons didn’t get to play The Closer this time, they’ll be ready and waiting for the next opportunity.  Meanwhile, enjoy this testimonial from another business owner who swears by bon bons as a way to boost his bottom line:

“South ‘n France sent out bon bons to some of my best customers on Monday. One of them got their bon bons today, picked up the phone with their mouth full of chocolate, called me, thanked me for the incredible bon bons, and placed a $1000 order. I haven’t even paid South ‘n France yet, and my ROI is 5 times my investment.

If you aren’t using South ‘n France to send thank you or holiday gifts to your customers, you are CRAZY! Call her today!”  –Kent Milholland, Neonexus Corporation

On Thursday, December 9th, South ‘n France Bon Bons, Wilmington’s premiere chocolate company, opens their doors to you from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for its annual holiday Open House. 

 Great discounts and door prizes will be offered as a way to say thank you to our local supporters. Forget those crowded shopping centers….check off your list by purchasing delectable bon bons in festive holiday boxes, mugs and tins. Enjoy great music and refreshments while the staff take orders and prepare gift packages to take home (or ship) just in time for Santa’s arrival! For directions refer to our calendar.

Linus was not the only one waiting for The Great Pumpkin to appear.  For years, South ‘n France has searched for the perfect Pumpkin Bon Bon recipe and we’ve finally found it. Introducing our newest and first seasonal flavor, Pumpkin Bon Bons!  They will be available from now until Thanksgiving. Perfect for the fall season, we take a velvety pumpkin filling (not too sweet with just a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg) and mix it with a buttery-sugar cookie crust. Rolled into bite-sized bon bons and dipped in our special blend of rich, semi-sweet chocolate, they are pumpkin pie perfection!  

Pumpkin Bon Bons are currently available for order by going to our website. Select your tin and fill it with all Pumpkin Bon Bons, or customize your order with any combination of our many delectable flavors. To paraphrase a great exchange from this classic cartoon movie:

Linus:  [to Charlie Brown after Sally just told him off] You’ve heard of the fury of a woman scorned, haven’t you?

Charlie Brown: Yeah, I guess I have.

Linus: Well, that’s nothing compared to the fury of a woman who has been cheated out of Pumpkin Bon Bons!

Keep Calm and Carry On was a poster produced by the British government in 1939 during the beginning of World War II, to raise the morale of the British public in the case of invasion. It was little known and never used.

 But, in 2000, the poster was rediscovered in a second-hand bookshop in Alnwick, Northumberland. Since Crown Copyright expires on artistic works created by the UK government after 50 years, the image was in the public domain.

In recent years it has become an iconic image, adopted by graphic designers and used as the decorative theme by numerous private companies for products ranging from posters to clothing, to mugs, to stationery to doormats.

Flickr has a pool of amusing design variations and parodies of the vintage poster, including: Keep Calm and Carry Om (for yoga enthusiasts), Keep Calm and Avoid Comic Sans (the typeface most hated by graphic designers), Keep Calm and Eat a Burrito (go figure!) and Keep Khan and Curry On (which I think should be at the entrance of every Indian restaurant).

Of course, my favorite:  Keep Calm and Eat Bon Bons!  That sentiment could not be more a propos for me than at this time of year, when I’m pre-buying for our Christmas season.  As we lay out thousands of dollars for ingredients, tins, gel paks, cartons, catalogs, postage and more, I can tend to get a bit panicky!  Will everyone remember to buy bon bons for friends, family, co-workers and clients this holiday season?  Will we sell out of bon bons or have leftover inventory?  Will all of those catalogs actually generate the sales we need to break even?

The poster seems to work.  Keep calm.  Carry on.  Eat bon bons.  That’s all anyone really needs to do.  I feel better already.

There’s nothing like a great love story.  I enjoy reading the New York Times wedding announcements, even though I’ve never known a single person featured therein.  I even own a book (that I bought long before I was married) called  How We Met: Chance Encounters and Other True Love Stories of Real-Life Couples.  And, of course, there is my own love story with Pascal, one I’ve told to countless audiences at Bon Bon Parties and public speaking events.

Whenever I meet a new couple, I love to ask:  “So, how did you meet?”  Recently, I met a bride-to-be with a really cool love story.  Lorie was on a plane, flying home after her daughter’s wedding, when she struck up a conversation with the man in the seat right next to her.  Little did she know that man would become her husband.  Talk about love in the air!

Lorie was living in Texas at the time, but the charming airline passenger, a resident of California, was undeterred.  A week later, when he traveled to Texas on business, he called Lorie and asked to take her to dinner.  The rest, as they say, is history.

Eventually Lorie moved to California to be closer to her beau (he’s a film producer).  And recently, the couple moved to Wilmington, NC to be near Screen Gem Studios where said producer has a few projects in the works.

Pascal and I were thrilled to be a small part of their wedding celebration.  We provided bon bon favors for the Welcome Baskets placed in hotel rooms for out-of-town guests, and we hosted a Bon Bon Party for the bride and her girlfriends the evening before the wedding.

Here’s a shot of the happy bride (in white) with her two daughters, Ashley (left) and Amanda (right), the one whose wedding started it all….

One thing I love about my husband is that he’s always full of surprises.  He loves to garden.  So while I have authority over our interior spaces, the exterior is all his.  In years past, he has jealously guarded each and every bloom in his garden, insisting that they remain outdoors as a part of his magnificent creation. 

But this year, much to my surprise (and ongoing delight!), he has taken to bringing his blooms inside.

One morning, I arrived at my desk to discover a tiny bud vase of wildflowers and miniature roses, complete with rosemary and mint as green filler.  And, over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying beautiful bouquets of hydrangeas from plants at the far end of the garden (an area where I seldom venture). 

Since mon jardinier (so much more romantic than the English equivalent of ‘gardener’) has taken to this new habit of making my day with fresh floral bouquets, I thought you might like to share in my delight.  I hope you enjoy this photo (a virtual bouquet) that currently graces our entry way. 

Long after the flowers are gone, it will remind me to relish life’s little surprises.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know how much I love to play April Fool’s jokes.  I have managed to execute some great ones in the past.  Last year, the target was my Mom.  The joke was just one part of the many surprises we planned for her 60th birthday celebration.  Just a few days after Mom’s sixtieth birthday, Pascal turned 40. 

He spent the week of his fortieth birthday preparing for my mother’s 60^th  birthday extravaganza and hosting out-of-town guests.  Pascal was saintly—diligently cleaning, cooking, climbing 10-foot ladders, and answering to his wife’s many demands with nary a complaint.  Consequently, for Pascal, the big 4-0 passed with very little fanfare. 

So this year, I wanted to remind him that he is loved and appreciated and, well…one year older!  There was just one catch.  Pascal and I work together 24/7.  I wouldn’t be able to hide setting up for a big party, and the truth was I needed his help.  Eureka!  I had a plan.  His 41st birthday celebration could also double as a great April Fool’s joke.

I told Pascal that I had agreed to host a special party for one of our most loyal customers (whom we also count as a friend).  This meant that he would spend the entire day unknowingly preparing for his own party.  When 6:30 pm arrived, instead of greeting our customer’s guests, Pascal would be met by his friends.

Pascal had no idea I was up to another April Fool’s trick.  Here’s what he looked like when he turned around and saw his buddies standing there instead of our guests:

His first word was an expletive (and no, it wasn’t “Merde!”)  His confusion quickly turned to smiles, especially as he opened a bottle of his favorite cognac, Remy Martin.  He changed out of his chef’s coat and became a guest at his own party.  The theme was 40 + 1, so everybody brought one gag gift to help him celebrate.  The creativity was fantastic.  Some highlights included one French frog, one bottle of French wine, one Slim Jim (his favorite American snack); one gorgeous money tree (a hydrangea in full bloom), and even one job application to a pancake house in Leland (don’t ask!).

Pascal has a very special relationship with Mark, his friend from across the pond.  Mark calls Pascal “Frog”; Pascal calls Mark “Mr. Bean”.  I call this crazy duo “Frog and Bean”:

Since Pascal was having so much fun drinking cognac and visiting with his friends, Millie and I took over in the kitchen, making crepes for everyone.  Millie worked double duty, taking all of the photos, except this one, of course:

Pascal was truly surprised.  He didn’t suspect a thing.  As for me, I breathed a huge sigh of relief and enjoyed a secret satisfaction that I’d succeeded in foiling, fooling and suprising someone I love yet again.  Thanks to all of my co-conspirators who helped to create a memorable evening for our favorite Frenchman!

In the past, we’ve shared several reasons why we love our customers: you send us great mail; you take “tres bon bon” photos; you place creative orders; and you bring us cool stuff!   Well, here’s another reason we haven’t mentioned yet:

#174: You Make Us Giggle (and Gurgle)! 

We are blessed to have a customer who has one of the sunniest dispositions we’ve ever encountered.  Her bright and cherry attitude is matched by a melodious speaking voice and a completely infectious giggle.  Every time she comes to South ‘n France, she elevates our mood!

We were completely thrilled when Jane came to our Easter Open House.  She was our Easter Bunny this year, surprising us with a most unique gift–a GurglePot!  It’s a water pitcher shaped like a fish that gurgles after you pour water, wine, or the beverage of your choice. 

Of course, there is a fabulous French connection.  The creator of the GurglePot, Matt Ellison, tells the story like this:

We tried the pot right away, and the gurgle (listen here) definitely made us giggle!  Later that week, we entertained guests and served iced water to them in the GurglePot.  True to its promise, it was the hit of the evening and a hot topic of conversation.  Everyone enjoyed pouring their own glass of water and then listening for the gurgle.

What we love most about the GurglePot is that the gurgle makes of think of Jane and her fabulous giggle.   Perhaps we should try to invent a GigglePot…..

Locally, look for the GurglePot at Bella Anne in Hampstead, (Phone:  910-270-6371) or A Proper Garden on Anne St. near Elijah’s in downtown Wilmington (Phone 910-763-7177).   At this writing, A Proper Garden has black, chocolate brown, oatmeal, merlot, and mustard colored GurglePots in stock.  And the storekeeper said she’s getting a big shipment of all 16 colors on or before Friday 4/23.

Here’s an easy quiz:  On Valentine’s Day, it is tradition to give:

a.) a greeting card

b.) flowers

c.) chocolates

d.) all of the above

This year South ‘n France has you covered with ”all of the above” and a unique memorable twist.  We have partnered with Bloomers Florist to offer an incredible “one-call-does-it-all” deal for just $150.00. 

Just give us a call (910) 762-6882 and request your preferred delivery date: February 12th, 13th, and 14th.  Dressed in her Bon Bon Queen regalia, Charlene will deliver the following to your sweetie:

• 1 Dozen Gorgeous Pink or Red Roses
• 1 8-piece South ‘n France Hand-Dipped Chocolate Bon Bon Sampler
• 1 Customized Singing Telegram (the twist!)
• 1 Personal Message on a Gift Card
• This package creates an amazing, memorable Valentine’s gift at a price that can’t be beat (it’s a $200+ value!)   Best of all, your sweetie receives a unique, personal, and unforgettable memory to cherish for years to come.

Not into all of that lovey-dovey stuff?  Ask Charlene to sing an anti-Valentine song for your best friend or your single co-workers at the office.  After all, no matter what one’s “status” (attached or otherwise), flowers, music, and bon bons are always appreciated!