Even chocolate can’t sweeten the economy.
Amy Jablonski, owner of Amy’s Decadent Chocolates in Bremerton, said this is typically her busiest time of year, but that hasn’t been the case this holiday season.
“It has been slower,” she said. “This is it. Christmas is chocolate.”
Despite a noticeable decline in customers and sales, Jablonski said Amy’s Decadent Chocolates is still making ends meet.
“We’re doing … good enough, sweet enough,” she said.
Jablonski said fudge and brittle are holiday favorites, but the confections are still sitting on store shelves because people can only afford necessities, not wants such as chocolate.
Jablonski is doing a few things in an attempt to draw more customers to her business. She accepts the Kitsap Card, which can save people some money.
Jablonski also is putting sweets in smaller packages and selling them for a cheaper price.
“More affordable packages, I guess I’d call it,” she said.
Despite the rising cost of apples, Amy’s Decadent Chocolates’ customers who buy three caramel/candied apples, get one for free, according to Jablonski.
She said apples at the grocery store cost $1.79 a pound last year. This year, they cost $2.49 a pound.
“The price of apples is just astronomical,” she said.
Jablonski also gets out in the community more than in the past. She sets up an Amy’s Decadent Chocolates booth at events like today’s Collage Arts and Crafts Show at the Kitsap Golf & Country Club in Bremerton starting at 9 a.m. She also offers treats at Bremerton Symphony performances, including today’s event.
Jablonski said she used to attend just one event a day, but now she typically sets up booths at two events per day.
“I do a lot more events,” she said. “I don’t turn down an opportunity to get my name out.”
Jablonski said people need to shop locally because “there’s going to be businesses that don’t make it.”
“A lot of people come in now and make a conscious decision to shop local,” she said. “It’s important to shop local at this point.”
Amy’s Decadent Chocolates is located at 2801 Sixth St. in Bremerton. For more information, call Jablonski at (360) 377-2252.
