The Joy of Being Carded

So often I hear people make disparaging remarks about gift cards. The most common is that they aren’t thoughtful enough to be a proper gift. Bah Humbug.

I truly can’t think of anything more thoughtful than the gift of choice. Gift cards also say you cared enough about the recipient to keep them out of the return lines, and you were considerate enough to not guess their current size.


At a holiday party this past weekend, I fought hard for the only gift card that was passed around at a Yankee Swap gift exchange. Sure, other people left with a bag of coffee or the latest in goofy, singing Christmas ornaments. I left with anticipation, imagination, and possibility. The best part about my future gift card purchase - I know I’m going to like it!

Give someone something to look forward to this Christmas season. A Van Otis gift card offers possibilities such as a mid-winter treat of truffles, cashews for the New Year’s Eve party, or gourmet popcorn for the ski lodge.

Now through December 24th, take 10% OFF all Van Otis gift cards!

ORDER NOW!

Bark as Good as the Bite

We need your help!

Van Otis Chocolates currently offers milk, dark, and white chocolate bark, along with their seasonal peppermint bark. Think of chocolate as your blank canvas and let those salivary, creative juices flow. What else would make for a great bark topping?

Chocolate bark is such a great concept. Broken pieces of chocolate reinforce the mindset of eating just a little bit, i.e. I only ate some pieces of chocolate, not the whole thing.

I'm personally a fan of salty items combined with Van Otis' handmade dark chocolate. Crumbled pretzels or cashews would be my pick, but this isn't about me. This is your chance to be heard.

Share your ideas below. You may see your wish come true!

Sweet Recognition

In one of my former corporate roles, I was responsible for employee recognition programs. This might sound like a very fulfilling job function. Honestly, all it did was add another layer of cynical to my already well-developed attribute of cynicism.

Think about how difficult it is to find the right gift for someone. Then, imagine what it’s like to find a gift for 200 to 2,000 people that not only expresses gratitude, but is additionally motivating.

Watches offend the chronomentrophobics. Turkeys offend the carnophobics. Gift cards offend the decidophobics. After a while, I believed that distributing a check for one million dollars to each employee would result in at least one worker’s comp claim for a paper cut.

Then one day, this cynic gifted with chocolate. Every employee received chocolate with a note of appreciation mailed directly to their home address. I sat by the phone the next day waiting for an employee to call and rant about his Save the Cocoa Bean Campaign.

As expected I did receive phone calls, but surprisingly, they were of gratitude. The chocolate provided immediate gratification. It was shared and appreciated by family members. It was a treat and surprise at the end of a long work day. Chocolate.

I empathize with those of you who are in the thankless position of distributing thank you’s. Call Sara at Van Otis (800) 826-6847; she might even send you a sample. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it.

Confection EducationVan Otis Sweet Spot Now Open

Van Otis retail patrons can finally have the question answered, “How DO they do it?” The Sweet Spot, adjacent to the Manchester, NH candy shop, is now open to complete the sensory experience at Van Otis Chocolates.

The former Van Otis Café space located at 341 Elm Street has been transformed to share a glimpse into our handmade candy making process. See the fresh ingredients that go into every Van Otis product. Smell the confection combination that makes every product a one-of-a-kind. Taste a sample prepared in front of you by our confectioners.












This interactive setting is great for inquiring kids and adults alike! The Sweet Spot also offers a leisurely seating area and coffee station.

Stop into the Sweet Spot today and see for yourself why Van Otis was voted as New Hampshire’s Best for the eighth year in a row.