The Parson's Daughter

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A new year has dawned upon us and a busy holiday season at The Parson’s Daughter located in the “sweet” heart of Norwich can testify that premium chocolates continue to be the star in the confection industry. Medical research suggests that the flavanols and antioxidants in chocolate have the potential to reduce the rates of a wide range of diseases and these benefits are of interest to many in an aging American population. Consumers also continue to be fascinated with dark chocolate and chocolates flavored with novel ingredients. Similar to the taste trends in wine, coffee and olive oil, chocolate lovers can tell their friends what country or origin their favorite bar comes from and its cocoa content. Jelly Belly said of its pomegranite jelly beans that this is the first time a new product has reached the top ten list in less than a year’s time.

Being sensitive and attentive to her market and eager to please her customers, Sharon Jeffer, proud proprietress of this quaint little destination shop, educates herself to the latest and the greatest available and blends that with the individual desires and requests of her clientele. She feels consumer education and communication is very important to the sweet success of her gourmet business. The weakness of the dollar combined with the rise in transportation and material costs pose tough decisions to be made by consumers, retailers and suppliers. The domino effect of a customer being reluctant to pay the price associated with a quality product may cause a retailer to advise his/her supplier of that fact, who, in turn, might consider looking for new, less expensive producers – who then may seek out products not equal to what they previously offered. At the end of the day, these decisions could damage the reputation of the retailer by having a disappointed customer who no longer perceives value in paying a premium for what used to be a specialty product.

“I am very focused on my customers to be able to shop at The Parson’s Daughter with a confident feeling they are getting a high-end product for a good value. I will not compromise and therefore will not ask them to. Especially when I make a gift arrangement, I often remind them that their name is on it as well as mine and hopefully that eliminates any sense of compromise.” This attitude of dedication and loyalty to her customers and community allows Sharon to look ahead at the coming year with a good feeling. “I have some lovely and unique Valentine chocolates and my bulk chocolate showcase is fully stocked for choosing personal favorites for someone special. Easter is earlier than usual this year and I have some adorable bunnies on order. I believe quality is better than quantity so I have tailored my selection to some smaller ones. Better really does matter and today’s children taste the difference and are upwardly selective,” notices Sharon. “Mother’s Day is a chocolate holiday and Father’s Day could very well be considering the increasing numbers of men who buy chocolates.”

Customers go to The Parson’s Daughter for familiar and nostalgic products but this is also the place to go for new items. It has established itself as creating a niche for innovative gift giving. “If you haven’t been, why not?” Hopefully the year ahead is filled with prosperity, happiness and a healthy bottom line. More people noticeably shopped locally which indicates that this is our home and we like it here and want it to shine. “My top line is customer satisfaction and loyalty, which is what makes my bottom line exciting,” says Sharon with pride.

Back to Progress 2008 Listing