Life is sweet for Marjie Kaplan, owner of the Confection Connection in Highland Park.
The Glenview resident has owned the premium candy and gift emporium for almost a decade. Kaplan worked for the previous owner and says she aims to carry on the store’s legacy of presentation and customer service.
“We love our customers and they know it!” she said.
Why did you decide to open your business in Highland Park and at this location?
It was a pre-existing business with a great following.
What obstacles did you find when you started?
The hardest thing for me was figuring our needs as to amounts of candy, treats and hard goods that would be needed.
If you could offer local officials one piece of advice to make their town more attractive to entrepreneurs, what would it be?
Be inclusive of all merchants, not just the ones that are west of the railroad tracks. Make sure that the entire business community benefits from all the promotional activities.
What mistakes did you make?
We made an assumption that the local economy would continue to be robust as it was when we opened. As it turned out, the recession affected most of the local businesses.
What did you do right?
We have tried to provide goods and services that meet the standards of our clientele. We ship our candy and gifts both locally and nationally.
What advice would you give to someone else looking to open a business in Highland Park?
Try to understand the needs of the community and that there are no competing businesses in their service area.
What are your hours/address/phone number/website address?
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; and closed Sundays.
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504 Central Ave., Highland Park, 847-432-3080, confectionconnection.com