Getting Hitched

Making the decision to bring two things together as one can be a scary process. When I met McCall, I was a 36-year-old bachelor with one failed dating relationship after another. I asked her out with some reservation knowing that the risk was high and all my emotional investments up to that point ended up as failures. But after our first date I knew I was in the right place, and all those failures from the past melted away and were no longer remembered.

Since launching CropChocolate.com in 2009, we have had many occasions where we've been "asked out", so to speak. We've been courted by several offers but none of them made sense until now. After meeting Kevin and Sandy Cottle, we had one of those moments where past suitors melted away and it was just us, two companies trying to do what's best... for our bottom line, but, even more for our customers.

About the time CropChocolate.com was introduced to Oh My Crafts, I came across a piece of marketing literature released by them a few years back. It included phrases like, "There is not a day that goes by that we do not think of you and what you need us to be for you." Or, "Oh My Crafts is a family run business--parents, children, relatives and then our adopted family--our employees." Reading comments like this and watching the way the Cottle's run their business confirmed what we already sensed, this is a company run with integrity and values. 

After our second meeting, McCall was impressed by Kevin as she observed him checking traffic for his employees so they didn't get caught in construction zones that surround their warehouse. We're quickly finding out that this is not a unique instance either, Kevin and Sandy do things like this--small and big--for many. Their employees gush every time they talk about working at Oh My Crafts... just like ours do.

So that gives a quick backgrounder--moving forward. The merger between Oh My Crafts and CropChocolate.com will bring many opportunities to both companies. Oh My Crafts has a strong name in the industry with many vendor relationships. We have worked through Oh My Crafts to acquire new product and we have tested some of the product that they had sold through on CropChocolate.com. With success in both methods of liquidation--product acquisition for CropChocolate.com from more vendors and liquidation for Oh My Crafts--we've seen great excitement and growth. What's more, the community on CropChocolate.com has become more excited and relationships are strengthening on the site. With strong vendor relationships shared between the two companies, we will purchase close-out deals just for CropChocolate.com and we will broaden the brands and offers on Oh My Crafts. We will also work to strengthen online experience on both web sites and work on some really exciting new technologies. CropChocolate.com will not change its model--why fix something that works so well--but will offer more SWEET deals in higher quantities with broadening offerings of highly desired product and brands. In return, Oh My Crafts will not change their catalog model but will enrich the user experience by offering the newest product with a satisfaction guarantee. In addition to the combining sales channels, Oh My Crafts will bring strength with years of industry experience and fulfillment while CropChocolate.com offers expertise in online marketing and technology.

We are excited to move forward and grow both brands. Both companies have great things to offer and things to approve on. Together, with expertise in various areas and new technologies coming from Chris, we expect to see a beautiful "marriage"... with maybe some offspring?

Best,

Jon & McCall and the CropChocolate.com Team