 | To say hi to Jean, please send your e-mails to : Jean@JeansCandy.com |
Jean's Candy supplies and box candy
can be found at the following stores :
Jeans Candy
4914 Asbury Road
Dubuque, IA 52002
River City Gifts
3430 Dodge Street
Dubuque, IA 52003
Century House
115 N. Main
Monticello, IS 52310
Floral Designe
1st Avenue West
Cascade, IA 52033
Boxed candy is available at :
Hy-Vee Floral Shop
4800 Asbury Road
Dubuque, IA 52002
Basket Expressions
474 Bluff Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Boxlighter Floral
5900 Saratoga Plaza
Dubuque, IA 52002
The Story of Jean Hilby
 In 1982, I stopped to visit a neighboring farm family. They were in the process of making their holiday candy. I have always been interested in baking and cooking and had made some candy myself. As I watched them mold their candy and make their centers, I became more interested. She said if I wanted to learn how to make the candy, she would show me. So, another farm wife, myself and our husbands, started visiting each others homes around the holidays for our lessons. Sometimes, we did just as much talking as candy making. As our husbands sat in the other room talking, our candy making adventure started.As more and more people tasted my gifts and treats, they asked me to teach them how to make candy. Some Saturdays, I had as many as 8 people in my kitchen making candy. We had to go out of town to get our chocolate and supplies. After a few times, I decided if I was teaching them, I might as well sell them their products. After 6 months of research, trying seven different kinds of chocolate, I settled on the one we still use. It is a pure chocolate with no additives or preservatives. My business was on its way... The first thing I had to do was get my license and tax permit. Now I had to get my name out to the public. I knew I could not afford to advertise on the radio or TV. I decided to advertise in the local paper and I also called the head of the mothers' club in town. I stated that I would do free demonstrations at meetings, fairs, or gatherings. I did 31 shows in 29 days. The first two years I worked out of my kitchen, but that was not the answer, it took too much of my families privacy away. Also, I was never away from my work. I them remodeled part of our basement and moved into that. The unique thing was that the pool table sat in the middle of the floor, and we used it for our packing table. I also started doing local craft shows to get more exposure. As people used our chocolate and tasted the made up candy, they wanted more and more kinds. That's when the family got more involved with helping me. So now after 20 years and another expansion, I am still making candy (and it was only going to be a hobby). I finally got rid of the pool table when my son built a new home. My husband has retired from farming, and my son runs the farm, but the candy is still made in the Iowa farm house. Jean Hilby |