Small Business Start-Up Grant recipient uses wizardry to create tourism, record sales
by Chickasha Chamber of Commerce
New Chickasha business, Rock Island Candy Co., created magic in downtown Chickasha to beat away the January blues. Lora Gerstner, with a dream of opening a candy store in Downtown Chickasha, initially operated her business out of a candy truck, showcasing custom-made treats at local festivals. Their inventive candy packaging gained popularity in 2022, notably when parked at the Chickasha Leg Lamp during town events.
In February 2023, supported by the Chickasha EDC Small Business Grant, Rock Island Candy transitioned their candy truck to a brick-and-mortar candy store on the second floor of the Production House. By August of the same year, they relocated downstairs within the same building to increase visibility and square footage. Despite record holiday sales, anticipating a decline in foot traffic for January, they turned to a creative solution—inspired by the world of witchcraft and wizardry!
Commenting on this shift, Gerstner mentioned, “We were brainstorming ways to stay afloat. Bri, a Harry Potter enthusiast, and part-time employee, suggested we create a themed month surrounded around the movie franchise.” With a theme set the crew began working to build a magical escape from themed candies to officially licensed Harry Potter merchandise.
During January, Rock Island Candy’s wizardry theme not only boosted their sales but also benefited other Downtown Chickasha businesses. AdventureScape’s “Sorcerer’s Secret” room was booked solid for the last two weeks of January because of the influx of Harry Potter fans in Chickasha. Brink’s Downtown Boutique also saw steady traffic. Owner Jill Brinkley commented, “We loved seeing visitors, especially in January when sales slowdown after the holidays.”
“The first Saturday had a definite increase customers, but after Cassie, from the Chamber, filmed a video all of a sudden, we had lines out the door,” remarked Gerstner. Cassie Poole, Marketing Director for the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the impact, saying, “I tried to make it out the first weekend, but I wasn’t able to until the Friday after. The moment I walked in I knew I needed to share this with the Chamber’s social media audience.” Shared it was—in only 24 hours, the video was shared over 240 times and had over 30,000 views on Facebook alone.
In January, Rock Island Candy attracted visitors from across Oklahoma, including Tulsa, Altus, Chandler, Lawton, and all over the OKC Metro Area. According to Placer data from the Chickasha EDC, the Candy Store saw a near double the amount of foot traffic in January compared to December 2023. Looking ahead to February, Gerstner is enthusiastic about offering Valentine’s Day sweets and supporting local businesses like Wild Ox Axe Throwing by starting an axe throwing league, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of Chickasha. For more information about upcoming themes and treats with Rock Island Candy Co. make sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
