Chocolate Fountain Rentals are a great revenue stream for Party rental stores, caterers and even small businesses that specialize in fountain rentals exclusively.
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I’ve watched sales of professional quality chocolate fountains to these markets grow steadily over the past 2 years and have had many conversations with catering and equipment rental professionals speculating on whether the whole chocolate fountain phenomenon was just a passing fad.
Typically those concerned that it was a fad had not purchased a fountain and were waiting for their prophesy to come true.
If the ARA (American Rental Association) trade show floor in Orlando this past spring was any indicator of trends, chocolate fountains have proven to be anything but a passing fad. In fact they show definite signs of becoming a party perennial.
The ARA show was one of our companies strongest showings to date for our flagship product, The American Chocolate Fountain.
Out of the many fountains sold, I can say the purchases were divided into 2 distinct categories, those who were adding to their inventory of existing rental units and those that had been waiting to see if they were a passing fad.
Those who had been waiting bought because they saw demand was still strong and didn’t want to pass up the rental revenue any longer. I can’t count the times I heard this during the show, "I get so many calls for these, I can’t keep turning this business away."
That points up my second contention, home chocolate fountains will not hurt the long term rental of commercial chocolate fountains. In fact, it has raised awareness of how much fun and what an over all sensory experience a commercial chocolate fountain can be as an event centerpiece.
On the whole, the home chocolate fountains are as different from the commercial fountains as an toy "Easy-Bake Oven" is to a commercial bakers oven. Toy chocolate fountains are fun to play with, but not practical for more than a handful of guests.
With price points well under $50, the "home" chocolate fountain is intended to be a fad item. Something used a couple of times, then relegated to the closet as future yard sale material. Not unlike the fondue sets that come back around the holiday gift circuit every 2 or 3 years.
The pricier $100-250 home chocolate fountains are targeted to a more discerning, narrower market, but still are not up to practical professional use. The mechanics are not designed for constant use and abuse that rental equipment sustains and the capacities are too small for any gathering over 10-20 people.
The overall awareness generated by the home fountains has only served to create greater awareness and greater demand for "the real thing" at their event or party. That means a BIG presentation with a big chocolate fountain.
Contributing to the growth and popularity of chocolate fountain rentals have been caterers who understand it’s about presentation. More than just renting the fountain and some chocolate, a skilled caterer or party rental manager can turn it into a memorable event with the proper accessories and decorating talent.
That is reflected in our sales of associated products for chocolate fountain displays and accessories.
On the whole, I can safely say chocolate fountains are here to stay. Like popcorn and cotton candy machines (both of which have long had toy counterparts), they draw a crowd because they are interactive and have an unmistakable, attention getting aroma when running.
Chocolate is in renaissance, quality chocolate is growing in demand. It has been the subject of desire and romance and the chocolate fountain has acquired and maintained that mystique.
