Make the Devil Buy That Parka!

Yes, we believe fire and brimstone may be freezing over…because Craig and I are going on vacation and closing the store for a few days.

Before you clutch your pearls, let us explain. We haven’t taken a non-business, non-family, longer -than-a-weekend, actual-for-real vacation together since before Merrill Mischief opened. That’s nearly five years ago. Five. Years. Apparently, we skipped the memo where normal people rest.

Now, part of the reason is simple: we genuinely love what we do. For us, “fun” looks a lot like kicking around new sweet-treat flavor ideas, sketching future window displays on napkins, or hopping in the car on a day the shop is closed to hunt for just the thing for an Around the World candy display. Finding the perfect home for a new line of stuffed animals? That’s an adventure in our book.

Our annual road trip to the Atlanta Market is one of our favorite traditions. Sampling candy (someone has to do it), discovering savory snacks, and tracking down just the right mix of mischief to bring back to our shelves is a thrill every single time. But an actual vacation? One that involves no buying, selling, planning, or unpacking boxes? That’s a whole different category.

January, as many of you know, is our slowest month, and it comes right on the heels of a wonderfully busy holiday season. We’re also smack in the middle of flu season, and according to science (and the internet), unplugging and relaxing actually helps boost immunity. Reducing stress hormones allows your immune system to work better, making you less likely to get sick. So really, this is practically a health decision.

So what will we be doing? Reading. Soaking up sunshine. Resting. And if we’re being completely honest…probably gathering inspiration for new sweet treats and future window displays. Old habits die hard. And yes, there will absolutely be candy sampling, because vacation is also about broadening your horizons…sort of.

We’ll miss our customers, our community, and our daily dose of mischief more than we can say. But this little pause will help us come back refreshed, inspired, and ready for even more fun. We’ll be back very soon—with tanned faces, big smiles, and maybe a few new ideas up our sleeves.