Sweet Variations Celebrates 30 Whimsical Years of Candy, Memories and Fun

After 30 years behind the counter of  in Downtown Fenton, Carol Schuler has heard a lot of local stories. One of the best came just the other day.

“I had a woman come into the store who said her daughter was moving back to Fenton,” said Schuler. “She told me about how her daughter had such great memories of riding her bike to my store as a kid, and now she has children of her own. She decided to move back to Fenton so they could have those same childhood memories.

“Talk about a tearjerker!”

Schuler laughed as she recalls the conversation, but the story points out a serious fact about Sweet Variations. As Schuler celebrates her 30th year in business, it’s clear that the candy store has become a Downtown Fenton icon.

Schuler almost purchased a health food store when she was shopping around for a food industry business to buy. All of Fenton would now agree, it’s a good thing she decided on candy instead. With a little help from some friends, Schuler began the famous chocolate-making practices that Sweet Variations is known for.

“My flavors are a little more pronounced than some candy stores,” says Schuler. “When someone is biting into a raspberry cream, I want them to know it’s raspberry cream.”

More than anything she has done, Schuler credits her loyal customer base for the long life of her business.

“Without them I wouldn’t be here,” says Schuler. “They aren’t really customers, they’re just friends. We’ve raised almost two generations of kids now. I’m seeing the children of some of my original customers, and in some cases their grandkids.

It hasn’t seemed like a job most of the time. It’s just been fun.”

Sweet Variations will celebrate their Sept. 1 anniversary with the launch of a Facebook page, a Sweet Variations memories project, and by continuing to innovate and delight their customers. Schuler hopes to also complete façade work to her building in honor of her next thirty years in business.

To visit the magic of Sweet Variations, stop in at 101 W Shiawassee in Fenton.

* Information provided by New Moon Visions