Candy Masterpiece Closes After 25 Years

On January 18th, 2000, Angie Bruskotter established Candy Masterpiece following an extended period in the corporate field. Motivated by her father's encouragement and nostalgic memories of her mother's instruction in preparing almond toffee crunch, which was traditionally made for Christmas gifts, she embarked on this entrepreneurial journey. Angie acquired an existing business known as Ranch Girl Wild West Confectionery, which at that time was equipped with only two chocolate display cases, a sink, and a limited selection of candies, as well as a cherished cherry recipe. Through perseverance and hard work, she successfully expanded the business. However, in the past few years, Angie has encountered increasing challenges in the business. Changes in today's society have made it increasingly difficult to find reliable employees, which has heightened the stress associated with operations. “It just started getting way more difficult and I felt like I was doing it all alone because I couldn't walk away from it,” explained Angie. When the challenges became overwhelming and the positive aspects didn't seem as promising, she realized it was time to move on and decided to go back to school to become a massage therapist. Several people inquired as to why she did not sell the business. Angie explained, “This is highly specific. You have to learn how to make candy, and how to make taffy. This is hard work. And if you're having trouble getting people to work period. All of a sudden it's put on your plate and then the stress quadruples.” Renting the space further complicates the sale of the business. Whoever buys the business will need to understand that they will have to pay a higher rent for the property, which makes it harder to justify the sale price. Candy Masterpiece is planning to sell off as much stock as possible before packing up. From now until January 31st, they will focus on selling all the candy, chocolates, and everything else in stock. In February, they will start selling off the racks and equipment. “It was kind of scary seeing how people would react to this,” explained Angie. “It's been kind of interesting seeing their reactions to business decisions lately. The thing I am going to miss is the people. I started this because I really like people, but when the business overwhelms the positive aspect of it, it’s time to go.” “I genuinely love the people who have come into my shop over the years and am grateful for their support,” explained Angie. “My favorite part has always been the relationships I've built. I learned what my customers liked and remembered their preferences. It was a wonderful experience, and I am filled with gratitude for the city of Great Falls, its residents, and the local businesses I’ve partnered with. I have made amazing friends and created unforgettable memories.”