Part I: Dove Chocolate Lau...

My week started off sweetly! Today I received a tote bag filled with Dove chocolates. Why? I am one of 300 individuals across Canada who has been selected to receive a Dove chocolate pleasure kit, because I am a true chocolate lover! All I am supposed to do is enjoy the chocolates, share them with friends, family and colleagues and provide feedback about my experience. This word of mouth marketing campaign was executed by Matchstick Inc. After all, isn't word of mouth marketing the ultimate in one-to-one communication?

Now, I have to admit that although I was somewhat familiar with the Dove brand, I had never purchased it, even though I regularly consume chocolate – about 3 times a week. I dug into my bag and first tried their milk chocolate, which was smooth and rich! Yummy! I can’t wait to try the rest: 71% cacao dark chocolate, dark chocolate, and milk chocolate with a hint of dark.

I was delightfully surprised with the little messages that were printed on the inside foil of the individually wrapped squares. They read:

• Unplug the phone
• Give out the wrong number
• Buy yourself flowers
• Ride shotgun

How cute! It definitely made me smile. Sort of like a little fortune cookie message, but inside chocolate.

I decided to spread the love of chocolate and gave it out to 3 people today. It’s interesting to note that none had heard about the Dove chocolate brand. And, one even questioned whether Dove chocolate was affiliated with Dove soap. It isn't. So, obviously there are some awareness and branding issues.

I thought that this blog post would stand out among the rest because I wouldn’t have anything to say about mass customization or personalization. But I was pleasantly surprised when I visited the Dove site because there is a little banner in the upper right that lets visitors know they can order Dove chocolates with a personalized message.

I had to check it out. What was my verdict?