The Nick Coin redeem program creates real value. And we wanted to show that value in a relevant and tangible manner. We also wanted to illustrate the fact that this value comes back to our customers with a sweet, rich taste. This is another story of what makes H&N different – and what makes us sweeter to work with than any other brand!
Creating a “currency” of our own was not so easy. We got inspired by the most valuable coins in the world of numismatics. Ours would be colored gold, of course, and it would have birds on one side. Not a lonesome fierce-looking eagle but proud parent birds with chicks. Sun rays in the back would indicate that something bright is dawning with them.
The other side would show the H&N Logo and a DNA strand floating by. Any iconic coin has meaningful claims, too. So far, so good – the Nick Coin took shape on our computer screens.
It would look great as a spinning gif animation on the Nick Coin subsite, and as illustration in power points. But it was still virtual.
We repeatedly had to think about old movies where characters are sometimes shown testing coins by biting into them. Only if human teeth leave an indention the coin in question is of real gold.
Since our business is genetics and not mining (data mining set aside for a moment) we did not plan to issue real gold coins but real edible coins to underline the benefit of the redemption program and illustrate the message that your activities bear fruit that comes back to you.
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Gold foil versus no foil
Getting gold-wrapped chocolate coins embossed with our own Nick Coin design was one good idea. The chocolate can then be preserved well and shipped upon request – or even made locally onsite in countries with vendors offering the same type of chocolate. The details of the finest lines get a little blurred when embossed onto the thick gold foil wrapping, and the foil itself is, of course, extra packaging. That’s why we decided to also design our own casting mold form with the help of MB3 Engineering, a German based company specialized in creating forms for dental, medical and food applications. With our casting mold it is now possible to approach local chocolatiers and ask them to make the coins fresh or allow customers to make their own coins at home. In the wrap-free version the coin details are indented. That way all fine lines and details that the silicone form allows to reproduce so well are preserved very accurately. The indented motive indicates that is has been freshly and sustainable produced with local craftsmanship.
Silicone versus Thermoplastic
But before getting our hands on a lot of self-made chocolate coins we needed to find a 3D-printing company to create a tangible coin out of our virtual vector file as template for a casting mold. Many 3D-companies print machinery parts, fewer do molds and forms in certified materials. We were very lucky to find MB3 Engineering of Marco Bassendorf. He brought vast experience in both thermoplastic as well as silicone forms and casting molds to the project. The biggest challenge lay still ahead: Chocolate must be shiny with a gleaming surface. A professional Chocolatier in Hamburg advised that only thermoplastic would ensure this crucial criterion, silicone would take away the gleam. And chocolate that does not shine is less fun to eat. A dull surface simply is less tempting, even if the chocolate is perfectly edible. But even the thinnest thermoplastic would not give us the desired detail richness and fine lines that silicone could reproduce, also the shine we desired to achieve could have been shinier. Plus, the material was less durable than silicone. It was a dilemma and almost a showstopper. Chocolate that does not shine is less fun to eat. A dull surface simply is less tempting, even if the chocolate is perfectly edible.To shine or not to shine – no question
But after taking (and eating) various samples with casting molds made of both thermoplastic and silicone – and a little chubbier around our waists from frequent sampling – we invented our very own method to create a silicone casting mold with “build-in” shine. Would it work? Against the advice of the chocolatier? Shiny chocolate now or never – the new form was delivered and got tested right away. And… from the form emerged the first real coin. Shiny, gleamy, detail rich in the lines and letters. And tasty! Now, with the recipe for shine, we could start mass producing the new forms. Every casting mold is made of certified ultrapure nonhazardous silicone, it is designed for repeated usage with chocolate, easy to use and easy to clean. It took a lot of testing, but we cannot help it, we are a creative, inventive company and we did not want to compromise on anything representing our birds and our business. So here it is now: Our Nick Coin, a real Bite Coin with value and rich taste. Few companies bring coins when they come your way – but we take paying you a visit literally, and bringing you value seriously.
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