How reviews help small businesses (and why we read every one)
When you look up a new taco spot or a place to order a birthday cake, what do you check first? If you're like most people, it's the reviews. For a small family shop like ours, those few sentences from customers do more than almost anything we could buy or build.
Reviews help people find us
When someone in Corpus Christi searches for "candy apples near me," Google decides which shops show up on the map. Google says it looks at how relevant a business is, how close it is and how well known it is, and in its own words, "More reviews and positive ratings can help your business's local ranking." For a small shop without a big advertising budget, every review helps the next customer find us.
Reviews help people trust us
BrightLocal's 2026 survey of 1,002 U.S. adults found that 97% of consumers read reviews for local businesses, and 41% say they always do. A stranger's honest note that the apple was fresh and the chamoy was just right tells a first-time customer more than any ad we could write.
Recent reviews count the most
The same survey found that 74% of people look for reviews written in the last three months. A shop can have wonderful reviews from a few years back and still look quiet today. Our Google rating is 4.7 stars from 31 reviews, and we're grateful for every one of them, but our newest review is several months old. That's where you come in.
Reviews tell us what to keep and what to fix
We read every review, and they shape what we do. When you tell us a flavor is your favorite, it stays on the menu. When something misses, we want to know so we can make it right. Honest reviews, including the ones that point out what we could do better, help us take better care of you.
How to leave us a review in about a minute
- Tap this link, or point your phone's camera at the code below.
- Pick your stars and write a sentence or two. It helps to mention what you had, like a Chamoy Candy Apple or a sweets table for your party.
- Tap Post. That's it.
We ask everyone, and we don't offer anything in exchange. We simply want your honest opinion.
Do the same for your other favorite local businesses
Everything above holds true for every small business in town, from the barbershop down the street to the food truck on the corner. If there's a local business you love, leaving it a review this week costs you nothing and can mean the world to its owner. Small businesses help keep Corpus Christi sweet, and a few kind words help keep them going.
Come see us
Stop by our shop at 6149 McArdle Road, Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 8 p.m., or order candy apples and specialty apples online for pickup. New to chamoy? Start with our guide, What is a chamoy candy apple?
Sources: Google Business Profile Help, "Tips to improve your local ranking on Google"; BrightLocal, Local Consumer Review Survey 2026.