Spreading joy through candy is Lindsay Erickson's mission through her new business, GetHappy.

As a little girl, Cedarburg native Lindsay Erickson recalls making care packages for friends and family members to wish them well or simply brighten their day. Those fond memories, more than her admitted love of candy, was the impetus for starting GetHappy, a specialty gummy candy shop that packages its treats in containers reminiscent of pill bottles and first aid kits.

"Starting GetHappy wasn’t purely focused on candy," says Erikson, who runs GetHappy from a kiosk at Mayfair Mall. "It was created to let someone know that you took the time to think of them."

Candy ­— especially the endless flavors and varieties of gummies — seemed like a simple way to spread some happiness and cheer.

Erickson says GetHappy’s packaging (clear bottles and tackle boxes) was designed to showcase the colorful, fun candy it sells. Once customers pick their treats from the bins that surround the GetHappy kiosk, they customize an adhesive label based on any occasion or theme they want.

According to Erickson, customers, whom she refers to as candy artists, have created GetHappy packages to celebrate birthdays, welcome loved ones home from deployment overseas — even to propose marriage.

Although GetHappy’s candy selections are primarily of the gummy variety, the store also sells fine chocolates and other confections, like its GetHappy candy bar.

"We love seeing the smiles on customers’ faces when they spot a candy from their childhood, or seeing kids come back to refill their HappyBottle or HappyTackle," Erickson says.

GetHappy’s 20 percent discount on refills has garnered many "happy" return customers, who have been known to request their favorite gummy treats by their proper names. Some customers visit the kiosk so often that Erickson has made them honorary taste testers.

"If we have something new, we want them to tell us what they think," Erickson says, who can often be found sampling the 80 varieties of gummies GetHappy stocks.

"To ensure freshness, of course," she says, laughing.

Since opening its first kiosk last fall, GetHappy has been successful in its mission to spread happiness. Currently, Erickson is in negotiations to open a second kiosk at another Milwaukee area mall. GetHappy also recently launched an online a la carte candy store at GetHappyUSA.com.