How to Start a Candy Selling Business (Make $55,000!)

One interesting observation during the 2008 economic downturn is that candy sales were still strong, and that is evidence enough that people still need to find comfort in food, regardless of what kind of economic cycle we are in.

All in all, whether it is a full-time venture or a pastime hobby, selling candy can never be a bad idea.

It is time you capitalize on it.

Aim for a Decent Start and Target BIG

The growth of the business is going to be organic in nature.

It is natural that people don’t know you when you first get started. But as you persist, you will slowly but surely build up a steady pool of customers.

And as your experience grows, you will get exposed to more varieties of candy and more cost-effective sources.

One of my favorites is Costco, for the simple reason that you can get your candy very cheap, and the variety on offer here is amazing. The prices are so unbelievably low that you can regularly mark up your price by two times, and the candy is still in high demand.

So, it will be a gross profit of $80 from an initial investment of $80.

Nevertheless, it doesn’t always work this way. Naturally, you’ll need to have a good sense of what sells and what doesn’t.

Understand What the Market Demands

Even before you dig into your pocket at the Costco store, have a clear mind about what is really in demand among consumers.

If you lack this market foresight, I would encourage you to simply ask around—be it in your neighborhood, workplace, school, or church.

List of Candy Bars

Among the various candy types, candy bars certainly make it to the top three of the market’s favorites.

As a reflection of its universal appeal, there are so many candy bars to choose from in your neighborhood stalls and upmarket malls.

Here are a few universally beloved sweets:

• Twix
• Snickers
• Almond Joy
• Pay Day
• Heath Bar
• 5th Avenue
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
• M&Ms
• Milky Way
• Butterfinger
• 3 Musketeers
• Baby Ruth
• Kit Kat
• Whatchamacallit
• Mounds
• Nestle Crunch
• Oh Henry

Be a Business-Savvy Operator

This is not just a sweet way for kids to earn money; this can be a real business. So you have to treat it as such.

In this increasingly affluent society, it is not uncommon for kids to carry around dollar bills as pocket allowance.

The strategy is to tempt them to spend away their dollar bills.

Instead of selling something that costs 75 cents, make that nice candy bar one dollar each (or 50 cents each so that they can buy two).

The benefits are twofold: it is easier to sell, and you save the trouble of keeping spare change.

Keep Score at the End of the Day

It is inevitable that you will find ups and downs as you start this candy-selling business.

Some days, the products move briskly, and other days, sales are simply dismal.

You can certainly dismiss this as simply luck, or you can be proactive and try to understand the story behind your sales.

Is the sale better when you were in a certain neighborhood? Do kids have certain preferences (over packaging and/or flavor)? Or does the timing of the day directly influence sales? There is no strict answer to any of these, but my point is that the more you know about your market and product, the easier it is for you to strategize your plan and subsequently execute it.

Buy in Variety

All marketers will tell you that variety is key.

Vary your purchases from the store, where you can enjoy mass discounts.

At the same time, you can still charge your customers the same price, but they now get to enjoy a rich choice.

Don’t jump to the conclusion that you’ve hit an easy winner with the candy-selling decision. While kids tend to have a natural affinity toward candy, you still need to get your marketing message out.

Put up banners, stick your ad on bulletin boards, talk to people, etc.

Essentially, you want to reach out to as broad an audience as possible if you are serious about your new venture.

Keep It Cool

Candy needs to be kept at an optimal temperature, which means it must be cool enough to entice potential customers.

If you can afford a mobile fridge, great! Otherwise, an ice pack will do the job just fine. Just make sure that the ice pack is suitably insulated to prevent heat from seeping in.

Advance Planning

Your daily grind doesn’t start in the morning as you make your trip to school or church. Rather, you should ensure that all candy is properly prepared the night before.

The reward for overnight work is that it saves time in the morning, and you are less likely to forget anything when you start your trip the next day.

Adults Have Sweet Teeth Too

Remember, there is never one fixed path to reach your destination.

While schools may represent an obvious target, don’t lose sight of the bigger picture. Your products will appeal to just about anyone with a sweet tooth. Get close to your market, and you will be duly rewarded.

Always remember candy’s universal appeal!

It may not even be remotely associated with bars and pubs, but my experience with approaching patrons of such places has generally been positive!

Another option worth checking out is the local movie theaters. Just set up a kiosk, and you may be amazed at the kind of income it can bring you.

The logic is simple: buying candy at the movie theater is a costly affair. By setting up competition there, you would be offering a choice to the captive audience. Not to mention that your affordable and quality candy would be an obvious welcome alternative to the bland and expensive products in the theaters.

Whether you choose to set up a kiosk or sell door-to-door, always check with the local authorities about the necessary licenses that allow you to do so.

Final Thoughts

The key criterion for success is strong willpower.

Granted, you are likely to suffer from low sales as you get started.

But trust me, things will brighten up if you stick with it.

Don’t get disheartened if it does not work in your favor initially. Just as much, don’t get too cocky if your first day’s sales are superb either, as you are still experimenting at this stage.

You may run into instances where a big group of students just decide to go “dieting” or you are denied entry at the gates of bars and pubs.

Obviously, this will hurt your sales.

Let those factors drive you to work even harder, and you just have to keep going until you hit the level of income that you want!

Take a page from Alex’s (the New Yorker who makes $55,000 a year with his candy business) book on dealing with obstacles. For example, here’s how he gets most people to buy candy from him: he tells them, “If you don’t spend a dollar with me, either you don’t have it, or you’re a hater.”