There are many types of candy stores.
Candy stores are frequented by people of all ages, and are very popular on holidays such as Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas. When starting a candy store, there are many directions you can take, from opening a Parisian-style confectionery to an old-fashioned candy shop. No matter what type of candy store you plan to open, there are a few things you'll need to consider.
A Target Market
You need to choose a target market or niche for your candy business. For instance, you may want to specialize in selling chocolates, homemade taffy, nostalgic candy, organic and sugar-free candies or luxury candies made with exotic ingredients. Alternatively, instead of specializing in a specific type of candy, you can tailor the atmosphere of your store to a specific type of customer.
Location
Candy stores do best when they are in a high-traffic location. Candy is typically an impulse purchase, so having a steady amount of people passing by is ideal. Appropriate spots for a candy store include a mall booth, kiosk or shop in a busy shopping center, on a street that gets a good amount of foot traffic or near a school.
Local Permits
The type of permits you will need for your candy store depends upon whether you plan on making any of the candy yourself. If so, you will likely need to obtain a food enterprise permit, food manger certification and food handler permits from your city. If your state collects sales tax, you may need a Tax Identification Number or resale certificate. At the minimum, most people opening a candy store will need an assumed name certificate (DBA) from their county and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
Retail Supplies
Organized candy stores tend to attract and retain customers, so it's important that you have enough supplies before opening for business. Aside from shelving, jars and containers to hold the candy, you will need plastic scoops, scales if you plan to sell candy by weight, refrigerated counters if you plan to retail chocolates, signage to help customers find the candy they're looking for, shopping bags and shopping carts or baskets.
Inventory and Services
Candy will be the largest part of your inventory, and you can purchase it in bulk from a wholesale supplier or manufacture it yourself. Aside from candy, consider offering services such as candy bouquets, candy corsages, candy gift delivery in your local area and bulk sales of candy for events such as weddings and conventions.
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