Mobile sweet shop - any such thing?

[iArtist]

Is there presently such a thing as a mobile sweet shop, mobile as in a van (like an ice-cream van) that instead of selling ices sells sweets?

I am of course familiar with mobile sweet stalls that visit fetes and what not but I am wondering if people are ever alerted to the ding-a-ling of a mobile sweet shop?

Meanwhile if you're not familiar with them, would a mobile sweet shop selling traditional and modern sweets be something you'd run out the house without your slippers for?

 

[Sharpy]

They do exist. One does its rounds on the council estate I grew up on. I know the kids playing out in summer liked it, but it never had queues and queues of people waiting for sweets.

 

[Tony_Round]

I can't ever say I've seen any where i live.

It's one of those that I like the quaint, niche, nostalgic idea of the chimes ringing and kids or Adults coming out in the street to get sweets but I just can't see it working - I understand a 99 from the icecream van on a hot summers day because I can't get that from a corner shop or vending machine - but I can with chocolate bars.

I like the idea of 'vintage' sweets but again I think they're better suited to shop or an e-commerce site.

Saying that if you drove down my street I'd probably be pushing kids out the way for a quarter of fizzy cola bottles!!

 

[sellickbhoy]

hmmmmm, i don't think i'm getting you

I used to have an ice cream van, and to be honest, we sold more sweets, crisps, juice, fags than we did ice lollies/ice cream

so, I don't think you'll have a problem being an ice cream van without ice cream

but for hot summer days, you can't beat an ice cream van for pulling in the business.

Though, i'm thinking of a variation on it for my own business (fruit and veg boxes)

I plan to sell punnets of strawberries (or fruit salad) and cream/ice cream from my van in the summer - just going to industrial parks and selling to the workers in factories

 

[sanjiv]

Don't think it would really work. The point of an ice cream van is because you can't keep a 99 in your freezer at home and when your out in the park or whatever the can't carry one around in your pocket until you want it. You can however carry sweets around.

 

[ShortCouture]

I remember this exact same idea being kicked out of Dragon's Den, and Duncan Bannatyne (ex ice cream van man) saying that if there were a specific market then ice-cream vans sell sweeties.

That said - the Dragons have kicked out many a good idea that went on to success - some International.

Maybe you need to ask your prospective customers - the kids?

 

[JamieM]

I remember this exact same idea being kicked out of Dragon's Den, and Duncan Bannatyne (ex ice cream van man) saying that if there were a specific market then ice-cream vans sell sweeties.

That said - the Dragons have kicked out many a good idea that went on to success - some International.

Maybe you need to ask your prospective customers - the kids?

I don't think that was sweets. Sandwiches or something like that.

Like sellickbhoy says ice cream vans already sell sweets and have done for years.

 

[papverpoppies]

Don't think it would really work. The point of an ice cream van is because you can't keep a 99 in your freezer at home and when your out in the park or whatever the can't carry one around in your pocket until you want it. You can however carry sweets around.

We have a mobile shop that does the rounds, and they sell sweets (a few) and not anything exciting...the kids always buy from it - seen Mums, stuffing choccie into their basket as well.

I think you would have to sell other things as well, to make it worth while.

I think you have got the wrong end of the stick Sanjv, its not parked in a park or whatever, (at least I do not think that is the idea) its to tempt you out of your house, and buy ALL those lovely scrummy sweets.

A Willy Wonker factory on wheels..

Poppy

 

[Beachcomber]

I had toyed with something similar.

This idea was a sweet take away delivery service - you get your menu through the door then when you've got a major attack of the munchies you phone up and order a couple of mars bars, a kit kat and a few packs of minstrels - 15 minutes later they're at your door!

But with pretty slim margins on name brand sweets it never amounted to more than a nice idea that might stop me getting thrown out of the house at 10pm to get snacks for the missus during her 'special' time.

 

[iArtist]

yep, I agree with most here

If it were a majot goer, the icecream vans would already be doing it. Meanwhile I didn't know they sold sweets. Shame on me!

 

[sellickbhoy]

also, something to think about - probably for fridays only!! A SWEET DELIVERY SERVICE for offices

lots of offices get in donuts, chocolates, bags of sweets etc on a friday

so you could offer a service where they phone up/go online and y just deliver the sweets to the office

 

[Hedgie]

The problem is not so much getting the 'customers' as the majority of kids would buy from you especially if its the 'penny sweet' selections.

The problem as mentioned before is the low profit margin on big brand sweets. I tried this in the council office I was working in. I bought a stock of crisps sweets and drinks and undercut the vending machines. Problem was if I fancied a snack or two myself then straight away the slim profit margin vanished !! Maybe it was just because I am a pig though