The Sweet Shop thread!

[carin]

Im finding this thread really interesting. I have a sandwich shop opening soon and I am trying to offer various ad-ons with snacks, crisps and sweets etc. Would love to be able to stock some sweets that you do not buy in your local tesco etc but have no idea if it would work, and where to buy from. My sandwich shop is village based and quite upmarket.
Any thoughts, advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Carin:redface:

 

[TheCandyCabin]

Im finding this thread really interesting. I have a sandwich shop opening soon and I am trying to offer various ad-ons with snacks, crisps and sweets etc. Would love to be able to stock some sweets that you do not buy in your local tesco etc but have no idea if it would work, and where to buy from. My sandwich shop is village based and quite upmarket.
Any thoughts, advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Carin:redface:

Hiya.....do you have any local independent sweet shops that you could by sweets from? We have a bakery & cafe opening near us soon and I'm thinking of approaching them about stocking a small selection of sweets that I sell.

 

[carin]

Hiya.....do you have any local independent sweet shops that you could by sweets from? We have a bakery & cafe opening near us soon and I'm thinking of approaching them about stocking a small selection of sweets that I sell.

Hi there
thanks for your reply. The only sweet shop I can seem to find locally is Mr Simms. What do you think?
Carin:|

 

[justdamo]

Hi there
thanks for your reply. The only sweet shop I can seem to find locally is Mr Simms. What do you think?
Carin:|

You'd be better off using someone like Hancocks or Makro you'll not have the shops mark up to swallow then.

 

[warnie]

Anyone know of any deals on lindt chocolate balls? either wholesale or supermarkets

 

[herewegoagain.]

Hello all, I have decided to close my Derby sweet shop by the end of December, I will have various fixtures and fittings available, (but not stock) - please PM me with any requirements - not expensive, Dave

 

[mhall]

Sweetie people

As you are the experts, may I point you in the direction of this thread, am I way off beam with this? http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=280166

 

[kanej97]

Hi all, I'm brand new to this forum but I knew straight to come here, lol. But I'm thinking of opening a small sweet shop and was wondering some thing about it;

1) How much (roughly) would it cost me to open a small sweet shop in Leeds Town Centre?
2) How much would it cost to stock it (per month) with all kinds of sweet, especially American candy?
3) Do sweet shops tend to profit well?
4) Is a business plan absolutely necessary?

Thanks in advance for answering,

 

[kelvin1950]

Hi all, I'm brand new to this forum but I knew straight to come here, lol. But I'm thinking of opening a small sweet shop and was wondering some thing about it;

1) How much (roughly) would it cost me to open a small sweet shop in Leeds Town Centre?

Depends on rent/rates, you'd need to research that carefully.

2) How much would it cost to stock it (per month) with all kinds of sweet, especially American candy?

Difficult to answer without some idea of your proposed footfall. Take a look at http://www.hancocks.co.uk/ http://www.michaelswholefoods.co.uk/ http://www.sarunds.co.uk/ http://www.americansweets.co.uk/

3) Do sweet shops tend to profit well?

If you have the footfall and your prices are right then yes, but you won't become a millionaire! It's all about location TBH.

4) Is a business plan absolutely necessary?

Definitely. Research in depth and think of everything you might need. Then ask again to find out all the things you never knew you'd need!

 

[herewegoagain.]

Kane, there is one or two in Leeds already..... no point going head to head, neither of you will make any money !!

 

[kanej97]

Difficult to answer without some idea of your proposed footfall.

If you have the footfall and your prices are right then yes, but you won't become a millionaire! It's all about location TBH.

Well since I plan to set up in Leeds town centre, I would guess the footfall would be around 100 customers per day.
Thanks,

 

[mhall]

Well since I plan to set up in Leeds town centre, I would guess the footfall would be around 100 customers per day.
Thanks,

That's your problem - you shouldn't be guessing.

 

[kelvin1950]

Well since I plan to set up in Leeds town centre, I would guess the footfall would be around 100 customers per day.
Thanks,

First thing you should do is to identify where you think your shop will be, either by general location or by identifying actual vacant premises. Then walk around in ever increasing circles and identify any and all possible competition. Then, spend several days sitting outside your chosen location counting people, make notes of footfall against time of day. Then you'll have a (vague!) idea of what your footfall will be. Assume that no more than 10% of the count will enter your shop and that 50% of them won't buy anything.

 

[Crtrjas]

Hi.

I opened my shop August 2012. Been going great guns, until January and its gone dead. Is that the norm and when do things start getting back to normal?

Thanks

 

[Crtrjas]

Hi

I opened my shop in August, and all has gone well until January. From your experiences how long does it stay quiet for?

Thanks for your help.

 

[kelvin1950]

Hi

I opened my shop in August, and all has gone well until January. From your experiences how long does it stay quiet for?

Thanks for your help.

It's our first January as well. Personally, I expect it to be quiet for the whole month, maybe into February a bit. Then pick up for Valentine, Mother's Day and Easter.

Good time to catch up on the paperwork and, in our case, make some inroads into the online shop. Anyone want to help me photograph 200 jars of sweets?

 

[warnie]

It's our first January as well. Personally, I expect it to be quiet for the whole month, maybe into February a bit. Then pick up for Valentine, Mother's Day and Easter.

Good time to catch up on the paperwork and, in our case, make some inroads into the online shop. Anyone want to help me photograph 200 jars of sweets?

Going on the previous 2 years this is the quietest January yet, it's a good job we did so well over christmas to compensate. Also we need to bear in mind that people have had a 5 week month, and a week of that was christmas and new year!. So it will probably take most until Febuary's pay packet to catch up.

So frustrating need to learn how to relax and enjoy the break:redface:

 

[kelvin1950]

a good jersey

Thanks, I bought it in Marks & Spencers.

 

[Crtrjas]

Anyone got any good easter ideas, suppliers? I was wanting to do a fill your own Easter egg type thingy(vague I know), but can't find a supplier just for the chocolate egg shells.

By the way following on from my previous post re crap January, things have started to turn the corner; the weekend was amazing, but today.....wished I had stayed in bed.

 

[kelvin1950]

Anyone got any good easter ideas, suppliers? I was wanting to do a fill your own Easter egg type thingy(vague I know), but can't find a supplier just for the chocolate egg shells.

Sarunds might do them. They did some very nice hollow chocolate logs at christmas which we filled with belgian chocolates.

 

[LianneF]

Sorry to crash your thread but as you are sweet shop owners I thought I would ask here. Anyone know if you can buy Lindt chocs at wholesale? I've tried emailing but no reply. Also do you guys buy your sweets direct from manufacturers or from cash and carry type places as I've tried searching on google for wholesale sweets and loads of companies show up and not see if these are actually wholesale prices or not. Don't worry I don't want to start selling sweets but wanted to do a promotion whereby you can get some chocs or sweets free with a purchase so wanted to buy at trade if possible as we are a business. Anyone like to share any advice on where I should be looking, you can pm me if you like?
Thanks
Lianne

 

[kelvin1950]

Sorry to crash your thread but as you are sweet shop owners I thought I would ask here. Anyone know if you can buy Lindt chocs at wholesale? I've tried emailing but no reply. Also do you guys buy your sweets direct from manufacturers or from cash and carry type places as I've tried searching on google for wholesale sweets and loads of companies show up and not see if these are actually wholesale prices or not. Don't worry I don't want to start selling sweets but wanted to do a promotion whereby you can get some chocs or sweets free with a purchase so wanted to buy at trade if possible as we are a business. Anyone like to share any advice on where I should be looking, you can pm me if you like?
Thanks
Lianne

Hancocks. http://www.hancocks.co.uk/

 

[LianneF]

I was looking at filling some of the empty jars with various sweets. Do I need to put a label on it with best before dates, ingredients etc?
Thanks

 

[kelvin1950]

I was looking at filling some of the empty jars with various sweets. Do I need to put a label on it with best before dates, ingredients etc?
Thanks

If you're going to sell them, yes.

 

[warnie]

Sorry to crash your thread but as you are sweet shop owners I thought I would ask here. Anyone know if you can buy Lindt chocs at wholesale? I've tried emailing but no reply. Also do you guys buy your sweets direct from manufacturers or from cash and carry type places as I've tried searching on google for wholesale sweets and loads of companies show up and not see if these are actually wholesale prices or not. Don't worry I don't want to start selling sweets but wanted to do a promotion whereby you can get some chocs or sweets free with a purchase so wanted to buy at trade if possible as we are a business. Anyone like to share any advice on where I should be looking, you can pm me if you like?
Thanks
Lianne

Hi, you can also try bookers and batleys cash and carry's if they are closer. Thier ranges are more limited but since Hancocks was taken over last autum a lot of thier sweets especially Haribo are cheaper from the other 2.

On the subject of Hancocks my order with them is a third of what it used to be as were looking elsewhere where the same sweets are cheaper.

Anyone else feeling the same? every month there seems to be a price rise. Not good as i'm a tight arse

 

[sweet lady]

Hi Warnie

Where are you getting cheaper than Hancocks? I find they seem to be out of stock of more and more items I want

 

[warnie]

Hi Warnie

Where are you getting cheaper than Hancocks? I find they seem to be out of stock of more and more items I want

Hi, I use along with Hancocks a mixture of Batley's (just over £3 cheaper on a jar of cherry lips for example), Bookers (cheaper on all haribo), Costco and a local small cash and carry that does a lot of things that the main stream one's don't. Plus I have 1 local sweet maker and a guy who comes around takes your order and delivers it the next day.

I also have a online sweet company I use who are great and around the same price or less for the more upmarket traditional sweets and they deliver free the next day so they get a lot of my business as well!. I can PM the details if you like although you probabley already use them!

I didn't realise how many suppliers we have for just jarred sweets, let alone our other snack suppliers

 

[LianneF]

Anyone know who makes the 'Sweet Monster' jars of sweets to see if i can get them cheaper direct rather than online? Think it's easier to give away sweets already in jars with the proper labeling on etc than make up my own.
Thanks
Lianne

 

[herewegoagain.]

Hi, you can also try bookers and batleys cash and carry's if they are closer. Thier ranges are more limited but since Hancocks was taken over last autum a lot of thier sweets especially Haribo are cheaper from the other 2.

On the subject of Hancocks my order with them is a third of what it used to be as were looking elsewhere where the same sweets are cheaper.

Anyone else feeling the same? every month there seems to be a price rise. Not good as i'm a tight arse

Yes, they definatley are getting more expensive, I have not been to a Batley's before, how big is the range??

 

[LianneF]

Does anyone on here print their own labels for their sweet jars? A lot of people on ebay seem to offer personalised sweets but can't seem to find anyone who can just print the labels for us? Any tips? Been having a look on the personalised gifts sites and non mention the ingredients and from looking at the pics don't seem to mention the ingredients on the tubs either so must just be the proper sweet shop owners who do things properly! I'm getting hungry keep researching sweets!

 

[kelvin1950]

Hi Warnie

Where are you getting cheaper than Hancocks? I find they seem to be out of stock of more and more items I want

We also use http://www.michaelswholefoods.co.uk/

 

[herewegoagain.]

Does anyone on here print their own labels for their sweet jars? A lot of people on ebay seem to offer personalised sweets but can't seem to find anyone who can just print the labels for us? Any tips? Been having a look on the personalised gifts sites and non mention the ingredients and from looking at the pics don't seem to mention the ingredients on the tubs either so must just be the proper sweet shop owners who do things properly! I'm getting hungry keep researching sweets!

I do my own labels, just use a word document and size and design as appropriate, regarding the ingredients, I cut off and stick the label from the packaging and use double sided tape to the rear of the jar dead easy and cheap, and looks great !

 

[kelvin1950]

I do my own labels, just use a word document and size and design as appropriate, regarding the ingredients, I cut off and stick the label from the packaging and use double sided tape to the rear of the jar dead easy and cheap, and looks great !

+1 for the above comment.

 

[Worzel]

I used to sell sweets, let me think of some good sellers...

Old retro liquorice wands, bassetts bassetti etc....

Fizz wizz / popping candy

Honeycomb always sold well

I will try to think of more

 

[sweet lady]

Thanks Warnie
Please pm me

 

[LianneF]

sorry guys me again. Who's usually the cheapest for retro sweets in packets eg. dib dabs, serbert fountains, refreshers, drumstick lollies etc as Hancocks don't seem to do these sorts of sweets. Haven't been to Booker yet.
Thanks
Lianne

 

[kelvin1950]

sorry guys me again. Who's usually the cheapest for retro sweets in packets eg. dib dabs, serbert fountains, refreshers, drumstick lollies etc as Hancocks don't seem to do these sorts of sweets. Haven't been to Booker yet.
Thanks
Lianne

We buy all that from Hancocks. They don't show their full range online. :|

 

[sweet lady]

Has Anybody else recieved a mailshot offering them replica Wonka bars?

 

[kelvin1950]

Has Anybody else recieved a mailshot offering them replica Wonka bars?

Replica? Do you mean as in counterfeit? No, we haven't had that one.

 

[sweet lady]

The letter is worded "replica". It looks unprofessional. Can't find company name on search. The envelope is handwritten - badly