The Sweet Shop thread!
- Thread starter warnie
- Start date
Ugh, Im not too happy. A new bloke has bought the newsagents four doors down from my shop. They have gone and bought loads of jars of sweets. They already sell bars of chocolate and pop (which we Dont sell) but now have jars - which is my main business. I was the only shop to sell "proper sweets" in the town,but now I've lost that claim. Feeling rather sorry for myself 
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Buying an established Newsagents is an attractive and secure route to becoming self employed and thus enjoying the rewards your labour generates. Many buyers, faced with an uncertain future, look at owning a business as a vehicle to take control of their, and their family's, destiny enabling the realization of aspirational goals. Key to any venture is research. Knowing your client base and serving their needs sounds simple, but, it is easy to lose focus. Many established businesses benefit from a fresh approach which, often, has a direct and significant impact on sales and thus revenue. An observant entrepreneur can minimalise the risks and see an enviable return on capital employed.
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Nationwide Businesses Ltd
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Nationwide Businesses Ltd
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- Original Poster
- #246
Having a grasp on your financials is the first step in minimising stress. I create budgets and financial forecasts for every fiscal year. I use my forecast to budget my expenses and develop a clear picture of our cash on hand, what we're expecting for revenue and exactly how much we'll have left after expenses. This reduces the "unknowns" that are often the culprit behind stress and sleepless nights.
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I'm not really sure how to use this, but I would really appreciate your help! I'm 18 and currently trying to set up a sweet shop. I live in a small town in South Devon, it can usually be quite busy on the high street. I'm doing it through a thing called Outset Torbay which is sort of like The Prince's Trust, I'll be able to get a loan at the end of it.
I was just wondering if any of you have any tips and useful information on how to go about setting up a sweet shop? It would be much appreciated!!
Thanks, Tia
I was just wondering if any of you have any tips and useful information on how to go about setting up a sweet shop? It would be much appreciated!!
Thanks, Tia
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Hi all, i'm new on here been running a sweet shop in my local town down south ales for a while and thought id join up here to see who else is out and about doing a similar thing.
Im after some small cardboard boxes I can use to make a hamper type box if anyone knows for anywhere I can buy a load id be greatful
Im after some small cardboard boxes I can use to make a hamper type box if anyone knows for anywhere I can buy a load id be greatful
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Hi all, i'm new on here been running a sweet shop in my local town down south ales for a while and thought id join up here to see who else is out and about doing a similar thing.
Im after some small cardboard boxes I can use to make a hamper type box if anyone knows for anywhere I can buy a load id be greatful
I'm looking for the same thing! I currently get boxes from a local stationery/giftware wholesaler but they're the stacked ones, so I end up with the tiny ones and the large ones being left over. I'm currently searching online but not having much luck. I've seen some trays on here which I might try www.gadsby.co.uk.
As for advice for setting up a sweet shop,Tia, I'm not much help. My shop was set up before I took over. But I'm sure someone will be along shortly with some advice.
xx
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David1962
This post says it all, a sweet shop is still a real business, too many amatures in the
market without a clue who think its easy money but can't source the basics. You fools who work for nothing have/are killing the real businesses.
Warnie, you are the exception
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This post says it all, a sweet shop is still a real business, too many amatures in the
market without a clue who think its easy money but can't source the basics. You fools who work for nothing have/are killing the real businesses.
Warnie, you are the exception
Really? Have you been to my shop? Do you know anything about my business? Just because I am struggling to find the boxes I wantdoes not mean I am a fool.
I came here for advice, and to give advice to others but if that's the response I get it makes me wonder if its worth it.
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- Original Poster
- #252
Don't!
Get some experience in retail first, even if it's just 6-12 months working in a convenience store picking the brains of the owner. I had many years experience of the retail sector as well as my own wholesale business supplying convenience stores, so I knew which wholesaler did what, and which wholesaler was cheapest on any particular product. I also new what sold and what didn't which is invaluable when investing thousands of pounds in stock, yet even I found it hard going to start with.
It sounds easy but it's far from it, a convenience store supply's goods that people need everyday. A sweetshop supply's items that are considered a luxury a 'want' if you like. So you don't have the sort of turnover that a convenience store has, and with this in mind you have to buy right, so you make as much profit as possible out of every pound spent. You also can't just rely on sweets, unless your in a perfect location then you'll need to diverse into other area's. For example we do all our own unique gifts, our own gift mugs, greeting cards, Candy buffets, slush, Ice cream, we even make our own hot popcorn to order. All this is difficult going in cold without any experience. Just keeping up with the day to day paperwork, health and safety regulations and trading standards will be an eye opener.
Not trying to put you off, but experience is key and you'll be investing probably north of £25k without any!
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This post says it all, a sweet shop is still a real business, too many amatures in the
market without a clue who think its easy money but can't source the basics. You fools who work for nothing have/are killing the real businesses.
Warnie, you are the exception
Any business is far from easy money David surely you must realise this?
Im guessing at some point many moons ago you were in the same position as many new people starting out in business and didn't know certain things which would have made you an amateur at some point.
Nobody goes into business knowing everything not even you!!!!
People on here are after genuine advice and help as maybe they don't know as their new or maybe their after cheaper products. Wheres the harm in helping others if you know the answers?
Theres competition in every business which makes people like myself look for cheaper stock, products, energy suppliers etc which helps me reduce my prices to compete agains others or increase my profit. Don't you do this yourself or do you stick with the same supplier since you opened your shop ?
And as for your "fools working for nothing" comment I find that highly insulting as I am far from a fool and I do not work for nothing. I run a successful business which makes me a very good profit and maintain my full time job as a stockbroker, So please think before you comment on other people businesses and lifestyles as you have no idea who that person is and what they are doing.
Rich
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Don't get rattled by this comment - it may have come across poorly, but I get the sentiment.
When you have run a business for many years, with marginal mark-ups, trying to hold your own against established competitors etc, a newbie on the scene that undercuts your prices, and advertises aggressively, with an unsustainable business model, hits your profits and makes you vulnerable. Okay, they may subsequently implode and disappear, or they may survive, but even so, it hurts.
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Very true, The position i'm currently in is that I purchased a sweet shop that has been trading successfully for many years, but recently someone new has opened another shop a few hundred meter away and shortly there will be a b&m store opening. Both of these factors are causing my profits to drop so I have no choice than to A) cut my costs to match. B) try and source my stock elswear for cheaper to recover the loss from my price cut. or C) Give up and close the doors!!
Business is a dog eat dog world in my eyes and the days of loyalty and friendly local competition has long gone which is a big shame.
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David1962
That's exactly what I was saying
And that backs up what I was saying about "fools" (don't take that as an insult, just a summary of those uneducated in the sector they are trading and thus foolish for entering it).
I know more than a few accountants who have failed miserably at retail during the boom years because they thought it was just a game of numbers. Similar I'm guessing your part time stockbroking is having a similar influence on you. You are making the classic mistake of "first to bottom".
There are many more options for you, and had you built the business from scratch you would have a much better understanding of why the business is where it is now, and thus a thorough insight as to what is required to take it forward, or if indeed it is the end of the road for the shop.
I would say I wish you well, but if your "business plan" is to simply be the cheapest, as you say above, then I only see one outcome for your shop. Sorry if that offends as it's not the intention, just the blunt truth.
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That's exactly what I was saying
And that backs up what I was saying about "fools" (don't take that as an insult, just a summary of those uneducated in the sector they are trading and thus foolish for entering it).
I know more than a few accountants who have failed miserably at retail during the boom years because they thought it was just a game of numbers. Similar I'm guessing your part time stockbroking is having a similar influence on you. You are making the classic mistake of "first to bottom".
There are many more options for you, and had you built the business from scratch you would have a much better understanding of why the business is where it is now, and thus a thorough insight as to what is required to take it forward, or if indeed it is the end of the road for the shop.
I would say I wish you well, but if your "business plan" is to simply be the cheapest, as you say above, then I only see one outcome for your shop. Sorry if that offends as it's not the intention, just the blunt truth.
As of yet I haven't dropped my prices, the trouble i'm having is that i'm selling certain items for lets say £1 and the newcomer up the road is doing them for 60p and another competitor is close behind him at 70p, this makes them very attractive to customers as nobody in their right mind would pay more money for something when its available much cheaper elswear.
30% of my sales are pick n mix which i'm being undercut on, so I either drop the prices to get customers back and try to compete, put on an offer for free slush or something with a pick n mix purchase, which my competitors cant do so I have the upper hand on that one.
Im very limited on options on this one as were selling the same product. I physically cant find it cheaper elswear and theres nothing I can sell to replace the pick n mix as its a big part of a sweet shop.
Im far from the first to bottom my prices, i'm in fact one of the last. The aim is to get my sales back. One of the new competitors is limited on funds so if I can get some customers back off him by reducing my price then in my eyes its a great idea to reduce my price and take a little hit on something thats not selling much at my price and possibly push him over the edge. or is this wrong?
Out of curiosity how would you deal with this situation without dropping price? I'd be extremely great full for any advice which would benefit me.
With regards to being reasonably new to the business ill agree with you that I haven't built the business myself and may not know everything about the business but everyones got to start somewhere at some point. I joined this forum so that I could discuss some issues and possible get help or advice on certain aspects of the industry but all I seem to have had is grief at the minute for trying to better myself.
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I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're having Rich. I feel your pain - I have a B&M two doors up, and four doors in the opposite direction the newsagent has started selling weigh out sweets. There is also a Wilksinson's in the shopping centre, and if I hear "I can get that cheaper in Asda" one more time, I think I will scream!
But, I knew about the big retailers when I took on the shop, so I can't really complain :redface:
Do you sell gifts such as hampers and sweetie jars? Without those I know we couldn't survive. And our USA products are an attraction too. I haven't noticed a loss of trade since the newsagent started their jars, even though their prices are much cheaper than ours.
It really hope someone here will be able to give you some helpful advice. xx
But, I knew about the big retailers when I took on the shop, so I can't really complain :redface:
Do you sell gifts such as hampers and sweetie jars? Without those I know we couldn't survive. And our USA products are an attraction too. I haven't noticed a loss of trade since the newsagent started their jars, even though their prices are much cheaper than ours.
It really hope someone here will be able to give you some helpful advice. xx
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Q
Quickpacksupplies
I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're having Rich. I feel your pain - I have a B&M two doors up, and four doors in the opposite direction the newsagent has started selling weigh out sweets. There is also a Wilksinson's in the shopping centre, and if I hear "I can get that cheaper in Asda" one more time, I think I will scream!
But, I knew about the big retailers when I took on the shop, so I can't really complain :redface:
Do you sell gifts such as hampers and sweetie jars? Without those I know we couldn't survive. And our USA products are an attraction too. I haven't noticed a loss of trade since the newsagent started their jars, even though their prices are much cheaper than ours.
It really hope someone here will be able to give you some helpful advice. xx
From a consumer based opinion I think that the American styled sweets or any international sweets are a luxury that the supermarkets don't offer. anything you can offer that's different will be the reason we come to you.
Not so much the price really that's beside the point.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
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I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're having Rich. I feel your pain - I have a B&M two doors up, and four doors in the opposite direction the newsagent has started selling weigh out sweets. There is also a Wilksinson's in the shopping centre, and if I hear "I can get that cheaper in Asda" one more time, I think I will scream!
But, I knew about the big retailers when I took on the shop, so I can't really complain :redface:
Do you sell gifts such as hampers and sweetie jars? Without those I know we couldn't survive. And our USA products are an attraction too. I haven't noticed a loss of trade since the newsagent started their jars, even though their prices are much cheaper than ours.
It really hope someone here will be able to give you some helpful advice. xx
Thanks Jo
were not struggling or on the verge of shutting, its just a pain that someone else is trying their luck and it makes life harder having endless competition and a certain shop owner who's constantly copying me and undercutting me. Never mind its all part of the fun The business is still thriving as we also sell the american range and novelties which go well in general.
Im looking into the hampers now as the previous owners I bought the shop from didn't bother with them, I think theres a market for them so I just need to find a good supplier to source the boxes and hampers from.
Im also looking into the sweet tree ideas and possibly buying a sweet cart to hire out but I need to do a bit more research first as i'm not sure if their still in demand with the huge amount available to hire on ebay!
How big is your american range out or curiosity? At the moment we sell a few of the chocolate bars, few sweets like lifesavers etc, and some other bits and bobs. Im looking into trying the american drinks but not too sure how they'll sell with the price they'd be advertised for.
Rich
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kelvin1950
Sweet carts/sweet tables are still in demand for weddings, in fact we did a local wedding fair last weekend and couples were coming to talk to us and saying things like "what a good idea", "we never thought of that". Got a booking from it on Tuesday this week (and it was a free, invitation only fair as well!)
It's my opinion that we will get more local bookings from the wedding fairs and local advertising than if we advertised on ebay. Let's face it it's a local thing, we don't want to drive 25 or more miles each way to set-up and take down, although we will providing people are prepared to pay the mileage.
Sweet trees and sweet cakes also sell well for special occasions. You need a couple of display samples of your work in the shop.
It's my opinion that we will get more local bookings from the wedding fairs and local advertising than if we advertised on ebay. Let's face it it's a local thing, we don't want to drive 25 or more miles each way to set-up and take down, although we will providing people are prepared to pay the mileage.
Sweet trees and sweet cakes also sell well for special occasions. You need a couple of display samples of your work in the shop.
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kelvin1950
This post says it all, a sweet shop is still a real business, too many amatures in the
market without a clue who think its easy money but can't source the basics. You fools who work for nothing have/are killing the real businesses.
Warnie, you are the exception
I agree, you're absolutely right. I shall close my shop immediately and my partner and I can then live a life of luxury by claiming state benefits paid for by your taxes. Thank you for putting me straight.
As an aside, you may find people are more inclined to follow your advice if you don't insult them.
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Thanks Jo
The business is still thriving as we also sell the american range and novelties which go well in general.
Im looking into the hampers now as the previous owners I bought the shop from didn't bother with them, I think theres a market for them so I just need to find a good supplier to source the boxes and hampers from.
Im also looking into the sweet tree ideas and possibly buying a sweet cart to hire out but I need to do a bit more research first as i'm not sure if their still in demand with the huge amount available to hire on ebay!
How big is your american range out or curiosity? At the moment we sell a few of the chocolate bars, few sweets like lifesavers etc, and some other bits and bobs. Im looking into trying the american drinks but not too sure how they'll sell with the price they'd be advertised for.
Rich
I wouldn't dare open a sweet shop so close to another one!
Sweet trees do my head in. Well, I enjoy making them, it's the fact customers do not appreciate how much time and effort goes into making them. I guess it depends what kind of area your shop is in. Mine is in a "deprived" part of the county and people want everything cheap as possible. People come into my shop to look at the trees. When they see the price of them they announce they can make it cheaper themselves. Of course they can - they don't have rent, rates etc to pay! I feel like telling them to go ahead, go and source all the things you need, then spend ages making the tree... then see how happy you are to make them yourself
I don't even make much on them, my prices are very similar to those on e-bay etc.As for American products, we started off with two Hershey's bars and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Customers kept asking for more and more things, so we now have chocolates, candy, cereal, snacks, and soda - about 50 different things. Some people tell me they think the prices are ridiculous (mainly those who doesn't realise it's American stuff) but those who understand don't mind paying. I didn't think the drinks would sell but they are popular. I don't mark up the stock as much as some other places. Mainly because I know people round here won't pay that much. I find I sell more by keeping my prices slightly lower. Some of my things do cost more than other places but they still sell. It saves people buying online where they often have to pay postage. A lot of the USA things are trial and error. Some things I thought would sell well didn't, yet some things I thought were expensive and wouldn't sell, sell really well.
As for sweetie tables/carts, we don't have a cart. People who come to us mainly want to have a diy sweet table. So they buy their sweets here, and hire the jars and scoops then set the table up themselves. Again, in my opinon (which may be wrong
) it depends what area you are in and if you are going to put 100% into your sweet cart by going to wedding fayres etc. xx
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- Original Poster
- #265
Rich even if you could would you want to compete with a B&M shop?
I know I wouldn't, Just play to your strengths, and if anything make your shop even more unique. People come to an a sweetshop nowadays for the experience, the experience that you don't get in your local nisa shop. They come to get something a little different, not for a cheap can of coke or 3 dairy milks for a pound!
I stock a very little amount of that stuff, in fact we only stock around 6 different generic bars of chocolate. I couldn't drop my prices to match a B&M shop, because we simply don't stock the same things. Get the American cans in as well, we sell them for £1.29 each and nobody blinks an eye.
Another thing to bear in mind as well is, that when you drop your prices the perceived quality of your stock takes a dive as well. If anything go the other way, buy the better quality sweets and chocolate and take yourself as far away from those shops as possible.
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Hi there, I am a newbie looking to set up a new sweet shop. I think I have found a good location in a secondary parade of shops - there are 3 secondary schoools and 2 primary schools in the immediate area, so school kids would be a large percentage of the customers.Just trying to work out what their average spend might ?
About £1 each? Or more ? Also how many of them will actually buy something. And I am guessing I need to worry about shoplifting ? How do you get around this - limit the number of kids allowed in at one time ?
Competition wise there are several small grocers in the parade that sell your usual cadburys chocolate bars and regular packaged sweets, and a small tesco metro, but no one that sells retro boiled sweets and speciality items that I plan on stocking.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Sarah
About £1 each? Or more ? Also how many of them will actually buy something. And I am guessing I need to worry about shoplifting ? How do you get around this - limit the number of kids allowed in at one time ?
Competition wise there are several small grocers in the parade that sell your usual cadburys chocolate bars and regular packaged sweets, and a small tesco metro, but no one that sells retro boiled sweets and speciality items that I plan on stocking.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Sarah
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kelvin1950
LOL! Our shop is in a very well to do village, (we had to sell two properties to buy our house here!) yet people still want something for nothing as they park their Range Rover Evoque outside the shop.
Perhaps that's where we score as our customers don't seem to want to get their hands sticky!
As for sweetie tables/carts, we don't have a cart. People who come to us mainly want to have a diy sweet table. So they buy their sweets here, and hire the jars and scoops then set the table up themselves. Again, in my opinon (which may be wrong
xx
Wedding fairs are a must IMO.
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kelvin1950
As a rule of thumb, we won't stock anything that you can buy in the local garage!
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kelvin1950
We have a mix of adult and children and average spend works out at £3 to £4 a head.
I'd say most people who come in to our shop buy something. We seem to get very few browsers, probably because it's pretty obvious what we sell.
We don't limit the number of kids, we take the attitude that you ought not to stop your best customers from entering the shop. We just try to keep an eye on them, having 4 cctv cameras obviously positioned seems to help plus the fact that we live in the village and my OH has done so for 30 years so the kids know that we know a lot of Mums/Dads/Teachers.[/QUOTE]
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Quickpacksupplies
Candy cane sticks are always a good option we have access to Christmas wrapping if you wanted to create a display of the sweets you offered for Christmas. I'm thinking in a box of some sort if you have a shop - maybe at the front display?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
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I had one customer last week who asked if we stocked anything healthy........
I a similar one: "what is your healthiest sweet?" :redface:
Our sugar free sweets sell well but not so much the no added sugar chocolates, mainly because they're quite expensive. We tried dairy free too but people wouldn't pay the price so we had to stop doing them
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David1962
Sorry Kelvin, I thought you had started your business from scratch and as such had to do all the research, costings and months of research required to see if it might be vaguely viable? So I wasn't referring to you, but I was referring to the "foolish" who simply buy a business based of past figures and who have no experience of retail, those that think retail is about price for example.
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David1962
He is again referring to me, I didn't set my business up from scratch. Therefore I am a fool . . . Despite the fact my business has doubled it's takings since I took over
Odd you have taken it personal as my original comment was meant as a generalisation and not at you directly, I just used your post to start a debate.
However if you want the debate, I could increase your turnover 100 fold in under a week. Turnover isn't a measure of success, any retailer knows that, so maybe you were foolish in buying a retail business? Note the "?", it's a question not a statement
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