The Sweet Shop thread!

[David1962]

I a similar one: "what is your healthiest sweet?" :redface:

Liquorice is the answer

 

[SweetJo]

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

I think anyone would have taken your 'foolish' comment personally if you quoted something they had said in that way, but that's just my opinion.

Not foolish in buying the business at all. I have never been happier

 

[kelvin1950]

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.

No you weren't, you used a blanket phrase calling everyone a fool except Warnie. Nice try at back peddling though. I've quoted it below in case you've forgotten.

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

 

[kulture]

Can we please stick to the sweet topic and not who said what and what was meant or intended.

 

[Brandsumo]

Sweets! This post brought me back to my childhood (which wasn't that long ago) memories of buying sweets at the local shop which had like 50+ varieties, all in glass jars. Simply excellent.

I'm trying to track down a particular sweet, perhaps one of you can help me.

My favorite were these large red jelly beans, about 5cm long, that had a shell, and then were jelly inside. Basically giant long jelly beans. Cherry flavour. A little bit sour. Most excellent.

I'd be really grateful if you could help me source these (if they even still exist).

 

[Crtrjas]

Hi All

We are in our second year of trading, but despite more lines and advertising, we are 15% down on last year!

Is it 2nd year blues or are we all feeling the pinch.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Jason

 

[SweetJo]

My favorite were these large red jelly beans, about 5cm long, that had a shell, and then were jelly inside. Basically giant long jelly beans. Cherry flavour. A little bit sour. Most excellent.

I'd be really grateful if you could help me source these (if they even still exist).

I sold these until about 3 years ago, when the manufacturer stopped making them I haven't been able to find them from anywhere else, which is annoying because I still get people asking for them now. They were yummy!

 

[warnie]

Hi All

We are in our second year of trading, but despite more lines and advertising, we are 15% down on last year!

Is it 2nd year blues or are we all feeling the pinch.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Jason

Our 1st shop was the same the reason was location. Folks who made the effort to start with as it was new, after a while weren't prepared to travel out of their way to visit so often. Also people and children get bored quickly, we have had to constantly bring in new idea's, and freshen things up to keep folk interested. We also do plenty of competitions for people to win free sweets as well.

 

[SweetJo]

Hi All

We are in our second year of trading, but despite more lines and advertising, we are 15% down on last year!

Is it 2nd year blues or are we all feeling the pinch.

Any feedback greatly appreciated.

Jason

Customers we speak to just aren't spending as much. Some days our shop seems really busy, but then the takings aren't as high as we though, mainly due to it being lots of small sales.

 

[David1962]

Customers we speak to just aren't spending as much. Some days our shop seems really busy, but then the takings aren't as high as we though, mainly due to it being lots of small sales.

That's because people are now on a budget. It's been at least five years since people would simply whip out the credit card and buy what they want. Now it's a fiver in the pocket and that's all they have to spend in your shop.

Now would it be good if that changed or not?:|

 

[warnie]

Customers we speak to just aren't spending as much. Some days our shop seems really busy, but then the takings aren't as high as we though, mainly due to it being lots of small sales.

I tell ya things maybe changing

Around 90% of our card sales this past year have been debit card, but these last few months were seeing more and more credit cards. So to me it looks as though people are ready to spend again. You could look on the negative side and say we may be heading the same way again, but if it continues I'll enjoy it for a while first....

 

[warnie]

Feeling a bit sick now as I've just topped up our grab and go bags of fudge. 14 varieties all chopped up and weighed out, with of course a bit left over of all the flavours for me to err.. remind myself of what each is like, so I can pass this knowledge onto my customers:redface:

P.s Favourite was Fudge Ice, closely followed by Maple Syrup and Walnut (very under rated that one!)

 

[SweetJo]

Yum yum! I'm feeling a bit sick too... just munched my way through a bag of choc nibs. Once I start I can't stop. oops.....

 

[emmylou74]

Feeling a bit sick now as I've just topped up our grab and go bags of fudge. 14 varieties all chopped up and weighed out, with of course a bit left over of all the flavours for me to err.. remind myself of what each is like, so I can pass this knowledge onto my customers:redface:

P.s Favourite was Fudge Ice, closely followed by Maple Syrup and Walnut (very under rated that one!)

if I had a sweet shop I would be huge! LOL. Luckily I am not tempted to nibble on the pigs ears while working. But you have no idea the amount of people who ask me what various dog treats taste like......I just reply sorry I am vegetarian and have never tried them

 

[MASSEY]

if I had a sweet shop I would be huge! LOL. Luckily I am not tempted to nibble on the pigs ears while working. But you have no idea the amount of people who ask me what various dog treats taste like......I just reply sorry I am vegetarian and have never tried them

I gave someone a dog biscuit and passed it off as a sweet. Apparently dog treats don't taste that good

 

[Jo1971]

I am opening my old fashioned sweet shop in 2 weeks - Sweet Perfection - and this thread is really helpful. There is no competition near to us and the feedback we are getting has been really positive. I have been a practice nurse for 20 years and felt it was time for a change. I have done my research and I am really excited about my life change! I know it won't make me rich but at least I will be happy.

 

[warnie]

I am opening my old fashioned sweet shop in 2 weeks - Sweet Perfection - and this thread is really helpful. There is no competition near to us and the feedback we are getting has been really positive. I have been a practice nurse for 20 years and felt it was time for a change. I have done my research and I am really excited about my life change! I know it won't make me rich but at least I will be happy.

Good Luck

If you have fully prepared well you will love it! Your right in the fact that it will not make you rich, but very few shops do on their own. What you will find is that going into work is no longer 'work', as in it doesn't really feel like it. Also that nasty feeling a lot of people get on a Sunday about work the following day will be gone forever too

I just had to give up material things like nice cars and not being able to move house for a few years, but it's worth it just to actually not mind being at work. I can never over the past 4 years think of one time where I've not wanted to open up, and now after those 4 years the material things are starting to come back, not that I'd actually missed them mind.

Where is your shop?

 

[Jo1971]

My shop is in Toddington, Bedfordshire. My sign is going up today so I am very excited!

 

[babblemouth]

My shop is in Toddington, Bedfordshire.

Only just drove through there at the weekend and thought what a pleasant village, Barbers, Fruit & Veg Stall, Bakers etc.

Do you have details, website etc?

If you cannot post them, PM me.

 

[Jo1971]

I do not have a FB page or website yet because I am waiting for BT to give me a phone number and I want to take pictures of the shop when it is full of sweets! I know they are important, hope to do the FB page next week but have no idea how to do a website so will ask around the village and any suggestions on here would be great.

 

[warnie]

Some of our customers are saying that the candy buffet idea for weddings is on the wane?

I reckon they maybe right as every tom, dick and harry seem to be supply them. I wonder then, what do you think will be the next big thing sweet wise for wedding and parties?

 

[Feldon]

I've considered opening a sweet shop in the past and have run my own retail businesses before. A shop has recently become vacant near me, low rent less than 5K, roughly 250 square feet of internal retail space with additional upstairs storage / office. Based on a shop this size how much would it cost, roughly, to stock it with a good range of traditional sweets?

 

[Feldon]

Having being giving this some serious thought over the last few days and have since ruled out my first choice of shop, too small and going for a second viewing my new choice tomorrow, i'm planing on combining sweets with a sort of related item of which i have a lot of experience in selling in this town, so the shop will be split into two distinct area's one selling sweets and the other selling other products but i thing the two will work very well together.

I have a few questions with regards to sweets though and would be grateful if someone could give me some pointers in the right direction:

There seems to be a very large selection of sweets on the market, how do i found out which the most popular and more importantly the ones not to stock or at least not too much.

Which suppliers does everyone use, i have seen a few mentioned on this thread but have also found an online site uksweets, are they any good?​

​

I'm also looking at selling loose chocolates and made up in packages, is there a big demand for these?

I'm sure i will have lots of other questions over the coming weeks, i'm looking to open up just after Christmas, i know not the busiest time but i doubt Solicitors, Landlords will get lease assigned any quicker so will have to accept i will miss out on the Christmas rush. However i do have another business which i am to keep on running at least to start with so i will not be relying on income for the shop for the first 3 - 6 months.

 

[iKam]

Having being giving this some serious thought over the last few days and have since ruled out my first choice of shop, too small and going for a second viewing my new choice tomorrow, i'm planing on combining sweets with a sort of related item of which i have a lot of experience in selling in this town, so the shop will be split into two distinct area's one selling sweets and the other selling other products but i thing the two will work very well together.

I have a few questions with regards to sweets though and would be grateful if someone could give me some pointers in the right direction:

There seems to be a very large selection of sweets on the market, how do i found out which the most popular and more importantly the ones not to stock or at least not too much.

Which suppliers does everyone use, i have seen a few mentioned on this thread but have also found an online site uksweets, are they any good?​

​

I'm also looking at selling loose chocolates and made up in packages, is there a big demand for these?

I'm sure i will have lots of other questions over the coming weeks, i'm looking to open up just after Christmas, i know not the busiest time but i doubt Solicitors, Landlords will get lease assigned any quicker so will have to accept i will miss out on the Christmas rush. However i do have another business which i am to keep on running at least to start with so i will not be relying on income for the shop for the first 3 - 6 months.

If I was you i would take this company up on their offer:

http://www.wholesalesweets.co.uk/how-to-open-a-sweet-shop/#.UmW6Woy9LCQ


They might be able to answer most queries you have.

 

[Feldon]

hi iKam, that's the company i was referring to. Whilst it seems to have a lot of useful information and a good selection of products i wanted to find out whether other sweet shop owners had used them and what they thought of the sweets and how do they compare on prices etc.

 

[iKam]

hi iKam, that's the company i was referring to. Whilst it seems to have a lot of useful information and a good selection of products i wanted to find out whether other sweet shop owners had used them and what they thought of the sweets and how do they compare on prices etc.

Hi Feldon,

Apologies i must have mis-read/judged your message late at night! Although i am not in this trade and have no desire to be, sometimes to make a decision on whats the best price and how much stock should be costing sometimes takes a lot of manual work by shopping around with different suppliers noting down the prices of similar/same items, you'll then get an idea of what the cost should be.

Another way is look at current retail shops which are open see how much it costs to buy a selection of sweets then compare it to the wholesale cost you have. If the retail shop price is similar to the wholesale supplier then you need to find another supplier or you can contact that same supplier and ask if they do any further bulk discount or if you pay your account within 14 days instead of the 30 days you may get a small rebate.

 

[Feldon]

Hopefully going to be putting an offer in tomorrow for a shop and i am trying to source some shop units for a traditional sweet shop, along the lines of these
http://http://www.wholesalesweets.co.uk/wholesale-sweets-bulk/wholesale-sweet-equipment-accessories/7-shelf-display-unit-with-doors.html#.Uma12_kWIuk Have been told that there is an 8 week lead time on these and i feel there should be plenty of other similar ones available which would fit the bill, just knowing where to look, anyone have any idea's or suggestions?

 

[Crtrjas]

Anyone sell/sold hot drinks? I was thinking of doing hot chocolate now the weather is turning. Any thought/feedback welcome.

 

[lak021978]

hi iKam, that's the company i was referring to. Whilst it seems to have a lot of useful information and a good selection of products i wanted to find out whether other sweet shop owners had used them and what they thought of the sweets and how do they compare on prices etc.

Hi Feldon, I am just about to open my sweet shop & have used Uk Sweets for the bulk of my stock. After doing a lot of research, comparing prices, making numerous spreadsheets etc, I have found that they are coming out cheapest overall. I've bought a few of their starter kits as these do work out slightly cheaper than buying individually. As for the shop fitting, I did ask for a quote from them, which I never received, so have now gone with a local carpenter who is making everything by hand out of white melamine, we are having mainly shelving, he's making a built in pick & mix counter and also a tiered window display, it's cost is £5k, which I thought was fairly reasonable as the shop is not a small one. If you need any more tips just ask, as we are both new to this game.

 

[SweetJo]

As for the shop fitting, I did ask for a quote from them, which I never received, so have now gone with a local carpenter who is making everything by hand out of white melamine, we are having mainly shelving, he's making a built in pick & mix counter and also a tiered window display, it's cost is £5k, which I thought was fairly reasonable as the shop is not a small one. If you need any more tips just ask, as we are both new to this game.

That sounds a good price to me! We're trying to find someone to make units for our shop but we're not having much luck. We've only managed to get one quote so far and it was quite a lot more than your £5k. Fingers crossed for the bloke coming to visit tomorrow.

 

[herewegoagain.]

Just a thought... why don't you fit the shop out yourself.... ? All of my fittings came from Ikea - including the counter ! the lot (granted the shop is small) was less than £600 !! a hell of a saving !!

 

[SweetJo]

All our current units are from ikea. But they have stopped making them We need more shelving but with them not being made anymore, any we did get wouldn't match the rest of the shop

 

[JumboMumbo]

Very good point. I'd order some.

Is it possible to get hold of Jamaica Rum chocolate bars in the UK (or EU?).

 

[kelvin1950]

This is the closest you'll get.

http://www.cadburygiftsdirect.co.uk/products/490-cadbury-bournville-old-jamaica-180g.aspx

 

[JumboMumbo]

Damn! Nice one! You'll be telling me where to get sets of proper, metal, Meccano next!

Retro rocks, does it not?

 

[kelvin1950]

I am retro so, yes it rocks.

Meccano - ebay is your friend here. Lots of people selling vintage meccano plus traders like this http://stores.ebay.co.uk/John-and-Maries-Meccano-Store

 

[JumboMumbo]

Just order a few bars for my Dad. How cool was the original wrapper on OJ! Answer: very!

 

[aaj4]

Hi everyone..

I just wanted to ask a quick question...

Do you/did you advertise your shop to gain further business? If so, do you feel it was worth the advertising outlay?

I've been up and running for just over a year, never advertised, but feel I should... Or I fear the shutters coming down for good

Thanks

 

[warnie]

Hi everyone..

I just wanted to ask a quick question...

Do you/did you advertise your shop to gain further business? If so, do you feel it was worth the advertising outlay?

I've been up and running for just over a year, never advertised, but feel I should... Or I fear the shutters coming down for good

Thanks

Quick question. Is there anything else you would like to introduce to your shop, that you feel would boost trade but do not yet have the funds?

 

[aaj4]

Quick question. Is there anything else you would like to introduce to your shop, that you feel would boost trade but do not yet have the funds?

thank you for your reply.

no, I don't think there is... I have been adding bits and pieces and different ideas for the past year, and feel it has a good offering. Admittedly, the shop is not in the best place, it's in a residential village, with a post office shop up the road, and next door to an express supermarket. The people that come in, really like it, and say we are very reasonably priced, and I do get regulars.. I just thought maybe not advertising I may be missing a trick?