Giving Sweets for Special Gifts Business Trends at Candy Stores

As the effects of the pandemic continue to reverberate in the candy business, many candy stores are still serving up their specialty delights. Here's a sampling of what’s happening at candy stores throughout North America.

Tamara Whitton , owner of The Cotton Candy Shoppe in Fort Saskatchewan, AB, Canada, has been in the cotton candy business for close to 20 years. Just as the name of her shop suggests, their claim-to-fame –and the only type of candy they sell–is cotton candy. Whitton previously owned a candy shop where she sold a wide variety of treats, but eventually decided to go-niche and sell solely cotton candy.

They make the cotton candy in-house in small batches. Along with selling just over 100 different flavors of the cotton candy in their 2,000-square-foot (of which 275-square-feet is the sales floor) brick and mortar shop, they retail across BC and Alberta to a variety of convenience stores, concession stands and sports ven-

They also sell unique cotton candy creations like their cotton candy cakes and cotton candy glitter bombs, featuring three different types of edible glitter that are a hit at weddings and bridal showers. In addition, Whitton also fashions flavors using provinces as inspiration – for instance: Ontario Peach. She creates these flavors through trial and error in own

Blue raspberry, cream soda, gummy bear, any of the sour flavors and banana split are most popular. Booze flavors in particular are

Whitton believes that consistency, ex- cellent customer service, communication and transparency are key to creating repeat customers. For instance, that means being honest about time frames customers may be looking at for their orders and so on.

During the pandemic, The Cotton Candy Shoppe lost much of their custom order business. They needed to change the way they operated and open up their wholesale program, said Whitton. “We focused on online sales and grew a bigger reach across Canada,” she explained. Her advice to other retailers recuperating from the pandemic is to hustle and cold call.

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Over at The Candy Shoppe on Main in China Grove, N.C., Rohan Banton said they are known for their Cheerwine fudge, created from the same syrup as Cheerwine soda. The original owners created the flavor the second year they were in business, explained Banton. Since North Carolina is the birthplace of Cheerwine, the fudge flavor instantly became a hit.

Fudge and chocolates are their main best-sellers. A portion of the fudge and chocolates are made inhouse, which Banton thinks has contributed to the success of these times at the shop.

Banton said that number one way of creating repeat customers is to understand your market and what people are looking for.

Store owners also need to figure out how their shop will survive after COVID. There is a supply chain issue in the candy industry across the board, said Banton. You may be able to get something today, but might not get it down the road. For instance, they’ve encountered this issue with their Peanut Butter Meltaway. They haven’t been able to stock the treat for a few months. They’ve managed to find a substitute: Buckeyes. The candy is very similar to the Meltaways, “but a lot of the die hards don’t think it’s as good of a replacement,” Rohan said.

One aspect of the store that has changed is how the store sells bulk items. They don’t allow customers to scoop out their own bulk items anymore, and will continue to do so to be on the safe side, Rohan said.

They’re also delivering on some of the promises they made to their customers before the pandemic caused the shut down. Last year, they started scooping ice cream (10 different flavors) and in June 2022, they’re opening a soda bar.

His store is not your traditional candy shop, said Banton. The atmosphere is also: they’re situated in a building constructed around 1905. The 2,400-square-foot sales floor is surrounded by

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original ceiling and flooring.

The Candy Factory’s Red Bird peppermint puff candy, made locally in Lexington by the Piedmont Candy Company and top 10 allergen free since 1890 is one of their largest sellers, said Annette Conrad , president.

They are also known for their homemade fudge made in store: They have 16 varieties of fudge available on any given day, explained Conrad. Their unique flavor offerings including cotton candy, dark chocolate sea salt caramel, and seasonal fudges like peppermint cane and pumpkin praline help to draw customers to their fudge.

According to Conrad, one repeat customer aptly summed up The Candy Factory’s recipe for success in creating repeat customers: “You're really in the people business; you just happen to sell candy,” they had remarked. “We have great staff who work hard to provide exceptional customer service,” said Conrad. Conrad said they also lead by example with regards to taking care of customers. What’s more: They run a shop where the work is hard but employees are provided a fun and happy environment.

During COVID, they brought in windows from the store’s co-owner’s great grandmother’s house instead of plexiglass to match the décor of the 1890 building, which still features the original wood floors and brick walls. They have found the windows helpful in directing customers when they are ready to purchase their items. What’s more: They can also use the windows for the purpose of enhancing the in-store atmosphere: They decorate them to match the season, Conrad said. ❖