Candy Store

These days, nearly everyone's feeling the pinch of today's economy, and this pinch has many aspiring entrepreneurs - such as new candy shop owners - wondering whether or not they should move forward with their new business ideas.

Fortunately, there are ways to pinch pennies and still get quality results. Listed below are five ways to save money when you open a candy store.

1. Buy your candy in bulk.

For businesses that sell a lot of one kind of product (such as candy), it only make financial sense to buy in bulk and save money.

Keep in mind that it's important to have a plan for your candy before you actually order it. How many display fixtures will you have? Where will they be located? What special considerations should you make for the candy (unwrapped candy needs more protection than wrapped candy)? These are the kinds of questions you should know the answers to before you purchase bulk candy.

2. Buy versatile display fixtures in bulk.

As mentioned above, buying in bulk helps you save money; however, buying versatile display fixtures - those that you can use for a variety of purposes - in bulk helps you save even more money.

For example, jumbo mini bins - which are already fairly inexpensive - are fantastic acrylic bins for showcasing a variety of items.

3. Sometimes, secondhand display fixtures are your friends.

Generally, the best way to get your hands on secondhand display fixtures is to keep your eyes open for owners of similar businesses who might be relocating and looking to lighten their loads or who are redecorating and need to get rid of their old, but useable, display fixtures.

Keep in mind that "inexpensive" doesn't always mean "good deal." You're trying to save money, but you're also trying to make a good impression. If the display fixtures are noticeably worn (for example, the clear plastic containers have so many scratches you can't really describe them as "clear" anymore) or not easily repairable (for example, the rolling display racks are missing wheels you'd have to spend a significant amount of time hunting for before you could replace them), you'd be better off paying for new fixtures.

4. Look for wholesalers offering special start up deals.

Many companies that sell bulk candy and bulk display tools also offer special deals for new stores. Talk with owners of similar businesses as well as search the Internet to gather a list of such companies, and then compare their start up specials and prices.

5. Don't go overboard with advertising.

Adverting is crucial, and it's especially important when you're first getting started; however, many new candy shop owners discover that when they're first getting started is when their budgets are the tightest.

Instead of sinking money into several different advertising areas, consider just a few big hitters. For example:

• Newspaper advertisements and radio mentions (as opposed to separate, lengthy radio commercials) are often fairly inexpensive and reach a broad audience.
• If you create your own graphics and write your own copy, as well as shop around for printing services that offer the best prices, you'll find that fliers can be quite inexpensive forms of advertising.
• Many community news stations and newspapers provide a community events feature to their viewers and readers. Oftentimes, getting your announcement (in this case, your candy store opening) listed in these segments or sections is completely free. You might even want to talk with reporters about a brief feature announcing the upcoming opening of your new candy store.