How to start a sweetshop

by Startacus Admin

How to start a sweetshop...

First off we should say that starting a sweetshop is something we would never be able to do given our fundamental lack of willpower when it comes to food of the sugary variety.  If, like us, you would be in danger of consuming any profits which came in the door you may wish to consider some of the following alternative articles; how to start a bookshop, how to start a b&b or how to start a florist.

If however you are one those of lucky folk who is a little more in control of their sweet tooth then starting a sweetshop might just be a great way for you to become self employed.  

There has been a real upsurge in the number of sweet shops on high streets around the UK in recent years - perhaps with all the economic doom and gloom, people have been hankering for a taste of their childhood?  But the days of sweetshops only selling the most familiar sweets from jars are gone.  In a modern sweetshop you can expect to find treats from all over the world with those from the US gaining a muvh more didicated following here in the UK over the past few years.

Whatever the reason, it’s been many a moon since sweet shops have been as popular as they are today so we decided to put together this quick guide to help you navigate your way through the brandy balls, strawberry bon-bons and dolly mixtures… enjoy!

Market Research

This will help you to get a better idea if there is the need /desire for a sweetshop in your area and exactly what kind of sweet shop would be most welcomed.  You should be thinking about things like:

• What kind of sweetshop would you like to open? You could consider a number of different variations such as; old fashioned, American, chocolate, cheap and cheerful, classy and high-end and so forth.  Once you have decided this you will be in a much better position to get your project moving.
  

• Is there a market for this kind of sweet shop in your area?  

• Where will your sweetshop be located?  Does the vicinity have good footfall? You will want to visit the area on several different days at different times to gauge how much passing trade you will be able to get.

• Are there already any sweet shops which will present competition?  If not is there a reason for this?

• Who will your competitors be? What do they sell and how much do they charge for it?  You need to start thinking about what you can offer to your customer that they cannot.

• Will you deal exclusively in sweets or will you branch out into other related products such as ice cream, milkshakes, smoothies, cakes or cookies? These can be a great way of diversifying your business so it is not exclusivly reliant on he sale of sweets and chocolate!
  

• Do you plan to trade only from your shop or will you offer the option to order online? If so, which websites will you use and how much business can you expect?

• Are there any grants or startup business loans available in your area which might be able to help you with getting the business up and running?

• Do you plan to be a completely independent business or would you like to work as part of a larger franchise?  What are the benefits and limitations of this? You may find our article on the pros and cons of buying into a franchise useful.

• Is the business likely to suffer from seasonality? If so what will you do to ensure the business stays ticking over during the quieter times of the year?
  
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  Published on: 15th January 2014
  

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