The Back-to-School Candy Opportunity Most Retailers Are Missing
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Most candy retailers think of back-to-school as a season for school supplies stores, not candy shops. That is a mistake. Back-to-school represents a significant and largely untapped candy sales opportunity, particularly for retailers who understand the real purchasing behavior of parents and teachers during August and September.
Here is how to capture it.
Target teachers, not just students. Teachers spend hundreds of dollars of their own money on classroom supplies every year, and candy is one of the most popular classroom rewards and incentive tools. A bag of individually wrapped mini chocolates or a jar of Jelly Belly beans on a teacher's desk is a staple of American classrooms. Create a dedicated "Teacher Appreciation" section in your store with bulk individually wrapped candies, small gift-ready tins, and classroom-sized assortments. Promote it on your social media with a message specifically directed at teachers.
Create "Homework Helper" candy kits for parents. Parents are always looking for ways to make homework time less of a battle. A small, pre-packaged "Homework Helper Kit" containing a mix of individually wrapped candies that can be used as rewards is an easy, low-cost product that sells well in August and September. Keep the price point between $8 and $15 for maximum impulse appeal.
Offer bulk pricing to school PTAs and parent groups. School fundraisers and PTA events are a massive bulk candy opportunity. Reach out directly to the PTAs of local elementary and middle schools in August and offer wholesale pricing on bulk candy for their fall fundraisers and school events. One PTA account can generate hundreds of dollars in a single order.
Stock the right products for lunchbox treats. Parents packing school lunches are looking for individually wrapped, portion-controlled treats that fit in a lunchbox. Stock a strong selection of mini candy bars, fun-size gummy packs, and small novelty candies. These products move quickly in August and September and carry solid margins when bought in bulk from Royal Wholesale Candy.
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