How to Sell Candy Online

You don’t have to own an enormous, Willy Wonka-esque candy factory to get into the business of selling sweets. Thanks to online marketplaces like Sheepbuy, you can set up shop in the comfort of your own home and soon have your own ecommerce candy store off the ground. Here’s what you need to do.

Choose your product. We’ve talked a lot on this blog about how important it is to know your market and offer a specific product that meets that market’s need, and that holds true with candy as well. “Candy” is a broad category, so decide whether you want to make something or resell, and what you want to specialize in (think in terms of categories like gourmet chocolate, hard candy, taffy, fruit candy, and jelly beans). Organic candy is a popular choice with health-conscious consumers, and you may also be able to find an American market for candies that are popular in other countries, like Mexico’s Pelucas Candy, Pelonetes Candy, and Lucas Salsaghetti.

Get a food manufacturing/handling permit. If you’re making your own candy, it’s essential that you get the required food manufacturing and food handling permits from your state’s health department. If you’re buying candy for resale, you don’t have to worry about this.

Decide where to store your candy. As fun as it might sound to have candy spread all around your house, you need to come up with a plan for storing your products. If you’re setting up a small-scale operation, you may be able to store your candy in a cupboard or closet, as long as that space is temperature controlled and free of sunlight, pets, and odors. If you end up scaling your business up and don’t have enough room in your home, you may need to rent space in a food grade warehouse.

Buy candy and wrappers wholesale. You obviously want to turn a profit when you sell candy online, so buy your products wholesale instead of purchasing them at the grocery store. You’ll also need to buy FDA-approved packaging; you can find this at a good price on sites like Nashville Wraps.

Take photos and write compelling copy. When customers visit a brick-and-mortar candy store, they’re able to see candy up close, pick it up, smell it, and maybe even try a sample. You can’t provide that experience with an online store, but what you can do is post great pictures (think close-ups and bright colors against a white background) and write product descriptions that are going to make your potential customers’ mouths water. Play around with different images and descriptions and try them out on friends.

Once you’ve followed all these steps, you’re ready to sell candy online. It may take time to grow your business, but if it’s something you’re passionate about, stick with it and keep marketing it until you find your target audience.