Confectionery can be a great base for a business, with their main customer base—children—being pretty easy to please. As long as you have a decent selection of lollies and chocolate available and children are able to see it, they're going to want to buy some.
There's another large potential market that's often largely untapped, however: adults. Although grown-ups don't typically eat as much confectionery as children, they still enjoy it. The difference is that they might need a bit more encouragement to make a purchase because it's not always high in their priorities. Here are some ways to get more confectionery sales to adult customers and give your profits a lift.
Stock traditional, old-fashioned products
Nostalgia could just be one of the most powerful tools you can use when it comes to making adults spend their money. And lollies are an area where it's particularly effective.
There are plenty of more-traditional confectionery products that aren't often seen on shelves nowadays, but their mere presence can take older adults back to their childhood. Display them in tall jars to really bring home that childhood sweet-shop feeling.
Sell luxury chocolates
Fancy, high-end chocolates are highly tempting to adults, and they can also have good profit margins. If you normally stock confectionery that's at the lower end of the price scale, having just a small supply of luxury chocolate can make a big difference to your customer base and turnover.
Create some smart displays
With children, as long as they can see lollies, they'll want to buy them. It's a bit more of a challenge when it comes to adults, however. Get creative with your displays and make them look as appealing as possible. Make sure you keep them clean and tidy, and arrange them in a logical manner.
Provide attractive gift packaging
Adults often like to buy confectionery as a gift, rather than just getting it for themselves. To increase your gift sales, get hold of some nice packaging and a variety of containers for people to put their purchases in.
You could also experiment with special offers, like packaging or containers included in the price when customers buy a certain quantity of confectionery.
Get some confectionery for special diets
Adults are more likely than children to have diabetes and other health issues, so stocking some sugar-free confectionery can be a great way to attract their business. It's also good for health-conscious people who want to limit the sugar they consume.
Vegan and gluten-free diets are also becoming increasingly common among adults, so you should make sure you cater to them and create clear areas containing suitable products.
Contact confectionery suppliers for additional advice.
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