Candy Sale

Candy sales can be very profitable. Everybody likes candy and if the price is reasonable, many people will quickly spend a dollar or two for a candy bar if it is for a good cause.

I feel there are 4 keys to having a successful candy fundraiser:

1. Good Product - This may sound like just good common sense, but having a good product covers more than just a candy bar that tastes good. If the candy tastes good, you next want to consider what your profit margin is. If you are selling your candy for a dollar a bar and only getting 30 - 40 cents profit per bar, you will need to sell a considerable amount of candy to make a large profit. The other consideration that goes into choosing a good product is minimum order size and return policy. These two things should be considered together. If the minimum order is low, the return policy may not be that important. If you only have 10 people doing the sale and have to order 30 cases of candy, you will want to look at the return policy a little closer.
2. Timing - Check with the schools and sports teams in your area before scheduling a candy sale. Some of these groups require the parents to sell a certain amount of candy. You want to make sure that there is little or no competition in your area during your fundraiser. I have found it best to schedule candy sales in the fall and winter before the other groups get started with theirs. Scheduling the candy sale during cooler months will also keep the candy from melting.
3. Control - One or at most two people need to be responsible for inventory control. Depending on the age of your group,you may want to consider having the parents sign for the candy. I have seen many boxes of candy laying around the church unattended while the children went off to be with their friends. It is a good practice to write the name of the child on the box as soon as it is given to them. Be sure to set a firm start and ending date for your candy sale. Ensure the parents and children understand that all money and leftover candy must be turned in on or before that date.
4. Marketing - Publicity for your candy sale should start BEFORE the sale. Get a note put on the bullentin board, send home notes, or have it announced from the pulpit. Give people a chance to get ready for the sale. If possible, talk to local merchants about setting up in front of their store for a few hours to sell the candy. Many merchants will agree to this if the candy you are selling is not like anything that they sell. Don't forget to let people know why you are raising money and how much money you hope to raise.

I have put a link to "World's Finest Chocolate" at the bottom of this page. This company has been around for a long time. I can remember doing candy sales with their stuff when I was a child. The candy is good, the minimum order is low, and the profit margin is good. This company also sells chocolate gift baskets that may be used for prizes or gifts throughout the year(think Mother's Day!).