How to Sell Candy in School

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Last Updated: November 18, 2024 Approved

If you're interested in selling candy at school to make some quick cash, you'll be pleased to know that selling candy is easy. The real trick is to make a decent profit that can be put toward the things you're saving up for.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Knowing your market

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There's no point doing this if the school specifically forbids it. If you're at a sugar-free school or a school focused on healthy eating and no candies, you'll likely get yourself into trouble with the authorities if you haven't told them and get found out. Realize that parents who don't want their children eating sugar may make trouble in such a case.^{[1]
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Do some market research. What kind of candy do people at your school want? Does anybody else sell candy? You need to know everything you can in order to maximize profit.^{[2]
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- The most popular candy tends to be candy bars but it may depend on where you are and what the current fad is.
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Realizing this is your first step, because you will most likely be let down. Think small, but by all means think profit!!!

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Purchasing and preparing the stock

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Save money. When you have at least $10 or more, you can go to a nearby bargain store and buy bulk packs that contain over 30 candy bars in each pack. That alone will cost you $10 or so and is a great way to invest in for starters.^{[3]
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- Buy only a little of any new brands of candy you want to try selling. If it is unpopular, you won't waste money and take a loss.
Put the candy inside. A box as wide and long as a shoebox is pretty good, but you may want to aim for one that's a little thinner. It doesn't have to go in your backpack; feel inclined to carry it. Take between 15 to 20 bars or bags a day of a good variety will help you maximize sales.
This will save you from having to search inside the box to tell the customer the actual kinds of candy you have.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Selling the candy

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Use the day to advertise. Tell everyone that you will be selling candy and that each bar will be around $1 or so. That way, they will come to school with money and ready to see what you have.
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Sell the candy each day thereafter. Sell it on the bus, in the cafeteria, even during class, if people really want the candy! (But don't get in trouble.)^{[4]
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- Stay on top. Eventually, people will try to sell candy too. You need to make sure they don't. Get better product and deals than them, and run them out of business.
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Take a break from selling, every so often. You may find that interest declines after a while and so do your profits. Take a break from selling, then come back with specials. Buy three bars, get one free. Create a bar-a-day club where customers can buy a bar each day Monday through Thursday and get a free bar on Free Friday.
- Expand your employees. Is anybody interested in joining you? If so, hire them. You could hire a supplier (makes candy) and a distributor (sells candy). That way, all you do is sit around and manage the money. Eventually, people could even work for your distributor or supplier.
- Gain more ground. Try to get distributors in different areas. Do you have friends in another school or neighborhood? If so, you could potentially get more profit off of different people.^{[5]
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While it's okay to spend some of your profit right away, it's best to avoid spending all or even most of it immediately. Instead, save the money you make for purchases that are better than what you can get with only a few dollars at a time.

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How many employees should I have, and how do I pay them?

Community Answer

You can have as many employees as you want. You give them some candy to sell, then at the end of the day they can keep some of the profit. You can choose the amount they keep. You could also just give them some free candy.

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What if I ask the school and they say no, but I still want to do it?

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This is the case at my school. I started off by telling my friends that I was going to start selling candy, and I asked them to tell their friends but to make sure the teachers didn't know about my small business. I would make money and candy transactions during lunch or passing periods from class to class. Just do your best to keep your activities hidden from the teachers.

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How do I let people know I'm selling candy? Should I just go up to crowds of kids and tell them I'm selling it?

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Pretty much. Start, though, by telling your friends. Gauge the interest from there. If you sell for long enough, word of mouth will do a lot of advertising for you.

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Tips

Bring enough small currency with you to give as change to your customers.

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Instead of a shoebox. Use a lunchbox! Stash it with candy and other items because it will just look like a regular lunchbox.

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Advertise your product by telling your friends, and asking them to tell their friends.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Start a social media account to tell your customers when there are specials or new stock. You can also have your customers vote for what candy they like best. Consider making a Snapchat account since lots of people have it and you can make announcements on your story.
When you sell, make the products look better than they really are. People are always more likely to buy from you. Also, try to make the bag look bigger if you sell chips. Customers will think there is a lot more product than there really is.
Make sure you know which type of candy has certain allergens and consider drawing up a waiver or contract stating that you are not liable for any allergic reactions that someone may have as a result of their preference.
Carry your candy in a purse or put some candy in your lunchbox and sell your candy during lunchtime if your school doesn't allow backpacks. You can also buy big packs of chips and sell those.
Go to the dollar store, almost everything you need will be there for a discounted price. If you can, go to Costco to get things in bulk for a cheaper price once business is booming.
Once more people start to buy or your sales are slowing, consider expanding your inventory to soda cans and maybe even snack foods.

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Warnings

Be sure to have a safe hiding spot for your money and candy. If you store the money and candy in your locker, be sure to lock it at all times You will most likely be robbed.

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Never trust people if they say they will give you the money tomorrow unless you know they are trustworthy.

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Never eat your merchandise, no matter how much you crave it.

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With chocolate, put the candy in the fridge when your home. You don't want it to melt.

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Never have a large amount of money on you so that you don't lose too much if your money is confiscated. If you have no choice, then keep the candy and money in a separate place or deny having the money altogether. If you have to, say you gave it to a friend.

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If you aren't supposed to be selling candy, do not make a stand. Stick with a sign and a box, easy to fold up and hide.

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Beware: If you are doing this in high school, you may be mistaken for selling drugs, and the police may get involved.

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