Candy selling is an intense occupation. In my case, candy selling was probably the only thing that happened in my archery club, Quiver. The problem with Quiver was that we knew that we wanted to shoot things, just not how to raise the necessary money. I would soon learn that candy selling is a perfect introduction to the capitalist system—and can be as difficult as running your own business.
When I first started selling candy for my club, I didn’t even know how buy the classic candy-seller’s box of sweets. Some told me to go to the SU; others instructed that Costco was the best for wholesale candy. The latter suggestion won out—we needed to start our club as soon as possible. We discussed which candy we should sell and spent nearly three hours organizing it into boxes, arguing over the pricing and calculating and recalculating the total profit before finally stacking the boxes in our lockers.
But the real action happens in sales. Candy sellers know their competition. Visual appeal is key. My co-president and I wanted our boxes to be beautiful. Would the candies be placed vertically or horizontally? Would the Twix or the yellow peanuts M&M wrapper attract more attentio? Did the Milky Ways deserve to be center stage?
Then there are candy sellers with those rare finds: Take 5 bars, Hershey’s dark chocolate, white chocolate Reese’s—how can a mere Snickers bar even begin to compete? The ultimate seller will have a perfectly arranged, gigantic box with all these desirable items. Have one or two in your classes and business is ruined.
Successful candy sellers also profile their buyers. I always appreciate the occasional one-dollar customers, but I depend on the regulars. This relationship must be cultivated. A good candy seller will know his customers’ names. A really excellent one will know his or her customer’s favorite candy.
When the craving gets extreme, some students resort to ambush. Once, I was walking down the second floor hallway when a senior sitting on the floor leaped up with outstretched arms and screamed “Fooooooood!” At first, I didn’t know if she was referring to me or my box of candy.
The most annoying customers are those that grab the box, search fervently for something (meanwhile ruining your artful display!), then give it back without buying. Bargainers are almost equally undesirable, hopelessly trying to haggle the fixed prices down by cents.
While it is an often un-glorious trade, candy selling can be inspiring, too. I once witnessed my friends auctioning off their candy in the cafeteria. They were announcing the bar codes as they displayed the luster of the candy wrappers. The crowd went wild and waved dollar bills. I smiled; this was the best of candy sales.
