A Candy Wrapping Business may be right for you!


by Susan Hutson - Date: 2007-04-09 - Word Count: 828 Share This!

Creating customized candy wrappers is a popular home-based business option. This business is fairly easy to start if you have a good color printer and basic computer skills. The focus of this business is making candy bar wrappers for promotional purposes and gifts. Wrappers can be made for birth announcements, party favors, special occasion promotions, weddings, showers, business promotions, fund-raisers and more. In addition to wrapping candy bars, you can also do labels for CDs, wine bottles, lifesavers and many other everyday items.


What you'll do:

You will create candy wrappers on your computer which you then print, cut and wrap onto pre-made candy bars, like Hershey chocolate bars. A big part of this business is marketing your services to companies and individuals who will use custom-wrapped candy for promotions, party favors, announcements or marketing campaigns. Custom-wrapped candy bars make great wedding favors and baby announcements, so be sure to include new brides and mothers in your marketing plan.


What you'll need:

1. Color printer - Inkjet or Laser
2. Graphics Software (PrintShop, Word etc.) or Candy Wrapper Ready-Made Graphics
3. Scanner &/or Digital Camera (if you'd like to add photos to wrappers)
4. Paper Cutter or pre-cut papers (If you are good with scissors, they will work too.)
5. Paper for Wrappers
6. Candy Bars (if you are doing the wrapping for your clients - some candy wrappers just sell the wrappers)

To review, you will need a computer with graphics and word-processing software, a color printer, cutting tools, and sales ability. You will print your wrappers on glossy paper, and your printer should be one that will create professional-looking wrappers.


Candy Wrapper Skills

Artistic ability (What looks good, where)
Graphics software knowledge (however, you can purchase and find free templates)
Customer service skills
Organizational Skills
Marketing Skills


Helpful tips & resources:

The success of this business will depend on your ability to get clients. Direct sales, networking and referrals are good marketing actions to use. If you have a large network already, you will find getting your first clients much easier.

Offer a few freebie jobs and put them in your portfolio with a testimonial from your client. People at events where you provide wrappers are potential clients!

Place samples in local shops. People can purchase a candy bar for a nominal fee. Offer the shop owner an incentive by sharing the profits. Try bridal shops, baby shops, florists, and gift shops.

Printing your own business cards on candy wrappers is a good promotional tactic. Nobody will just throw away your card if there's a candy bar inside! (You might want to have regular cards for your clients to file, too.) Also provide samples or business cards (samples will likely generate more interest) to wedding planners and even planners at trade shows, professional fundraising groups and obstetrician offices.

Creating custom samples for clients you call on is also a good idea-show them how great their company name and logo look on a candy bar, and put your contact information on the back. Try this with Real Estate agents, hairdressers and event planners!

Book a table at a wedding fair or trade show.

Approach your child's school (and other local schools), sporting teams, recreational groups, daycares, etc. about fundraising with candy bars.



Online Marketing Ideas

Either design or have someone design a web page to promote your business online. Your web page is the perfect way to promote both the online and offline components of your business. It's where your clients and potential clients can view your samples, prices and product updates. Here are a few ideas to promote your website and online business:

1. Build a mailing list and send out a newsletter on a regular basis. Promote your business and specials in your newsletter, but do try to offer more than a sales pitch. If you do this, your readership will increase. Try recipes, event planning tips, etc. For your more corporate clients, you may wish to take a different angle.

Ask permission to add your clients to your mailing list, run a free draw off your site with one of the conditions of entry being that entrants are added to your mailing list and provide a place to subscribe to your newsletter on your site.
2. Join some home based business discussion groups. These are a perfect way to network and gain potential clients. Home based businesses often prefer to support their fellow home based businesses.
3. Form partnerships and exchange links with wedding, baby, event planning and fundraising sites.

Candy Wrapper Prices

Always consider your costs before pricing your products. The average price is $1.00 - $5.00 per wrapped regular-sized Hershey Bar. Per bar prices are lower for larger orders. Some companies charge a set up fee in addition to the ‘per bar price'.

To lower your cost, shop around for paper, ink and candy bar prices. Buying in bulk will always decrease your costs. You can order candy bars directly from Hershey, but many candy wrappers will tell you that going to your local discount or wholesale outlet will get you a better price.

Related Tags: home business, ideas, career, candy, home business ideas, moms, wrapping, work-at-home moms, mom work-at-home idea, stay-at-home moms, candy wrapping

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