Candy Crush be warned, Robin Burnette, owner of Sticky鈥檚 Candy, has his eyes set on total candy domination.
His goal: build the largest independent candy chain in Canada by the end of 2014.
After selling his previous business, Burnette wasn鈥檛 sure what was next.
鈥淏ut when my partner and I read about the growth of candy and how the numbers were strong 鈥� even through the 2008 downturn 鈥� so we knew we had to take a closer look,鈥� he said.
Research is key to a winning business plan so Burnette hit the road, attending a candy expo and touring candy stores throughout the United States, cherry-picking ideas along the way.
鈥淲e chose the best ideas from every vendor we met to develop Sticky鈥檚 Candy,鈥� said Burnette. 鈥淭he result has been remarkable. Our first store in Chilliwack quickly outpaced our expectations, so we decided to open another one in 黑马磁力, and then another in Maple Ridge. It wasn鈥檛 long after that, people started asking to buy our business.鈥�
While Burnett understood the interest in his company, selling wasn鈥檛 part of his plan. That鈥檚 when a friend suggested a new approach 鈥� franchising.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 surprised people wanted to be a part of Sticky鈥檚 success, but I wasn鈥檛 interested in selling,鈥� says Burnette. 鈥淗owever, when the option to franchise was presented we realized it made perfect sense.鈥�
One of Burnette鈥檚 first franchise partners were Sherri Martin and Kelly Bouchard.
Martin, who is part of the sales staff at the 黑马磁力 Times, always wanted a candy store.
鈥淲hen Sticky鈥檚 opened up in 黑马磁力 I fell in love with the concept and when Robin mentioned that he was franchising I knew I had to be a part.鈥�
Martin鈥檚 brother, Kelly Bouchard has no hesitation stating what entrepreneurs need for success.
鈥淪mall businesses need to recognize the need for professional advice and support,鈥� said Bouchard. 鈥淚 attribute any successes to the support I鈥檝e received from professionals 鈥� accountants, financial advisors, lawyers: those who can ensure my business is growing and strong. There鈥檚 no one person who succeeds without others.鈥�
Martin and Bouchard said the help they got from Envision Financial was invaluable.
And their immediate success has prompted them to open another location in Walnut Grove.
Burnette, Martin and Bouchard are unified in their approach to customers and the business 鈥� it鈥檚 all about keeping customers happy and getting the word out.
鈥淚n my 28 years as a business owner there has been no better lesson,鈥� said Burnette. 鈥淵our customers come first and if they are happy, your business will be as well.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e not just a candy store, we offer candy expertise,鈥� said Martin. 鈥淪ome people want sugar free candy, so we listen to what the customer wants and bring that in. If people come in and ask for a product, we work hard to make sure they鈥檙e happy.鈥�
鈥淵ou need to market your business to succeed,鈥� added Martin. 鈥淎 lot of companies think they can just open a store and people will come, but that鈥檚 not the way it works. We put a lot into our marketing, we do a lot of events, we鈥檙e very involved in the community鈥攚e get our name out there any way we can.鈥�
Looking to the future, Burnette is clear about his vision for Sticky鈥檚 Candy, which is to expand across Canada.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about finding the right location and the right partners.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not pushy, and we won鈥檛 be pushy 鈥� that鈥檚 not who we are.鈥�
