The average consumer doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about chewing gum. In fact, most only consider their options as they are standing in the checkout line waiting to pay for their other items. As a retailer, it's up to you to create an enticing line up of bubble gum that will excite their eyes and taste buds and force them to buy a pack or two before heading out the door.
Gum manufacturers want your business, but as a store owner you have a lot of other things to tend to day in and day out and would have trouble keeping track of each and every manufacturer. This is why finding a good chewing gum distributor is going to be crucial to your success. These companies supply with you a wide variety of products in one convenient place. You can find different categories of products like:
1. Bubble gum makers.
2. Chewing gum makers.
3. Candy and gum manufacturers that make hybrid products.
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Find out what the different chewing gum manufacturers have to offer
Chewing gum companies strive to get their product out into the marketplace, and they can't do it without your support. Find out if the company in question has a website, then spend some time looking at the different products that they have available. Most companies will be happy to send out samples of their new product lines as well; all you have to do is ask.
I recommend: Attend the annual
All Candy Expo or the
NCA Showcase, both sponsored by the National Confectioners Association. There you can sample thousands of different types of gum and candy, learn about trends in the industry and talk with the companies directly to set up a line of distribution.
Compare prices with different bubble gum manufacturers
Bubble gum prices can vary greatly depending on where you live and what exactly you are looking for. Sometimes going to the company itself is cheaper, while other times going through a chewing gum wholesaler just makes more sense. Get quotes from several different places, and don't be afraid to haggle to get the best price possible.
I recommend: Start off with the major players and work your way to the specialty companies. You can learn pricing directly through a company that interests you, such as
Wrigley, or you can contact a company that sells a variety of brands wholesale, such as
Candy Warehouse.
Stock your store with a variety of different chewing gum brands
Variety is the spice of life, and that is especially true for chewing gum. You should have a good base stock of spearmint, peppermint and fruity gums but you should also have a few specialty gums to entice your buyers into buying more. Start off with a small inventory, and rotate out depending on the popularity of the gum brand.
I recommend: Find yourself a good chewing gum distributor. You need to find a company like
CandyXpress who is able to supply you with a wide variety of products to suite your needs. Once you have your staples purchased, then you can go out and stock your store with specialty items like Zolt gum, which is available through
GumRunners, LLC.
Related Resources from Business.com
Comments
Is any content on this page inappropriate? To let us know, please 
