Most cake and candy supply stores sell professional quality ingredients.
Cake and candy supply stores service not only professional bakers and candy makers, but home chefs that like to create gourmet foods. These shops sell ingredients such as meringue powders and professional-quality cake flour, which can't be found in most grocery stores and supermarkets. It is possible to start a profitable cake and candy supply store planning and research.
Instructions
1. Obtain a resale permit or tax identification number from your state (if required), register an assumed business name (DBA) with the county and obtain an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS. An EIN, resale permit or tax identification number is needed to establish wholesale accounts and purchase inventory.
2. Check with the local health department to see whether a food business license is needed. This will be the case if planning to make any of the perishable or edible cake and candy supplies to be sold; however it is unlikely if the business only resells packaged supplies.
3. Lease a retail space that is at least 700 square feet---enough space to display products and store extra inventory. The cost for leasing such as retail space depends on the area, but can range from $650 to $1,200 per month.
4. Establish wholesale accounts with cake and candy supply distributors such as Food Service Warehouse, Bulk Foods Consumer Online Market or A Best Kitchen.
5. Buy retail supplies, including shopping baskets, registers and merchant accounts, shipping bags, pricing guns and shelving, from a company such as Store Supply or American Retail Supply.
6. Advertise your cake and candy supply store by developing a promotional website or blog, handing out coupons and fliers to local bakeries, chocolatiers and restaurants, placing ads in print and online business directories and attending trade shows such as Sweets & Snacks Expo and The Philadelphia National Candy, Gift & Gourmet Show.
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