The 7th grade was a tough year for Group Buy Guy. Graduation from the 6th grade had set me back financially (http://tinyurl.com/42ltqtr). Unfortunately, saving money was not top of mind at the age of 12 (hindsight really is 20/20). Something had to be done, but what? I guess I can thank my friend Mandy’s parents for my turnaround. First, thanks for naming your child Mandy. Second, thanks for enjoying simple rhymes. Third thanks for throwing one heck of a party. If they hadn't done all three of these things who knows what would have happen.
Mandy was a little older than me and turned 13 in the beginning of the 7th grade. I was invited to her Bat Mitzvah which was themed “CANDY.” Get it? Mandy...candy. I know, very creative, but when you’re 12 these types of opportunities don’t happen every day.
Upon arriving at the reception to celebrate Mandy’s entree into adulthood guest were greeted with regular Bar/Bat Mitzvah circuit decorations. Appropriate lighting, tables with decorative center pieces, a dance floor and band, and an ice sculpture spelling out the young woman’s name - M A N D Y. Been there, done that was probably my first reaction. But in the distance was something different. It looked like an oasis. My eye’s had to adjust to make sure it was real. It was. A smile shot across my face. I was yet to realize how this would change my middle school finances, but I was already happy.
There in the corner laid two giant 8 foot round tables covered and mounded 5 feet high with the evenings theme – “C A N D Y.” You name it, it was there: Snickers , Twix, Hershey’s Chocolate Bars, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Milk Duds, 100 Grand, Milky Way, M&Ms, M&M Peanut, Kit Kat, Krackle, Mars Bars, Skittles, Starbursts, Chocolate Covered Raisins, Chocolate Covered Cherries, Chocolate Fudge, Almond Cluster, Almond Joy, Baby Ruth, Bar None, Bournville, Butterfinger Crisp, Coconut and Toasted Almond, Cup-o-Gold, Five Star Fruit and Nut, Five Star Hazelnut, Five Star Peanut, Gingembre, GooGoo Cluster, Junior Mints, Idaho Spud, NutRageous, Squirrel Nut Caramels, Caramel Squares, Caramel Creams, Caramel Crunch, Caramellos, Tootsie Caramel Apple Pops, Mini Cow Tales, Slap Stix Suckers Caramel, Jelly Belly Caramel Corn, Palmer Bunny Bites, Wonka Triple Dazzle Caramel Bar, Nips, Vanilla Caramel, Coffee Rio, Long Boys, Gummi Bears, Gummi Worms, Gummi Cola Bottles, Gummi Cherries, Gummi Fish, Gummi Banana Strawberry Ring, Gummi Raspberries, Gum Blow, Fraise Tagada, Gummi Peach Rings, Sour Patch Kids, Sour Cherries, Toxic Waste, Sour Punch, Warheads, Lemonheads, Sour Plooms, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Beechman’s Gum, Bubble Yum, Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, Juicy Fruit, Fruit Stripe Gum, Stride, Blow Pops, Dots, and more… These were not the snack size bars given on Halloween. No expense was spared for this celebration. We’re talking about two 5 foot high mountains of large sized candy bars begging to be eaten or in my case...something else.
I’m not sure how long it took me to come up with the idea, but when it hit--it hit fast and I needed a partner. I quickly turned to my best friend Andrew and went into the planning stages of my next business venture: Middle School Candy Distribution. Quickly realizing we were gazing upon an abundance of free inventory Andrew and I grabbed as much candy as we could hold. We filled our mother’s purses. We asked the hotel for trash bags. We made runs to the car. I can’t be certain how much candy we made off with, but I was informed days later that Mandy’s mother was not happy with our actions. I didn’t care. I was back in business.
Selling candy was not looked highly upon by middles school lunch aids. Luckily, Andrew and I had lockers located next to each other. We put our books in one locker and filled the other with our stock. Each lunch hour we would open for business. The kids flocked and we were quickly in the money! Other kids were recruited as look outs, but every once in a while a lunch aid would notice the commotion and demand that we “open that locker.” When this happen we would smile and comply by opening the locker which held our books. We were never busted and to this day that fact brings a great deal of satisfaction to me.
It wasn’t long before inventory levels ran short, but by this time I was able to recruit my Mother into the business. She would drive us to Costco where we used our profits to re-stock our supply. We would evaluate the market and make sure our prices were high enough to make a profit, but low enough to beat out the competition. In this case the cafeteria.
Our business ran well for most of middle school. We made more runs to Costco then I can remember. Unfortunately, our security plan consisted of a shoe box which at one point was stolen out from under our feet – literally. No matter. I had paid my way through 2 years of school and saved enough money to enjoy the summer. Frankly, the candy business wasn’t for me. Clients were very demanding and I was ready for my next business venture in high school.
Change the world, Group Buy Guy
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