KaitlynGrantClue2b

Today I decided that it might be fun to go to Karen's Candy Barrel in the town of Bloomsburg. Karen owns the Candy Barrel and it was very interesting to hear her story about the place. The store has been in Bloomsburg for six years however there is another in Berwick. She has been running that business for 24 years! The shop makes its own chocolates, which look amazing! Karen was initially going to be an art teacher, but when she couldn't finish affording school she go into the hobby of making chocolates, and eventually created her own business.

One thing I learned from talking with Karen was the differences in what people buy when they come into the store. In the winter time it is almost purely chocolate that is bought. When I thought about this I realized that this could be due to the holidays like Valentines Day and Christmas that may bring in a lot of the money. It could also be because during the summer months chocolate feels kind of heavy while in the winter it is comforting. People may naturally buy chocolate at these months of the year without even realizing why. In the summer months, people tend to buy gummies. They are a light candy and won't sit too heavy in a persons stomach during the warm months. Each year 1000 pounds of gummies are sold!

I really liked the layout of the store. For example during holiday months the store is completely decked out! This really encourages people to buy those specialized candies.There is also pop music playing in the store. This will attract a lot of younger people into the store because in a way they can relate. There is also a lot of art work done by children hanging on the walls. When I inquired about this I discovered that the store attempts to involve the community into the store to hopefully attract customers. The store also donated bulks of hard candies to children during the hurricane. This was an effort to help the community but was also something I saw as trying to get more shoppers during the difficult weeks to follow the hurricane. I also really liked the layout of the store. All the candies are completely organized and are grouped. it makes it easier to decide what it is that you want. I also noticed that the busiest hours for the store are between 2-4 in the afternoon. I would assume that this is because it is after lunch time and maybe people are around town at this time. A lot of classes let out then, and by 4 some people may even be getting off of work. There is also a lot of warmth to the store which I believe really attracts customers. It feels so home like and welcoming, and the employees are so friendly. I believe that this is a huge aspect that gets customers to return. Anyone that comes in must be a candy lover or shopping for someone for a special reason. I believe there is comfort in this store, and I know that I will be getting treats from there in the future!