Show And Tell Part 2:The Candy Bar

A brief history: 5 years ago I decided I wanted to open a unique boutique that sold cosmetics for women. Being a make up artist, I figured it was a great way to incorporate my entreprenurial spirit and something I knew and loved quite well. Once I started doing research for my business plan, I realized I had been "off the market" for too long, since I had been a stay at home mom for the previous 11 years and had not been employed during that time. I immediately got a job at a business similar to the one I was planning, and the plan was to work for 6 to 9 months, get all the info I could and then proceed ahead with my business plan.

Then life happened. One month later, my husband (at the time) and I broke up and my whole world went into a tailspin. I have to tell you that I was just happy to have a job at that difficult time in my life, but the whole idea of my own business went out the door and six months turned into four years. Everything happens for a reason I say. Thank God it did.

FLASH FORWARD: June 2009. A woman, (my friend) named Wendy Wheeler, who owns a clothing boutique in Osterville, Cape Cod, where my family has a summer home, opened another Wendy Wheeler clothing boutique right in my home town on my main street. Wendy and I became friends years ago because over the 15 years of her being in business, my family and I became some of her best clients, as we are hardcore shoppers. We talked often about my idea of opening a cosmetics boutique those 5 years ago and Isought her business advice alot. When my life sort of got ripped out from under me, I had chosen to keep to myself and talked to Wendy only occasionaly during the past 5 years.

This June, I drove by down town on my way to the supermarket and I saw the awnings bearing her name on the building and nearly got into an accident pulling into to the parking lot to the store. I couldn't believe it. It was her first day in my home town and when I walked in and saw her, it was like we had had not skipped a beat. She offered me a job, working in her store and since I had been unemployed for the past year, I accepted. My first day on the job, she approached me and told me that I should seriously consider opening "a boutique within a boutique" in her store. Since I was already thinking about it in my head, I knew immediately that my time had finally come.

Two crazee months later, 2 buying trips to New York, and much creative planning, construction and hard work, it is with great honor that I present to you my new venture.

The Candy Bar

at Wendy Wheeler

My funky, fresh, fun little cosmetics boutique which opened yesterday.

This is my window in the front of the store that flanks the right side of the store entrance. (the left side has Wendy's clothing on mannequins)



This is the entrance to my tiny, 110 sq ft of retail store, which is in the back of the Wendy Wheeler store, but in view of the front door.

Welcome to my little world of beauty. The concept is that it's a candy store for women, with cosmetics, skincare, fragrances, candles and cosmetic accessories at your fingertips. Since Candy happens to be my name, the play on words works well to promote my mission.





This is an areial view of my cash wrap-I removed my keyboard and my point of sale purchase items so you could get a feel for what's underneath the glass. It's dangerous for me to be around that much candy.

This is the front of the cash wrap. Those little boxes on the second shelf are bath bombs that look exactly like candy. $6 bucks a pop, they smell divine and look adorable.

These are my bags. The tissue matches the colors on the logo.

This is the "salon" area where a woman will sit down and I will not only do her make up, but I will educate her on skin care, make up application and she will see the dazzling results right there in that chair. (The long talker- remember him?-sent me the roses for my opening, which was very sweet)

This is the main asile to shop. I have Kevyn Aucoin cosmetics, DuWop cosmetics, BKamins skin care and many other wonderful bath and body lines to choose from. I told you it was tiny, but I think it's just perfect for my retail needs. Most of the product lines I chose are unique to this area.

For now I am the only employee of The Candy Bar and I am thinking it's going to be that way until after Christmas. I will be literally living there for the next three months, so it's a good thing I love it. The best part, it's about 2.2 miles from my house and it's MINE....

Thanks so much letting me share this with you bloggers. I guess dreams really do come true when you put your mind to it.

Now who wants a makeover???