Nothing is Sweet about Candy Bouquet!

Being a candy bouquet franchisee, I have listened to many franchisee stories. If any of you are a “current candy bouquet franchisee” my advice to you is put on your “running shoes” and head over to the Association of Candy Bouquet Franchisees. There you will find a group of franchisees working under the guidance of the AAFD to develop a better relationship with the franchisor. We offer a “member only” forum where you may ask other franchisees “real questions” and receive “real responses” to your questions. Many members have already benefited and have diversified their product offerings no longer trying to be profitable only on bouquets. To become a member of the ACBF you must be a candy bouquet franchisee. Don’t hesitate to contact me or any ACBF member for further information about becoming a member.

Gerry Jo Mann - CBI 1285

www.cucandybouquet.com

Champaign IL

217-352-4602

I read the post by the Candy Lady and was overjoyed that the truth about Candy Bouquet is finally coming out! After nearly two decades, it is great that this site exists to stop other unsuspecting potential franchisees from wasting their hard earned money on what I also found to be a gravely overrated franchise opportunity. I wish I would have known about buying  a video to teach me how to make the bouquets. Check out candyflorist.com their bouquet methods are the same as candy bouquet - with out all the headaches. I discovered so much about just how little protection I had as a franchisee when I walked into a local flower shop and saw "candy bouquets" - wrapped stems the same way as I had been taught. I felt defeated, misled and cheated. It wasn't until I started chatting with other franchisees that I discovered my struggles were not my own, but those of the majority of franchisees! We were all trying to figure out the magic formula to make this business work, all the while sinking deeper into debt. I racked up over six figures times two - with NOTHING to show from it except the loan payment I continue to make along with the lease on a vacant store that I am obligated to for a few more years. There are so many franchises listed as closed in the offering and when the CEO was asked why so many, her explanation was "bored housewife syndrome"! Which was explained as  women who buy this franchise who have  nothing to do and when they find it to be lots of work, they quit! It's not wonder when the average bouquet takes over an hour to make - not hardworking enough? How insulting! Many of the franchisees I know are well educated, experienced business professional who worked in excess of 60-80 hours a week trying to make their businesses work.  The problem isn't the franchisees, it's the system - it is broken and it unrepairable. When anyone can make a candy bouquet, call it a candy bouquet and even open a store and call it candy bouquet - the system can NEVER be fixed. I pray these blogs help stop potential franchisees from buying in. We are not disgruntled as the franchisor would have you believe, we are realistic, honest, hard working people with families who have been robbed of the American dream of business ownership - instead it is a living nightmare with Candy Bouquet and something I would NEVER recommend to my worst enemy. NOT EVER!

Candy Bouquet EX-Franchisee 

Free at Last, Free at Last

Thank God Almighty I'm free at last!

The comments previously reported are absolutely correct. Having been a franchise owner for over 3 years, I never took a salary and had to continue with my other business for REAL income, hoping that eventually it would catch on and more business would come. At that point, My goal was to go forward from operating out of home to a storefront once business was established.

Candy Bouquet Corporate provides its franchisees with suggestions on how to obtain more business, for example, give bouquets away. I followed through with this guerrilla marketing technique, only to have many non-profit business requests for more free bouquets. They are time consuming, and no Candy Bouquet is ever the same because they are hand made by the poor sucker who purchased one of these franchisees. It is only a win win for the owner. The operating manual we received in class was unprofessional and inadequate. The technique is to lure unsuspecting new franchisees in, and keep selling supplies for the bouquet making. The owner also suggests that the franchisees keep 100+ bouquets on their shelves. This is an highly exaggerated figure which turns into wasted merchandise. We, as a group, asked for advertising provided by Corporate into a woman's magazine. We were told by the owner that magazine advertising does not work. The only magazine you will see this company advertise in is Entrepreneur Magazine where it is advertised as a fast growing, low cost franchise. They reel in more creative, talented individuals and keep collecting the initial investment fee. The few franchisees who have continued past five years have done so to allow themselves the opportunity to "get out from under" by selling their business.

The bottom line is that this franchise is a hoax and continues to thrive on new franchise openings, while giving no support to existing ones.

One other item which I believe should be mentioned is that the owner refers to merchandise not carried in their warehouse as "junk candy". This includes many high quality chocolate companies which in my opinion, is slandering their reputation.

So True.

I remember in training being told by the owner of the franchise that she made $250,000 her first year. She claimed to have done it by herself. It is impossible for that much manual labor to be performed by one person in a year. I have yet to hear of a franchise that has grossed over $100,000 on candy bouquets. It has been other gift and candy items that have put them over that amount.

After Valentine's Day I thought I had made money, but by the time I paid labor I didn't even break even. And that was selling approximately $10,000 on that day. People who invest cannot afford to pay people to work for them.

This is one person's dream that turned out to be my nightmare.

My advise - run the other direction.

The Unhappy and Broke Candy Lady