Using Glass Candy Jars in Your Store

You don’t have to be a candy storeowner to want to create an attractive candy display for your customers. All sorts of businesses – from convenience stores and grocery stores to bookstores and ice cream parlors – create candy displays to both please their customers and increase sales.

But before you head out to order glass candy jars wholesale, there are three things you should consider: Your customers, your store’s environment, and the kind of candy you want to display.

1. Consider Your Customers

Glass candy jars might be best known for the roles they’ve played as charming display fixtures in old-fashioned candy stores, but that doesn’t mean the typical candy store customer (i.e., a child) is the best person to trust around glass candy containers.

Of course, not all candy store customers are children – many customers consist of parents and adults who like candy, too! If your candy store customer base consists of a mix of ages, consider using plastic candy containers as display fixtures in the areas where children are most likely to venture, and save the more elegant glass candy jars for the areas where you display candy products geared toward adults, such as gourmet chocolates.

2. Consider Your Store’s Environment

Even if your store sells no other kind of candy but the kind of candy adults would be most attracted to, such as gourmet candies, you need to consider your store’s environment before you decide whether or not to use glass candy jars.

Fast-paced stores with high volumes of traffic lend themselves to the kinds of situations that can lead to broken glass, so if your store stays pretty busy, you might want to opt for plastic candy jars instead of glass candy containers. Of course, you could also mix your containers up, using plastic containers in the higher traffic areas and glass containers where things seem to be calmer. You know your store’s usual traffic volume best, so be sure to consider it before you order your glass candy jars wholesale.

3. Consider Your Merchandise

Obviously, candy is going to work well with glass candy jars – but you need to consider the kind of candy you want to display in your jars before you actually purchase them.

• Some storeowners like to use glass fish bowls to display their candy. These containers work well for a number of merchandise displays, and it’s no surprise the work well for creating candy displays, too; however, fish bowls leave the merchandise exposed, so if you opt to use glass fish bowl containers as part of your candy display, make sure you choose wrapped candy.
• If you plan to display unwrapped candy, choose glass jar lids. These glass jars are just as attractive as every other kind of glass display fixture, and the lids offer extra protection to the unwrapped candy.
• Note that some candy just isn’t right for glass candy jars. Candy bars, for example, look out of place and fit awkwardly in these kinds of candy containers. Save your glass candy jars for smaller pieces of candy. And remember: Brighter pieces of candy help create even prettier displays!

Glass Jars and Fish Bowls Add Elegance to Your Displays

Plastic jars and plastic fish bowls are great ways to create various kinds of merchandise displays, but if you’re looking for a bit more charm and elegance, consider using wholesale glass jars and glass fish bowls.

These glass containers are available in several sizes and styles, which makes them ideal for any amount of display space you have to work with. Also, if your merchandise is unwrapped and edible – such as gumballs or ice cream sprinkles – you can find these containers with lids.

Below are three ideas to consider for using glass jars and glass fish bowls for creating numerous kinds of displays – no matter what kind of retail business or establishment you manage!

1. Create Special Toppings or Candy Displays

Maybe you’d like to create a charming “penny” candy display such as those typically found in old-fashioned candy stores. Or, perhaps you manage an ice cream parlor or yogurt shop and need to order wholesale containers to store and attractively display your sprinkles or toppings along your store’s countertop.

Whatever the case, wholesale glass jars and glass fish bowls are ideal containers for creating displays such as those you’d find in specialty candy shops, bakeries, ice cream parlors, and yogurt shops. Convenience store owners can even create countertop displays using these glass containers or place these containers on sturdy convenience store racks throughout their businesses – if traffic permits (see special note below).

2. Showcase Small Gifts, Souvenirs, or Hobby Items

Gift stores such as those you find in malls, hospitals, and hotels, souvenir shops like those at tourist and vacation locations, and stores that specialize in selling hobby and craft items can use these glass containers to display a multitude of items. For example, wholesale glass jars and glass fish bowls are elegant ways to showcase small gifts such as figurines, souvenir items such as seashells from the beach, or even thimbles, beads, and buttons.

For these kinds of displays, consider dedicating a large countertop where you can safely position the glass containers, or choose a few sturdy display racks, such as wire display racks, and position your displays throughout the store.

3. Store and Display Complimentary Items

Business in the travel and hospitality industry, such as hotels and motels, can use wholesale glass jars and glass fish bowls to add organization and charm to their usual bathroom displays of complimentary items like travel-sized soaps, shampoos, lotions, mouthwashes, and shower caps. These establishments can also use glass containers in the rooms to display other complimentary items like packets of coffee and related items like sugar, sweetener, creamer, and stir sticks.

At their checkout counters, many restaurants offer complimentary items such as toothpicks, breath mints, and matchbooks with the restaurant’s logo printed on them. If your countertop offers enough space, these glass containers are ideal for displaying such items.

Note: If you’re considering using wholesale glass jars or glass fish bowls for your displays, be sure to think about your store’s normal traffic. If a customer bumps into your display, glass containers are generally more easily broken than their plastic counterparts. Depending on your store’s usual volume of traffic, plastic jars and fish bowls might work better.

Choosing Candy Jars: Plastic or Glass?

When it comes to display containers for any kind of retail store or restaurant, the options seem endless. Candy jars are especially popular choices because they are so versatile. They can hold a multitude of different kinds of merchandise – not just candy – and when they’re empty you can simply refill them or use them for another purpose entirely.

However, even candy jars themselves present a variety of options, and – aside from size – perhaps the most important you should consider is the material. Do you need plastic candy jars, or glass candy jars? Which would work best for your store?

Consider the Location of the Display

Whether you’re displaying candy or another kind of small snack in your candy jars, chances are high that you’ll situate your display either on your store’s countertop or on a wire display rack. You might even place your candy jars on a wire display rack designed for countertop displays!

Wherever you plan to place your candy jar display, consider the area’s traffic. If you want to create a countertop display, but your countertop and register areas tend to stay crowded, plastic candy jars are your best bet. If you want to create a display on a tall wire display rack and situate it somewhere else in your store, make sure that location doesn’t experience a high number of customers at any given point during the day before you stack glass candy jars on the shelves; otherwise, you might want to go with plastic containers instead.

Consider Your Store’s Traffic

Sometimes it doesn’t matter where you choose to place your candy jar display; if your store tends to experiences a high volume of traffic during most business hours, for safety purposes it might be best to use plastic candy jars instead of glass candy jars.

However, if your store generally experiences a low volume of traffic – or if most of your customers are adults and not excited children – glass candy jars might be the best display option for you.

Consider Your Store’s Theme or Décor

While the first two factors you should consider – your store’s traffic and the location of the display – are extremely important because they deal with safety issues, this third factor to consider – your store’s theme or décor – is important on an entirely different level.

Most traditional kinds of retail stores – such as convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores – will choose plastic candy jars for candy displays. This is for two main reasons: One, these are high-traffic kinds of stores and plastic is less likely to break and injure someone if it falls from the display or a customer bumps into it, and two, these kinds of stores generally have a laid back atmosphere without any special “theme” or décor.

However, specialty shops such as gourmet candy stores or even bakeries, yogurt shops, or ice cream parlors that sell candy or other small snacks that can fit in jars often want their displays to exude a bit more charm. Glass candy jars are perfect was to achieve such a result.

Hey, Store Owners: Candy Isn’t Just for Kids Anymore

Because candy is so popular, a number of retail businesses such as convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores include candy displays on their countertops or on display racks situated throughout their stores. Even establishments that aren’t generally in the business of selling food products, like hotels, bookstores, and gift shops, will create candy displays to offer customers add-on merchandise as they’re shopping or checking out.

Most of these establishments – especially gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores – sell mainstream candies like Atomic Fireballs, Good & Plenty, Skittles, Jolly Ranchers, and Mike & Ike. Chances are, you’ve never been to one of these kinds of stores and not seen some kind of candy display that included M&Ms, Laffy Taffy, Sprees, or Runts. This is due to the wide variety of customers these businesses deal with on a daily basis. These kinds of candies generally appeal to the masses.

While these common candies certainly have something to offer (they wouldn’t be so popular if they didn’t, after all), sometimes businesses cater to customers who aren’t fans of candies like Tootsie Rolls, Lemonheads, and Bit-O-Honey. Businesses that attract customers with more mature tastes in candy can still benefit from having candy displays; they just need to use candies that appeal more to these kinds of customers. Such candies include gourmet chocolates.

Consider Gourmet Chocolates

European-style gourmet chocolates are excellent additions to your store’s gourmet candy display. These candies with their fancy wrappers and wide variety of types appeal to many customers. You can find milk chocolate-covered European-style gourmet candies like covered raisins, dried cherries, peanuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, macadamia nuts, and almonds, as well as other kinds of chocolate candies like pretzel twists, malted milk balls, coffee beans, espresso beans, and caramel corn.

Another gourmet candy to consider is rich gourmet chocolate. You can find a wide variety of rich, gourmet chocolate candies including Mint Meltaways and Peanut Butter Meltaways, Coconut Haystacks, Vanilla Caramels, and Peanut Butter Cups. For customers who enjoy chocolate-covered nuts, consider Rocky Road Clusters, Peanut Caramel Patties, Cashew Caramel Patties, Pecan Caramel Patties, and Toffee with Almonds. Also keep in mind that you can find sugar-free versions of many rich gourmet chocolate candies, too.

Displaying Gourmet Chocolates

You can display gourmet candies much the same ways as you can display other kinds of candies. You can create countertop displays for your gourmet chocolates, or you can use display racks to hold the candy containers and situate the displays throughout your store.

Acrylic or plastic containers are perfect for storing and displaying just about any kind of candy or sweet treat, and gourmet candies are no different in that respect. Of course, given that these candies are gourmet you might want to forgo colored or clear plastic containers and use glass candy containers instead. Glass candy jars provide a look of elegance that’s perfect for displaying gourmet chocolates. Regardless of the kind of containers you choose for your candy display, make sure your jars have lids if they’re going to hold unwrapped candies.

Preparing Your Countertop for a Candy Display

Countertop displays of candy are essential for convenience stores, and they also work well in grocery stores, restaurants and hotels.

However, whether you want to create an elaborate display along your countertop or one that includes just a few simple add-on items, you need to consider three things before you start thinking about what kind of candy you want to include in your countertop display: the about the amount of countertop space you have to work with, the difference kinds of candy containers that are available to you, and whether countertop racks would benefit your display.

1. Amount of Countertop Space

The amount of countertop space you have to work with is the key to how everything else regarding your countertop display will play out. If you have plenty of room, you’ll be able to display a much wider variety of candies using more – or larger – candy containers than you would if you only have a small space to work with.

2. Different Kinds of Candy Containers

Once you have a good handle on how much countertop space you have to work with, you can start thinking about the kinds of candy containers you want to use.

• Plastic Candy Containers: These containers are probably the most popular kinds among convenience stores, grocery stores, and other fast pasted retail settings. These containers are quite sturdy, so they’re less likely to break if you or a customer accidentally bumps into them. Clear plastic containers are common choices, but don’t forget about colored acrylic containers. These bins can help you have fun with your countertop displays!
• Food Grade Plastic Containers: Not to be confused with regular plastic containers, food grade plastic containers are designed to keep food fresh and safe from contamination. These bins generally come equipped with lids that you can either snap or screw in place or that are already hinged on the container, as well as plastic or aluminum scoops for customers to get the candy.
• Glass Candy Jars: Though they’re not quite as popular as plastic candy containers, glass candy jars are stylish alternatives for businesses that aim to give off a sense of elegance or charm. Glass jars especially work well for establishments that don’t see high volumes of rambunctious traffic, like hotels and restaurants.
  

Regardless of what kind of candy containers you think will work best in your store, remember to keep your countertop space in mind as you’re selecting them.

3. Using Countertop Racks

Countertop racks are available in a variety of styles and are ideal for countertops of nearly every size. As long as you select racks designed to hold the kind of candy containers you want to use in your display, these racks will help you make the most of your countertop space.

Once you’ve evaluated your countertop space, selected the kind of candy containers you want to use, and determined whether countertop racks will benefit you, you’ll be ready to choose the kind of candy you want to include in your countertop display!

Countertop Displays: Consider Bulk Candy Wholesale

Countertop displays are staples in many retail settings. For businesses like convenience stores, grocery stores, and even some restaurants, countertop displays often consist of wrapped and unwrapped candies purchased in bulk at wholesale prices.

Ideas for Countertop Displays of Bulk Unwrapped Candies

If you plan to store and display your unwrapped candies using a countertop display, there are two tools you should become familiar with: gumball machines and food grade plastic containers.

You don’t have to use gumball machines strictly for gumballs; these machines can hold an assortment of small, unwrapped candies. Many gumball machines are attached to tall stands, but you can also find smaller, standless gumball machines that are perfect for sitting on convenience store countertops.

Food grade plastic containers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Lids designed for the customer to screw or snap on and off, or lids designed to stay attached to the containers with hinges, help keep the candies protected from contamination, and plastic or aluminum scoops make it easy for each customer to get the exact amount of candy he wants without touching the rest of it.

Ideas for Countertop Displays of Bulk Wrapped Candies

When it comes to creating countertop displays of bulk wrapped candies, traditional acrylic and plastic containers are very durable and glass candy jars add an elegant charm to your display. Consider the following factors as you decide how to create your countertop display of bulk candies:

• Countertop Space: The number and size of the candy containers you use depends on how much countertop space you have to work with. Regardless of the size of your countertop, you might consider using countertop racks to hold your containers. Small versions of convenience store racks, or c-store racks, help you make the most of the space you have and include even more candies in your display.
• Store Traffic: If your store is quite busy, plastic or acrylic containers will work best. They’re durable and less likely to break or cause harm to anyone if a customer accidentally knocks them off the counter. If your store has a slower pace, or your displays are located in a place where they’re less likely to experience passing traffic, you might want to use glass candy containers.
• Store Theme: You can find acrylic and plastic containers in a variety of shapes and colors to add pizzazz to your countertop theme! If your store has a more muted atmosphere, glass containers are a stylish solution for holding and displaying your bulk wrapped candies.
  

You can find containers with lids if you want to help protect the candy from theft or if you like the visual appeal some candy bins with lids provide, but because these candies are wrapped, the lids aren’t necessary as far as protection from contamination is concerned.

Buying Bulk Candy Wholesale Helps You Save Money

Aside from helping you create attractive countertop displays and making sure your store is always stocked with your customers favorite items, buying candy at bulk wholesale prices helps you save money.

Wholesale prices are less expensive than retail prices, and when you buy in bulk your getting more candy than you would if you spent the same amount of money on candy set at retail prices. Plus, buying in bulk means you won’t have to order as much candy as you would if you purchased smaller quantities.

Before you place an order for bulk candies, make sure you shop around and compare prices. Some companies might claim to offer bulk wholesale prices but actually charge higher prices than what is considered “wholesale.”

Candy Containers: Plastic vs. Glass

Whether you’re getting ready to open a convenience store or you’re thinking of redecorating your bagel shop, chances are you need to think about the kinds of containers you’ll use to store and display your merchandise.

The two basic kinds of containers you have to choose from are plastic (or acrylic) containers and glass containers. Each kind offers its own benefits, and depending on the kind of store or business you manage, one kind of container will probably work better for you than will the other kind of container.

Benefits of Plastic Candy Containers

Plastic candy containers are probably the most popular kinds of containers for storing and displaying a variety of merchandise. This is largely because plastic containers generally offer:

• Extreme durability. It’s nearly impossible to break a plastic container just by dropping it, which makes these kinds of containers ideal for fast-paced environments like convenience stores, or retail settings where children are very likely to try to pick up or bump into the containers.
• A variety of color options. It’s usually easier to find colored acrylic containers than it is to find colored glass containers. You can order wholesale plastic containers in a variety of colors, making it easy for you to create attractive countertop displays that match your store’s “theme,” your state colors, or even the current holiday season.
• Convenience. Acrylic containers are much more lightweight than glass containers, which makes it easier to transport them, clean them, and even display them on racks.
  

Benefits of Glass Candy Containers

However, even though they’re breakable, heavier, and are more often clear than colored, glass containers offer a few perks plastic containers don’t. For example, glass containers:

• Usually don’t show scratches. They might not break when you drop them, but plastic containers show their age much quicker than do glass containers.
• Offer a visual appeal acrylic containers can’t. Glass containers are a throwback to charming old candy stores and general stores of the past.
• Provide an elegant look. Upscale stores often prefer glass over plastic; therefore, stores that use glass containers generally provide a sense of elegance for customers.
  

Look for These Benefits in All Candy Containers

Whether you choose plastic or glass candy containers, there are a few features you should make sure you get:

• If you plan to store unwrapped candy, make sure you containers come equipped with lids. You can find containers with snap-on or screw-on lids, as well as containers that come with attached, hinged lids.
• Choose containers that add to your display’s visual appeal. Colored acrylic containers allow you to add extra pizzazz to your candy display, but glass containers add an elegant charm. Choose whichever kind of container fits best with the “feel” of your store or business.
• Select containers sizeable enough for your merchandise, but small enough for the space you have to work with. You don’t want to sacrifice your customers’ convenience just so you can fit as much merchandise as possible on your countertop.