The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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  • Candy Bouquet owner Amanda Schroeder looked years for a franchise that would fit Alva.

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  • A bouquet of candy is one of the items at Candy Bouquet in Alva.

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  • Baskets of candy fills shelves at the Candy Bouquet in Alva.

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March 6, 2010

Business in Alva is sweet

Candy Bouquet owner searched for years to find the right fit

By Kasey Fowler, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ALVA — It is a sweet treat for this northwest Oklahoma town — a new candy store, Candy Bouquet, has opened its doors to offer a variety of sugary delights.

Candy Bouquet’s owner, Amanda Schroeder, has been looking for more than three years for a franchise business she thought would fit Alva.

“I hadn’t found anything that seemed right,” she said.

Then. she said, she “stumbled across the Candy Bouquet franchise,” which seemed a great fit because her husband, Jesse, had always dreamed of owning a floral business while she wanted a chocolate shop.

“We specialize in floral-like arrangements made from candy, cookies and sweet treats,” Schroeder said.

Once she had picked the business, the location of the store was the next step.

“Our big decision was whether we were going to be home-based or store front. I left it up to if we could find a place. This (store) came up at the last minute,” said Schroeder.

Candy Bouquet opened Oct. 21, during Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s 2009 homecoming week.

“The response was overwhelming,” she said. “I am so thankful for the support of Alva and the surrounding communities. It couldn’t happen without them.”

“I didn’t really put it in to make money, which I know sounds silly, but I wanted to see something different to go in here.”

Before Schroeder was able to open Candy Bouquet in Alva, she attended a training course.

“I trained in Little Rock, Arkansas, where the company is based. They are an international company. During my week-long training, I met people from all over. I met a couple from Iraq, even,” said Schroeder.

The No. 1 seller for Candy Bouquet is 12 flavors of ganache truffles, followed closely by five flavors of homemade fudge.

“I had a guy come here and tell me he wanted to try the fudge because he had heard rave reviews of it. He bought one box” said Schroeder.

He called after she had closed and asked when she would be open “because he had to have more of the fudge because it was the best he had ever had.”

Candy Bouquet also carries bulk candy, gummy treats, private-label hard candies, gourmet salt water taffy, Jelly Bellies, rock candy, old fashion candy sticks, gumballs and a selection of sugar-free candies.

Candy Bouquet, at 215 E. Oklahoma Blvd., next to Jim Hale’s State Farm Insurance Agency, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Candy Bouquet offers free delivery in Alva. For information on the busi-ness, call (580) 748-0870.

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