We can all be kids in this ‘moving’ new downtown candy store

What do you do when you wrap up a 16 year career running a garage door company in Calgary?

You move to Kelowna and open a candy store of course!

That’s what Daynna Barkley did.

And based on the customer response, not only to his near 1,000 different products, but to the ambience of his store at 539 Bernard Avenue, it has proven to be one sweet business decision.

“Everybody’s loving it,” Barkley told Ara from 103.1 Beach Radio. “We really try to have a bit of something for everyone. Between chocolate and gummies, to hard candies, lollipops, taffy tower, ice cream, mini doughnuts, I really tried to appeal to as broad a spectrum of people as possible.”

He thought the business would need a while to gain traction, but he’s been ordering supplies almost on a daily basis since opening just a few weeks ago.

The spacious store is departmentalized into various sections including lollipops, hard candy, British sweets, truffle trunks assembled like treasure chests, and walls stacked with bins filled with around 300 other different candies. All those are priced the same per weight.

But apart from the kaleidoscope of candies, there’s an extra treat for kids and adults: the fun buttons. Hit one of several big red buttons around the store and a series of colourful, mechanical moving displays spring into action. That brings a smile to everyone’s face.

And that was where Barkley’s background in electronics and mechanics came in handy as he went about decorating the store with inspiration from the 1971 movie, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

“Basically, I found them on a garbage heap in eastern Canada,” he explained. ”I completely reassembled them, glued together the broken parts, repainted them, replaced all the gears and sprockets and drive chains, and made them work again.”

There is simply way too much choice on offer at Von Schweets to leave with everything you’d want, so Barkley offers some guidance to customers who want to have some time left in their day for other pursuits.

“Everyone has to try the fun button… but from a candy perspective, my absolute favourite is the chocolate truffles. I built the store around the truffles because that’s my favourite treat.”

Learn all about Von Schweets here.