Chris Pratt (CandyWarehouse.com)on Starting an Online Business with No Retail or Candy Experience

Chris Pratt from CandyWarehouse.com joins the My Digital Story Podcast (www.triangledirectmedia.com) to discuss how he started the online business in 1998, the hustle to get the business off the ground, the mistakes he made while trying to compete with companies who had VC backing, how he’s grown the business, big events he’s worked (like the Oscars), and how he plans to turn the online store into a traditional retail store that’s anything but traditional. (3:40) Chris starts his career in Electrical Engineering making electric cars in the early 1990’s (6:15) Starting an online business with no inventory, no digital camera, no experience (8:15) Mars and Hershey were asleep, and Chris took advantage (9:15) Learning about shipping when the product can melt (12:00) When Chris decided to quit his job and do CandyWarehouse.com full time (13:15) VC funding backs eCandy.com with $20M, Chris gets nervous and takes on partners (17:00) Chris buys back the business and comes up with creative ways to market the business (21:30) How CandyWarehouse.com utilizes Amazon (24:30) What are the best forms of marketing for the business? (27:30) Big life changing events using candy buffets (28:30) Harry Potter, Jimmy Kimmel, Katy Perry, Madonna… (31:15) Opening up the warehouse to the public and making it a traditional retail store (36:30) Advice to anyone who wants to start an online business