Help me get a gigantic amount of candy for free!
October 14, 2010 10:25 AM Subscribe
How do I get candy companies to donate candy for my gigantic Halloween event? Should I look to distributors instead? Do you know of any ones that would have great deals?
This is a pretty long shot but I'm doing a large (1500) Halloween event in NYC and we would love to have a gigantic supply of candy on hand. Our budget is getting stretched thin. Someone suggested we ask candy companies to sponsor us the way PBR once sponsored a friend of his' show—not in a "BROUGHT TO YOU BY HERSHEY'S" banner, but just that they supply free candy and everybody wins.
1. Is this off the wall to even think of?
2. Where do I start? Nestle has boilerplate on their website saying no, Hershey's doesn't seem to have a way to contact for specifically this, Cadbury doesn't seem to have enough of of a local presence.
3. There are a lot of distributors out there, I'd love any leads on good ones that you've worked with. Ones that would love to help out.
4. Where else should I try that I'm not thinking of?
5. Vegan candy would be preferred (I have a listing of which regular candy happens to be vegan) but as we get closer to Halloween...
While the parents might not, the kids and their dentists will thank you! me too
This is a pretty long shot but I'm doing a large (1500) Halloween event in NYC and we would love to have a gigantic supply of candy on hand. Our budget is getting stretched thin. Someone suggested we ask candy companies to sponsor us the way PBR once sponsored a friend of his' show—not in a "BROUGHT TO YOU BY HERSHEY'S" banner, but just that they supply free candy and everybody wins.
1. Is this off the wall to even think of?
2. Where do I start? Nestle has boilerplate on their website saying no, Hershey's doesn't seem to have a way to contact for specifically this, Cadbury doesn't seem to have enough of of a local presence.
3. There are a lot of distributors out there, I'd love any leads on good ones that you've worked with. Ones that would love to help out.
4. Where else should I try that I'm not thinking of?
5. Vegan candy would be preferred (I have a listing of which regular candy happens to be vegan) but as we get closer to Halloween...
While the parents might not, the kids and their dentists will thank you! me too
Response by poster: Nope, it benefits a band and more so the kids who are going to the show. And I'm having that trouble too, which is why I'm asking here. It's a long shot, I know.
posted by Brainy at 10:32 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by Brainy at 10:32 AM on October 14, 2010
You may need to think outside of the box. Instead of contacting candy companies you should be contacting local businesses and stores. For example, my company just paid $1000 to have our name attached to an event. Basically someone approached us, asked us if we would like to sponsor and we said yes.
In your situation I would ask grocery stores or drug store chains for a set amount of money or bags of candy. In return you'll mention them in whatever is associated with the event (signs, advertising, press coverage). Good luck!
posted by kate blank at 10:39 AM on October 14, 2010
In your situation I would ask grocery stores or drug store chains for a set amount of money or bags of candy. In return you'll mention them in whatever is associated with the event (signs, advertising, press coverage). Good luck!
posted by kate blank at 10:39 AM on October 14, 2010
Maybe try somewhere like Economy Candy on the LES? They might be willing to help out in exchange for some publicity.
posted by youcancallmeal at 10:41 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by youcancallmeal at 10:41 AM on October 14, 2010
Best answer: Have you thought of maybe padding the candy supply with some other things, like those weird jelly bracelets or things like potato chips?
It looks like many places (including, for example, Wrigley's -- inc. LifeSavers, Starburst, Skittles, loads of gum) tend to donate to organizations near their production facilities. You'd probably have the best bet with them.
You might try Lake Champlain; they have quite a bit of vegan stuff, and they make much of it available in bulk.
I was going to suggest Newman's Own for snacky things as well, but their site says that because all of their stuff is done directly (i.e., it's the whole point of the company), they don't make charitable donations.
Apparently Haribo makes some halal versions of gummis that are vegan. Some versions are vegetarian, but are covered in beeswax.
Necco? (Includes Conversation Hearts)
American Licorice (Red Vines)?
posted by Madamina at 10:45 AM on October 14, 2010
It looks like many places (including, for example, Wrigley's -- inc. LifeSavers, Starburst, Skittles, loads of gum) tend to donate to organizations near their production facilities. You'd probably have the best bet with them.
You might try Lake Champlain; they have quite a bit of vegan stuff, and they make much of it available in bulk.
I was going to suggest Newman's Own for snacky things as well, but their site says that because all of their stuff is done directly (i.e., it's the whole point of the company), they don't make charitable donations.
Apparently Haribo makes some halal versions of gummis that are vegan. Some versions are vegetarian, but are covered in beeswax.
Necco? (Includes Conversation Hearts)
American Licorice (Red Vines)?
posted by Madamina at 10:45 AM on October 14, 2010
I have had luck getting donations for events as a non profit, but just free candy might be tricky. I personally would start calling up big box stores and candy companies. I had a friend that was sponsored by monster, he got all the monster he ever wanted and all he had to do was throw massive parties and take photos of everyone holding up a can for the website. It might be better if you contacted them and told them you had an advertising opportunity. You might already be a little late; larger stores take about a month and a half to give you an answer. Particularity because they like to check you out first and make sure they are not giving hand outs to organisations that will give them bad press.
posted by Felex at 10:47 AM on October 14, 2010
posted by Felex at 10:47 AM on October 14, 2010
Best answer: I used to work for one of the big national candy companies mentioned in the OP, at their HQ site as a third-party contractor.
Madamina is spot on with this: "It looks like many places... tend to donate to organizations near their production facilities."
The timing is also working against you. October through February is "confection season", the industry's high sales cycle as retailers promote Halloween, then holiday candy, then Valentine's candy. So manufacturers are going to be too busy shipping and filling orders right now to take the time to help you (read: have their community outreach person vet you)... and retailers are going to be too worried about their stock on hand to give it away.
I agree that big box stores are your answer. Especially if you contact the store GM, explain what you're doing and how you will publicly promote them as the candy donor at this kids' event with 1500+ attendees, and then say, "We'll come by on October 27 and pick up whatever you want to give us."
They'll be ready to clear the shelves by Tues or Wed before Halloween, because nobody will be buying Halloween candy on that weekend except stragglers. You might end up with more candy than you can use.
Bonus -- if you are a non-profit, tell them you'll bring a tax receipt for the retail value of whatever they donate.
Plan B would be to find a non-candy company who just wants some exposure, and ask them to underwrite your candy, like kate blank suggested. Tell them you'll take big box gift cards if they'd rather not donate cash. Go that last week when Halloween stock is all marked down to super-cheap, and stretch out the donated dollars.
posted by pineapple at 2:07 PM on October 14, 2010
Madamina is spot on with this: "It looks like many places... tend to donate to organizations near their production facilities."
The timing is also working against you. October through February is "confection season", the industry's high sales cycle as retailers promote Halloween, then holiday candy, then Valentine's candy. So manufacturers are going to be too busy shipping and filling orders right now to take the time to help you (read: have their community outreach person vet you)... and retailers are going to be too worried about their stock on hand to give it away.
I agree that big box stores are your answer. Especially if you contact the store GM, explain what you're doing and how you will publicly promote them as the candy donor at this kids' event with 1500+ attendees, and then say, "We'll come by on October 27 and pick up whatever you want to give us."
They'll be ready to clear the shelves by Tues or Wed before Halloween, because nobody will be buying Halloween candy on that weekend except stragglers. You might end up with more candy than you can use.
Bonus -- if you are a non-profit, tell them you'll bring a tax receipt for the retail value of whatever they donate.
Plan B would be to find a non-candy company who just wants some exposure, and ask them to underwrite your candy, like kate blank suggested. Tell them you'll take big box gift cards if they'd rather not donate cash. Go that last week when Halloween stock is all marked down to super-cheap, and stretch out the donated dollars.
posted by pineapple at 2:07 PM on October 14, 2010
Response by poster: This is all really great advice. I tried Economy Candy and they told me to try back on Saturday. Necco has a FAQ about candy donation but it requires snailmail a month before. What Felix says about Monster is sort of what I'm looking for. I'm going to start approaching stores soon. Any recommendations on which ones would be most receptive would be perfect, but I'll just start talking to managers and stuff. I'm a bit pressed for time (lots of other stuff) so putting together a package to make us look desirable to store managers would be a bit difficult. Still, can't hurt to try sometimes.
posted by Brainy at 2:16 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by Brainy at 2:16 PM on October 14, 2010
Contact banks ... let them set up a table so they can try to sell their retail accounts (checking, savings, etc.) to people attending the event and ask them in return to bring candy as their "giveaways" instead of their branded products. Go local with this, not national ... meaning, your branches close to the event location and speak directly with the branch manager or business development manager. Trust me on this one, they'll jump at the chance to anchor in a place with so many live bodies around. Memail me the event location and I might have some contacts in that area to help set that up if you want. Cheers!
posted by cyniczny at 3:17 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by cyniczny at 3:17 PM on October 14, 2010
Cadbury is manufactured by Hershey in the US anyway, just to save you a phone call.
posted by anaelith at 4:04 AM on October 15, 2010
posted by anaelith at 4:04 AM on October 15, 2010
You may have luck contacting Candy.com. They are in MA and sell stuff in bulk. I have no idea of their philanthropic bent, but it's worth a shot. Even if they don't offer it for free you might be able to get a great deal.
posted by FlamingBore at 4:30 PM on October 18, 2010
posted by FlamingBore at 4:30 PM on October 18, 2010
Find a Blockbuster that's closing. My husband just scored a HUGE amount (like 9 five-gallon buckets!) of candy that went unsold. This is the crap that kids like (baby bottles full of sugar, sour gummy things etc.)
posted by vespabelle at 11:43 AM on October 21, 2010
posted by vespabelle at 11:43 AM on October 21, 2010
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