Ideas wanted - Charity Tuck Shop

Anonmouse

Hi everyone, I am running a charity tuck shop in my office at work - we have around 50 staff including the warehouse and have been making atleast £100 a month, MD seems happy and has allowed me to setup a 2metre run of shelving in the staff room (we are a shopfitting company so out of the warehouse for free) so I am looking to expand the stock range and the profits!

Currently I shop at Asda looking out for special offers and also have an account at shorters for drinks and sweets - let me know if you can suggest anywhere else worth looking at (I do have access to a cash&carry but for £4.49 delivery it is much easier using an online c&c that delivers next day).

Current lines/prices:
Fizzy Cans - 50p - cost 25-30p Asda/Shorters
Small Bottles - 35p - cost 18p Shorters
Cup Drinks - 20p - cost 6p shorters
Crisps - 25/30p - cost 10-17p Asda
Choc Bars - 50p - cost 30p Asda (Mars, Snickers, Twix etc)
Mixed sweets 1p-20p - all around 35% margin
Cereal Bars - 30p - cost 17p Asda
Peperami - 75p - cost 37-40p Asda/Shorters
Cheese - 30/35p - cost 17-25p Asda (triangles,babybell,string cheese)
Pot Noodles - £1.20 - cost 50-80p Asda (current best price @ Tescos 66p on 3for2)
Microwave Burgers - £1.75 - Cost £1 Asda
KitKat/Penguin/Time out - 25p - Cost 11p Asda
2xBiscuits Wrapped - 25p - Cost 15p Shorters
Tunnock Tea Cakes - 25p - Cost 15p Shorters

I have tried both Yoghurts and Fruit but the short shelf lives become a problem and the unhealthy bunch at my place seem much more interested in the sweet stuff.

This is all really easy to do and the company will double every penny I make before giving it to McMillan Cancer support at the end of the year.

Any and all suggestions for stock items/retailers much appreciated - hope this provides some ideas for others as well!

Savvy_Sue

Just wondering if nuts and / or dried fruit would be worth considering? Have a look at the 'ideal for lunchboxes' shelves at supermarket!

XxXfashionqueenXxX

Have you seen those shows on tv when they look into how much supermarkets waste? I know Asda dont throw that much away they give to the homeless maybe ring up Tesco's or somewhere else and see if you could have some before its thrown away? Maybe use the veg to make pasta's and stir frys to sell. Maybe popcorn? Mini jelly pots? Maybe when its Xmas/Easter and you have celebrations leftover get them out on sale? Also maybe sausage rolls and other savoury bits.

vixki

You can buy lots of sweets online, in big boxes etc. Places like sweetjunkie.co.uk and americansweets.co.uk do large boxes of all different sweets/chocolates.

Anonmouse

Thanks for the suggestions - managed to find some decent dried fruit/nuts at Approved Foods - average 50% margin on everything as well so a good moneymaker. Picked up a couple of Jelly pots to give them a try too.

Will upload a picture of it soon - has become a bit of a beast!