Couple Enjoys Sweet Rewards from Candy Shop

Written on the 24 October 2023 by Gold Coast PR Company Consulting Hall

A Gold Coast couple who took the plunge 18 months ago to buy a candy store are now enjoying sweet success.

In April 2022, Troy Simpson, a tradesman, and his wife Tania Simpson, who worked in the legal profession, splashed out to buy the Captain's Candy business, which has operated a store at Ashmore Factory Outlets for 12 years.

Troy said that while they both lacked any retail experience, the couple threw themselves into the enterprise and the business has thrived.

“During the past 18 months we have a enjoyed a steady increase in revenue and have boosted our product range, so we are now the Gold Coast's largest retail candy and international grocery store,” said Troy

“When we took over Captain's Candy, our goal was to ensure our customers were put first and we want customers to always feel welcome when engaging with the business, whether in person or via other communication channels.

“We aim to offer every customer a warm, personalised experience and take pride in our product knowledge and ability to offer recommendations.”

While the business services in-store, online and corporate customers, the couple quickly realised their most significant customer segments were millennials and Generation Z.

“We have fully embraced this and have placed a focus on using TikTok as a marketing channel as well as the other marketing channels we use,’’ he said. “We get all of our staff involved with creating our TikTok content and it is a lot of fun.”

Troy said the growth of the business meant they were considering further expansion, and they were looking at opportunities for pop ups and other permanent locations.

The couple’s efforts have been rewarded after the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards named Captain’s Candy as the winner of the Retail, Wholesale and Distribution category at the October awards.

Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards president Adam Twemlow said Captain’s Candy was one of eight first-time winners at the October presentation.

The October winners in the other categories of the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards were:

• Mayor’s Innovation GC Award: Marine Air Flow International
• Education, Training and Employment Award: Australian Paramedical College
• Emerging and Micro Business Award: Pet Drs
• Family Business Award: Auscoast Fire Services
• Manufacturing Award: iCoolsport
• Construction and Trades Award: Rite Space
• Professions and Services Award: GANDEN Engineers & Project Managers
• Health and Wellbeing Award: Medical Rescue
• IT and Digital Business Award: Send Payments
• Tourism, Hospitality and Events Award: Southern Cross Tours

The awards’ major sponsors include Dreamweavers, Neumann Steel, Neumann Contractors, Currumbin Minerals, Australian Retirement Trust, Study Gold Coast, City of Gold Coast, Choice Homes, MPM Property, Westpac, Harvey Norman Commercial Queensland, Optus Business Centre Gold Coast, Griffith University, Southern Cross Austereo and Coraggio. The awards’ media sponsors include the Gold Coast Bulletin, GoTransit Media, 92.5 MMM, SeaFM 90.9, Channel 7 and 7 News Gold Coast.

The GCBEA’s major supporters are KPMG, Document Solutions Australia, Bloomtools, Consulting Hall, The Graphic Design Company and Rix Developments.