Tis' the Season to Shop Local: The Candy Corner
By: Chelsea Rarrick
Updated: December 2, 2011
Eyewitness News continues our Tis' the Season to Shop Local with a business that will help crave your sweet tooth.
The Candy Corner is owned by Richard Orilio and says it's simple why he owns a local shop; he loves the people!
It was February 22, 2004 when The Candy Corner officially became local.
The store had been corporate since 1957, but Richard wanted a change.
"When it was a corporate store, we didn't know people's names. We gift wrapped, but we didn't have as much attention to the customer," said Richard.
Since he made the switch to local, The Candy Corner has seen a complete transformation, which he says, is for the better.
"We'll help the customers find things, we'll explain whats in something, we'll explain allergy alerts and stuff like that," he said.
As a business owner, Richard wants to develop personal relationships with all his customers.
"If Joe comes in, I'll shake his hand and say Joe welcome back, you know I haven't seen you in a day and a half," he said.
The number one value that Richard's customers get when shopping is people who know what they're talking about.
"I have the most knowledgeable candy employees, I think in the business. Everybody knows everything about every single piece," he said.
And with every purchase made, he returns the favor within the community.
"The money comes to me. I buy from local vendors, thus in turn I will shop at local stores and thus they prosper. It's the trickle down theory."
Richard says that according to a local study, if people change their buying habits to shopping 10% local, the impact would be huge.
The Candy Corner is owned by Richard Orilio and says it's simple why he owns a local shop; he loves the people!
It was February 22, 2004 when The Candy Corner officially became local.
The store had been corporate since 1957, but Richard wanted a change.
"When it was a corporate store, we didn't know people's names. We gift wrapped, but we didn't have as much attention to the customer," said Richard.
Since he made the switch to local, The Candy Corner has seen a complete transformation, which he says, is for the better.
"We'll help the customers find things, we'll explain whats in something, we'll explain allergy alerts and stuff like that," he said.
As a business owner, Richard wants to develop personal relationships with all his customers.
"If Joe comes in, I'll shake his hand and say Joe welcome back, you know I haven't seen you in a day and a half," he said.
The number one value that Richard's customers get when shopping is people who know what they're talking about.
"I have the most knowledgeable candy employees, I think in the business. Everybody knows everything about every single piece," he said.
And with every purchase made, he returns the favor within the community.
"The money comes to me. I buy from local vendors, thus in turn I will shop at local stores and thus they prosper. It's the trickle down theory."
Richard says that according to a local study, if people change their buying habits to shopping 10% local, the impact would be huge.
