Bucks County Herald
Author: Eve Gelman
July 26, 2007
Page 40

Full Story

Author: Anna Wolfe
March, 2007
Specialty Retailers Section

Skip's focuses on old-fashioned candy, customer service

LAHASKA, Pa.--While other retailers may be looking for the hot, new trend to spice up their gourmet retail establishment, one retailer here is content with its focus on old-fashioned candy and customer service.

Skip's Candy Corner, a 2,000-square-foot store here in Peddler's Village, has been approached about franchising several times in its 13 years in business, explained Janet Pietrak, who co-owns the store with her husband Skip. They're not interested. At one time, the couple operated two stores and then consolidated to the larger, corner storefront here in 2002.
"When we had two shops, we couldn't focus on customer service like we do now," she said. Instead, time was spent bouncing back and forth between the two. Preferring a hands-on approach, franchising, too, is out.

"If our name is connected to it, it would be a reflection on us," she said. "If we grow too big, we don't have the capability" to deliver the personal service for which Skip's is known.

When the store is open a minimum of six to eight employees are on the floor. Two employees man each of the store's two check out counters. "I don't want to see people waiting in long lines," said Pietrak. Each employee is trained on a one-on-one basis. And employees sign up for their shifts instead of the Pietrak's writing out a schedule. "We believe one should work to live, not live to work," she said.

The store backs up its strong focus on customer service with a unique product mix--including nostalgic candy brands, sugar-free candies, and sweet treats made on site including fudge and gift baskets.

Nicknamed "candy heaven" by its customers, the store carries a variety of sweets--from imported string licorice from Denmark to sugar-free candies from Ashers Mark Avenue, Madeleine, Koppers and Supreme, and an array of Jelly Belly Candy Co.'s signature sweets.

Seasonal delights such as hot chocolate fill the gondolas on the store floor. In barrels are more traditional year-round sweets such as lollipops, candy bags and beanies.

A tour downstairs showcases raw candy, candy sticks and new candies. Bottled water and cold sodas are on hand for those shoppers needing a liquid pick-me-up.

Pet items including dog and horse biscuits, doggie bandanas and pet bowls are also popular. In the last four years, "our pet area has grown tremendously, said Pietrak. About 25 SKUs are in the store's pet section.

The candy shop also has a reputation for stocking nostalgic candy brands such as Blackjacks, Beeman's French Chews and Bonamo. Also, a bulk candy area lets the customers create their own bag with as little or as much as they want, added Pietrak.

With supermarkets and discount stores also selling candy, as every specialty retailer knows, it's hard to compete on price. To remain competitive, Skip's has a few tactics up its sleeve.

Where it makes sense, Pietrak said the store buys items in bulk and prices those items competitively. "We hook people with low-price items first," said Pietrak. "When I'm shopping, I'm always looking for good deals."

But the items made on site that bring in the regular customers. An assortment of fudge is hand-made on the premises and other signature items include Irish Potatoes that ranks as one of the store's best sellers.

Skip's promotes its store through the village's Web site.
 

Bucks County Courier Times / Intelligencer
Author: Crissa Shoemaker
August 30, 2005
Page 1B

Life Can Be Sweet

Skip Pietrak doesn't look a thing like Willy Wonka, and you'll find no Oompa Loompas working for him.

But he does have a thing or two in common with the fictitious candymaker - he loves chocolate and making customers happy.

At Skip's Candy Corner in Lahaska, those with a sweet tooth can find chocolate-covered pretzels and homemade fudge. There's sugar-free candy that doesn't taste sugar free, freshly made Irish potatoes (the store's specialty) and dozens of kinds of chocolates.

Pietrak, a former Philadelphia firefighter who also owned his own home improvement company, said he is a stickler for quality candy and customer service. He fell in love with the candy business shortly after he retired from the fire department as a lieutenant.

"I never had a passion for chocolate [before then]," the Northampton resident said.

Pietrak makes the chocolate-covered pretzels, fudge, chocolate molds, Irish potatoes and some other candies - none of which anyone else can make to his standards, he said. But he's gotten so busy that someone else makes the rest of the homemade sweets, using Skip's recipes.

His wife, Janet, left her job at a pharmaceutical company last year to help her husband run the store. She brings her scientific accuracy to labeling, inventory and taste testing. Their daughter, Kim Pietrak-Decher, quit her job as a software tester last summer. She's in charge of the computerized inventory and registers.

"It's ironic that the three of us, from the same family, bring something to this business that's so important," Janet Pietrak said. "We work well together."

Skip Pietrak is content to leave the technical stuff to his wife and daughter. He would much rather make the candy and search for special customer requests.

Skip's Candy Corner specializes in hard-to-find candy like French Chews (the predecessor to another favorite, Bonomo's Turkish Taffy), Mallow Cups and Black Jack gum. He even had a stash of the original Goldberg's Peanut Chews, which he sold to a candy collector.

"You've gotta have a niche," Pietrak said. "My niche is nostalgic."

The shop is celebrating its 12th anniversary next week with help from some of its Peddler's Village neighbors. Shoppers who find special Willy Wonka-like golden tickets in Peddler's Village shops Sept. 5 through Sept. 9 will get money off candy bought at Skip's. One lucky ticket comes with a prize donated by Jelly Belly, the jelly bean maker.

Eventually, the Pietraks might retire, leaving the business to future generations of the family. That's fine with Pietrak-Decher, who enjoys using her computer skills, working with customers and being able to spend a lot more time at home.

"It's not a chore," Kim said. "It's a constant vacation. It's fun."

Crissa Shoemaker can be reached at 215-949-4192 or cshoemaker@phillyBurbs.com.