Entrepreneur Spotlight: Karen Larson

Karen Larson is the owner of The Candy Bar in downtown Durham, N.H. She hasn't had the business too long, but already she has a strong customer base. The store is filled with old and new music tracks, like songs from the Earth, Wind, and Fire CD as well as Backstreet Boys. Bright colors decorate the walls. The small space holds high-end chocolates, organic items, gluten free options, and cheaper candies for children, as well as old-time favorites. In the middle of our interview, Karen was dipping bacon into chocolate and making candy-apples. Customers kept coming in, and she gave each one her undivided attention.

The Candy Bar's logo.

C.H.: What has been the most difficult part of becoming an entrepreneur?

K.L.: I think specifically identifying what the business mission is. If you don’t know exactly what it is you’re trying to do, it is very easy to forget what you’re doing once you get started. There are budget constraints…You get lots of good ideas from other people, but you have to stick with your one true mission.

C.H.: What’s your worst nightmare?

K.L.: Having no customers (laughs). If you don’t have customers, you won’t be in business. I have loyal customers even already. I have a Drinking Chocolate loyalty card in the winter. I just ordered Jelly-Belly loyalty cards.

C.H.: Have you come close to failure?

K.L.: Well, I had a greeting card company in Vermont. But have I come close to failure here? No. So the other business, we dissolved it because we weren’t making any money. We were just breaking even, and we were ahead of our time. You know those greeting cards that are all white except with a little picture on the front? Well, that’s what we sold. But we had customers come in and tell us, ‘Oh, they’re too small or expensive.’ Now you see those greeting cards everywhere, but we were just artsy and ahead of our time. My business partner was my husband. He was out doing computer software sales and that’s what I did.

C.H.: Do you consider yourself successful?

K.L.: Yes, because what I want it to be is what it is. It’s filled with fun things for people of all ages. 

Karen Larson attending to customers. Courtesy photo. 

C.H.: When did you decide you wanted to do this?

K.L.: Five years ago. I wanted to do something other than teach piano. My kids would go to school and so my day really started when they got home from school. At dinner one night, I said I wouldn’t be able to do this forever, so I asked them what they thought I should do. And they were so cute, ‘How about a candy store, Mommy?’ And I thought, yeah, I could do a candy store. Of course, it took me a while to make sure I wanted to do it and had the space. All my life—and I don’t eat a lot of chocolate—but I love it, so it’s kind of like I was in preparation my whole life for this.

C.H.: What have been your personal risks in starting this business?

K.L.: Cash flow, and I say that because Durham has such highs and lows. I knew that coming into it of course. And also I’d say getting the word out. I have a great customer base, but there’s still so many untapped areas.

C.H.: Have the benefits outweighed the risks?

K.L.: Yeah. I love being here and meeting people. Especially around the holidays, I feel like I’m providing something to people, something great that you can’t get anywhere else in Durham.

C.H.: What are your dreams from here?

K.L.: I want to grow my customer base here. I’m constantly evolving what I’m doing here, too, with what I offer for products. Eventually I hope to open a second store, but not in Durham. It would have to be somewhere else.

C.H.: Do you think it could ever be a chain?

K.L.: Yeah, I think it could be a chain one day.

C.H.: Is where you are now anything like where you thought you’d be before you started?

K.L.: It’s exactly what I thought it would be. I wanted super high-end and stuff that kids would love. I have the 25-cent kids lipstick candy, and then I have a $9 mini chocolate bar – which is the most expensive thing in the store for its size.

The most expensive chocolate bar in the entire store for it's size. The bar costs $9. Courtesy photo.

C.H.: In the past year, what have been your fondest memories?

K.L.: I actually really enjoy…I love seeing grown-up kids. College kids. I love seeing them experience childhood again. They talk to me and say, ‘Oh, I remember this!’ Also, on Valentine’s Day, when people come in buying things for their significant person—it’s really special to be part of.

Courtesy photo. 

C.H.: What have been some of your hardest moments or least favorite memories?

K.L.: One day there was some dog poop outside on the sidewalk. So I finally realized that someone would step it in and then bring it into the store. Can’t have that. So I got my hose, because I have one in here, and I accidentally sprayed the store. The inside of the store. It was a great big dog poop, and a lot of the store got wet inside.