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How Many Licks?

by Adam
(Portland)

In high school, I had the opportunity to go to Europe with my social studies class, provided I could come up with the money. Since I was in the position of being a high school student with no job, and with parents who couldn't spare the thousands of dollars it would take, I had to get creative.

Most of the money ended up coming from odd jobs I did for neighbors and family friends, as well as donations from grandparents and parents, but a good chunk of that came from my own enterprise as a candy salesman. I bought the candy cheaply from Cash & Carry and then sold it at school.

There were two aspects of my "business." The first, and less successful, was operated out of my locker before school, during lunch, and after school. I had boxes of candy bars that I sold for a dollar. I had also decorated my locker with colored paper, and a quartet of helium filled balloons that could be stuffed into the locker when I was not open for business. The second was a brightly decorated shoe box full of lollipops which went for a quarter. Opening the box revealed a sign begging the customer to "deport me" and I sold these out of my locker, but I also carried the box with me to class which is where much of my business was done. During breaks and at lunch, I would make up goofy slogans, and songs, and basically act obnoxious to attract attention to the fact that I had candy for sale.

I found that Snickers bars were the best seller among the chocolate, followed by Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. As far as the lollipops went, it was hands down those Caramel Apple pops you always see around Halloween.

Over the course of the year, I made a few hundred dollars, plenty of spending money for Italy and Spain.