I’d echo what’s already been said about using existing platforms – but before you decide
where to sell, make sure you really understand
what’s different about your retro sweets store & products. You are in a fairly crowded market, do you have a clear niche? Before spending time and money on marketing (which is critical) some thoughts:-
Get really clear on your positioning first : Instead of just “retro sweets”, do you have a sharper segment. clear hook or differentiation, for example:
- Gifts: birthday letterbox boxes, corporate thank-you gifts, wedding favours
- Specific eras: 80s / 90s boxes, “school tuck shop” box, region-specific sweets
- Dietary: vegan / gluten free / halal retro sweets
- Occasions: pay-day treats, kids’ party bags, subscription treat boxes
Once you’re clear on that, define your
ideal customer (age, budget, why they buy retro rather than just “sweets”). That will drive everything else – keywords, ad targeting, which social platforms to bother with, even product bundles.
Go where the traffic already is (and treat fees as marketing, but collect data)
Completely agree with the suggestions about marketplaces and real-world selling:
- Marketplaces (eBay / Amazon / Etsy / Facebook Shop):
Use these as “paid shop windows” – your margin might be thinner, but you may get volume and also data quickly. Think of the fees as a marketing cost? Use consistent branding but put a simple flyer/QR/special offer in every order to pull people back to your own site for repeat orders later on.
- Markets, fairs and events: Retro sweets are very “impulse purchase” and “nostalgia” driven, so stalls at local markets, school fairs, Christmas events, car shows, gaming/comic cons etc. can work really well. Again, use these to build an email list and social following, not just one-off sales.
- Partnerships: Look at existing businesses whose customers fit your target: gift shops, card shops, barbers, cafés, independent cinemas, party planners, corporate gift companies. For example you become their “retro sweets partner” – they don’t have to carry lots of stock or do the picking/packing, you do.
Be realistic about channels: SEO, social and ads
SEO: Long-term play, competitive and can be expensive. Worth doing the basics (good, unique product descriptions; fast site; proper titles/meta; Google Business Profile) but I wouldn’t rely on SEO alone for early growth.
Over time you could target specific content like “Best retro sweets for a 40th birthday”, “Nostalgic party bag ideas”, etc.
Social media: You can absolutely DIY if you’re disciplined. The key is to:
- Pick one main platform where your ideal buyer actually hangs out (for retro gifts that’s often Instagram/TikTok/Facebook).
- Post consistently: product shots, unboxing videos, “remember these?” nostalgia posts, behind-the-scenes packing orders, customer photos (with permission).
- Test small paid campaigns to very tight audiences rather than boosting random posts, and keep a close eye on what actually converts.
- Paid ads generally: Start small, one platform at a time (e.g. a couple of your best-selling bundles). Make sure you’ve got tracking set up so you know what’s working and you can tweak before you scale anything.
Build at least one “owned” channel : Whatever you do, start collecting
email addresses from day one (site, events, marketplaces via inserts). Retro sweets lend themselves well to repeat gifting and seasonal campaigns – you can push:
- Pay-day “treat yourself” offers
- Seasonal boxes (Valentine’s, Easter, exam results, Christmas, etc.)
- Limited-run nostalgia boxes (“Only 100 of these 90s TV advert specials”)
That’s where you start to get real lifetime value rather than just chasing new customers every time.
Out of curiosity, who do you see as your ideal customer right now (gift buyers, parents, corporate, etc.), and which single channel are you thinking of focusing on first to test some of this?
