Successfully Run a Cotton Candy Stand

Warmer months are approaching and with that will come a long line-up of festivals and fairs. One way you can make money this spring and summer is to operate a cotton candy stand selling the sweet, light sugary treat to kids young and old. You can either own the cotton candy stand or work in someone else's stand.

So how to you operate a successful cotton candy stand? Having spent time running one as a college student during a few Michigan State Fairs, I'll share with you how to make your cotton candy stand a success.

Be ready by preparing cotton candy bags early. After you have all of your materials in place, you'll want to start the day early preparing a few bags before the crowds arrive. If you're using more than one cotton candy color and flavor per bag and two or three machines, run the cotton candy machines all at the same time, but stagger placing the sugar in the top of the machine.

Take a stick and grab the cotton candy as is swirls and sticks to the walls of the machine. Twirl the cotton candy into the bag and move on to the next color and repeat. The more you practice, the faster you'll get. Make a variety of mixtures of colors/flavors as well as bags full of one color to honor special requests.

Make things visually appealing. As you work hang up the bags you've made in a way that they are visible to the customers enticing them to come over and make a purchase.

Stay stocked up. If you are going to offer other items in your cotton candy stand it is best to have another person working with you do that they can take the orders, the money and perhaps prepare beverages or other items the customer wants. That will leave you freed up to make cotton candy throughout the day.

Honor customer request. Sometimes a customer will ask for the bag that they see you preparing to ensure its freshness. The other bags may only be a few minutes old, but the customer doesn't know that and wants the one they're seeing made. If the machines aren't running and they request that you make a bag especially for them, advise them of the wait time, which would depend on how busy things are.

Your cotton candy making skills may become entertainment. The process of making cotton candy may be interesting for those that have never seen it done. If your cotton candy booth allows for people to look in, a child or curious adult may take a peak as you make the cotton candy. Don't be alarmed and don't drop the stick into the machine!

Give your service with a smile. Always be pleasant to the customers. Appear as though you're in a good mood even if you're hot and sticky with cotton candy sugar all over your face. Eating cotton candy is a delightful experience so enjoy bring that fun to the customers and hang them their bag with a smile.