Eye Candy
Life is sweet for two visionaries who mix sugary treats with style.
Vital Stats:
Dylan Lauren, late twenties; Jeff Rubin, 39; co-founders of
Dylan's Candy Bar
Company: New
York City-based retailer of candies and candy-related items
2004 Projected
Sales: More than $10 million
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Sweet Meet: No
stranger to the sweet allure of candy, Rubin worked in his
family's bulk-candy business before creating candy department
FAO Schweetz, inside FAO Schwarz toy emporiums, and Times Square
delights Toys "R" Us' Candyland and Hershey's
Times Square. Lauren partnered with Rubin when she decided to take
her fascination with innovative, artistic uses for candy from her
first event-planning business to the next level.
Confection
Connections: Rubin's business relationships aided in the
creation of 16 Skittles colors for Dylan's Candy Bar, as well
as 12 colors of foiled Hershey's Kisses, and the world's
largest lollipop by Adam & Brooks. With a showcase of
celebrities' favorites and every store fixture resembling
candy, it's not your average sweet shop—it boasts more
than 4,000 varieties of candies, including international, low-carb
and sugar-free offerings.
"We've
marketed ourselves as a department store for candy."
By Design:
Ralph Lauren may be her father, but Dylan has made a name for
herself in candy style, using color schemes from seasonal fashions
in displays and packaging. Private-label developments include a
candy jewelry line and a luxury spa line with candy-scented
notions.
Sugar High:
Children and adults celebrate birthdays in the private party room
of Dylan's Candy Bar with myriad activities based on creating
or decorating things with candies and playing games like licorice
limbo. As the partners look into adding locations in Chicago,
Japan, London and Los Angeles—to their existing Houston; Long
Island, New York; New York City; and Orlando, Florida,
spots—remote consumers can satisfy their sweet tooth by
ordering through the Dylan's Candy Bar Web site, www.dylanscandybar.com.