My dad was a lawyer, but he didn’t like the corporate environment. He wanted to do something handmade and own a business. He saw someone making lollies and thought I could do that.
Innovator: Media and Marketing student Annabelle King used her social skills to save her family's lolly shop from disaster during the pandemic and has now put the business on the international map. Image: Samantha Christensen
Then he opened our Sticky store in The Rocks. Dad handles making the rock candy, mum handles the finances. It’s rewarding working alongside my parents but it’s hard as well. If work needs doing, you’re the one who gets called in on a Sunday.
We lost all of our business because of COVID lockdowns. There were no orders for custom candy from weddings or corporate events, no retail foot traffic, no tourists. At the start of the pandemic, we were worried we would lose everything we have. We were wondering how to keep the shop open, and my manager had the idea to start livestreaming, so I started putting videos online to generate some interest. I didn’t think it would do very well but there was an instant response because people enjoyed watching the process. It’s very theatrical which is why our videos are successful. We took what we were already doing and put it on camera.
We had a website that worked for small orders but suddenly we were getting hundreds of orders per week. We were lucky we were able to adapt. Now, our foot traffic is triple what it was before.
I can take things I learn in class and apply them the next day. Working in the industry while completing a degree is really valuable.
The best thing in the world is when super excited little kids come running up to us in the store to ask a million questions. I love what I do because I am able to engage with people. Some people will stay for three hours and watch us make multiple lollies. You get chatting to people who come from everywhere. As much as we want people to buy lollies, we also want people to enjoy what we do. Making candy can bring people so much joy.
I’m studying Media and Marketing at Macquarie which is supported by what I do at work. I was originally doing Medical Science and I didn’t like it, so I moved. Working at Sticky is a good first job. I can take things I learn in class and apply them the next day. Working in the industry while completing a degree is really valuable. The University is really fostering a way for me to make all of these things work in my life.
It is quite important for us to connect our business to Australia, so we try to work with the Aboriginal community because we respect that it’s Gadigal land we’re on. We get a lot of overseas orders so introducing native flavours really shows what Australia has to offer. Lillypilly is one of my favourite flavours and you only find it here. We did Vegemite filled butterscotch lollies the other day. They were really weird. Surprisingly, I liked them!
