The sweet taste of success

By GRAHAM REID

Sitting amid boxes of their product the Lolly Ladies smile and laugh and remind you "this is supposed to be fun."

They are certainly having a good time "and making money as well.

Jo Blackman and Maureen Robertson "the self-styled Lolly Ladies" are among dozens of people licensed to make officially approved America's Cup and Team New Zealand merchandise.

And their product which takes up floor space in this stark office in central Auckland?

Jelly lollies in the shape of yachts with their sails billowing, and of the America's Cup. Fifty tons of them in fact. Their first shipment of seven and a half tons was snapped up immediately and the Lolly Ladies think this might just the start of something big.

For Blackman and Robertson, longtime Team New Zealand supporters and with connections within the yachting fraternity, their road to being ear deep in jelly lollies started in October 98.

Blackman had a license for official champagne glasses during the 95 campaign and this time out was looking for something a little off-beat.

"We wanted something that was fun, a bit silly, and that everyone could have. It had to be affordable and something that wasn't elitist, but would also help support the team."

And she wanted a business partner "because it's more fun with somebody else."

After meeting Robertson who had returned from 18 months sailing around the world, the two kicked ideas around and stumbled on the lolly idea.

"My husband is a lolly kook and so is Jo's son," says Robertson, who has had considerable previous retail experience in giftware and fashion jewellery. So they sort of suggested it and we thought, "why not confectionery?"

They had been approaching Megan Pye, licensing executive sports at TVNZ Enterprises, with a number of ideas, but this one hit the target.

And then came the hard work.

They approached a number of manufacturers, most of whom told them they would need to order in bulk to make it economical setting up machines to specifically manufacture their product.

They also had to have artwork and packaging designed and approved, establish a distribution network, pay upfront for the license, have moulds made, find a broker to take their wares to supermarkets and stores.

With Pascall Confectionery manufacturing the lollies, tins brought in from China (the only part of the process which is offshore) and a team packing them, it has become a small industry for the two women who are thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Business is often such a serious affair, they say, that when they turn up as the Lolly Ladies people appreciate the simplicity and humour of the project.

But by holding licenses for both Team New Zealand and America's Cup product, they have a serious project on their hands. And it involves big money.

With the bags of lollies retailing at either $5.95 or $6.95 you need only run a calculator over the figures to see how much 50 tons of 150kg bags translates into.

Already people are asking them if they are doing lollies for other projects.

As Blackman asks, "maybe this is just the beginning for the Lolly Ladies?"