Butterfly Kisses Sweet Shoppe, located at 12 Amity Street in the Village of Spencerport (across from the Post Office), may be one of the sweetest spots along the Erie Canal. The family run candy store features a wide selection – from the glass case full of 60 varieties of high quality chocolate, to retro-nostalgic favorites to candy from around the world and bulk candy. Husband and wife team Michael and Bethany Caputo opened the shop in September 2013. The two also moved their family to the village and they say they love living and running a business in Spencerport.
Q: What have you learned during your first year in business?
“It’s been a huge learning curve,” Bethany says. She and Michael have frequently made adjustments to their hours of business, in particular, they say. When they first opened, Michael says they thought hours that extended into the early evening would work well – giving restaurant patrons a chance to stop-in before heading home – but the evening traffic never materialized, so hours were shortened.
“We decided to follow other merchants’ hours,” the couple says.
They have also worked to try to find the “right mix” of candy for the shop and are always working to fine-tune offerings.
“We’re trying to find a niche,” Bethany says.
The two say advice of other business owners has been invaluable including the fact that the tastes of many local residents tend to be, “meat and potatoes,” nothing too fancy, just simple, familiar flavors.
Q: So what has worked?
“This business is seasonal,” the couple says. “If the weather is nice or its the holidays, we get foot traffic.”
Christmas was busy as was Valentine’s and Easter. Bethany and Mike say gift baskets have been popular and they are offering a greater selection for customers.
“We are always asking ourselves, ‘Would it appeal to us?’ ” Bethany says about new offerings. She adds that she can easily go beyond her own tastes, however, and see that various products would appeal to others. “It’s the trial and error method,” she says with a smile.
Butterfly Kisses also offers high quality candy and chocolate at very competitive prices. People are always surprised by the reasonable prices, Michael notes.
Q: What’s your greatest frustration?
Although Bethany and Michael love Spencerport and are committed to staying in the heart of the community – their location just off the main drag – Route 259/Union Street – makes it difficult for folks to find them.
“Every week folks come in who say they didn’t realize we are here,” Bethany says, noting it has taken time even for village residents to find them.
They have free-standing signs placed at the corner of Union and Amity as well as in the front of the store and also hang a flag, but in the Spencerport business district, stores and restaurants are almost exclusively along Union Street.
The couple also say they wish there were more venues for promoting the village and all it has to offer diners and shoppers.
“This could be a destination,” they say and emphasize the importance of shopping locally.
Q: Why have you stuck with it through the challenges of the first year?
“The best part of the store,” Bethany says, “is that we have been blessed with meeting some truly wonderful people. If it were not for the store, our paths would never have crossed, you can’t put a price on that. We have made wonderful friendships which make us love Spencerport more.”
Bethany says she has also fallen in love with being a shopkeeper. Sometimes regulars will stop in just to say “hi” after a stop at the Post Office.
Q: What are your plans for the business
for the future?
“We don’t really know what to expect the second year,” Bethany says. “We hope the business continues to increase.”
Bethany and Michael say they are in Spencerport to stay and note it can take three years for a new business to really get on its feet.
“We would love to have a bigger place,” they say, “we have lots of ideas. We want to be a positive for the community.”
They welcome ideas from customers and see much unlocked potential in the village.
“Spencerport is a hidden gem,” Bethany says. “It has so much to offer – it’s a truly great village.”
The village is very walkable, they add, and has charming, quaint shops and restaurants.
“We wish there was a way to promote Spencerport more,” they say.
Printed October 12, 2014
