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When the pandemic hit, like most kids, Bradford student Giuliano Garito was frustrated with having to be cooped up at home, away from friends, school, and sports.
"It was awful," he said. "I was very bored because I played a lot of sports and I am very athletic so it was boring for me to just have school and nothing else to do."
Garito who is in Grade 8 at St. Marie of the Incarnation school says to help pass the time in lockdown he started watching videos on the app, Tik Tok. While scrolling through, he discovered a new trend, called the 'Mystery Box Challenge', where people stuff cardboard boxes with random, unique candies and sell them online.
"There are a bunch of different candies on Tik Tok that people go crazy for and spend loads of money (on)," he explained.
Some examples of the special Tik Tok candies include "Nerds Rope" and "Slime Slickers", which are some of his best sellers.
He said throughout the pandemic, these "Tik Tok candies" were hard to source, as they were expensive and selling out due to their popularity.
In May 2021, he and his dad started ordering different types of candy from sellers online to create one-of-a-kind customized treat boxes, then created their own Instagram account and started selling his unique treat boxes to local customers.
Garito says what makes his business so unique is the different types of candy he sources for his mystery boxes and loot bags.
He packages and sells a variety of chocolates and "Tik Tok Candies" from various third-party suppliers online.
Not only does he sell the Mystery Boxes, but chocolate boxes, candy bouquets and trays, loot bag packages, and fidget toys, that can be customized for any occasion.
"It's good, I really like it, it's fun to do," he said about his newfound business. "It's something that I really enjoy."
Most of his clients come from Bradford. He currently only sells online via Instagram and a few times has set up shop outside his house, selling to the neighbourhood kids.
Now that he is back to school, he is doing his best to balance his studies and business.
Moving forward, he hopes to eventually be able to offer to ship for his products and save up all his money for a car.
"A Subaru WRX I really like," he said.
Garito hopes that his candy business will help build his resume for a career one day in the sales industry.
"That's what I want to do when I grow up," he said.
His dedication and outgoing personality are what helps him keep the business going. He says he gets his ambition from both his mom and dad.
Throughout the month of October, Garito will be putting aside a portion of his candy sales towards the Canadian Cancer Society, after losing both his grandmothers to breast cancer.
To learn more, visit his Instagram page @treatz_bygigi
