Dylan Lauren, daughter of legendary fashion designer Ralph Lauren, must have been paying careful attention to her dad’s clothing empire when she was growing up. The younger Lauren now runs a booming candy company, Dylan’s Candy Bar, which has 13 locations, including a colorful shop on Michigan Avenue that is guaranteed to bring smiles to kids and grownups alike.
“I wanted to create an over-the-top Disney-type store and be the world’s largest candy store,” Lauren explains. “I used ideas from ‘Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory’ and Disneyland, like candy cane columns, ice cream wafer walls and candy wallpaper.”
Lauren’s fantastical vision is artfully executed in her Chicago candy emporium. A rainbow of candy bins lines the walls, the sweet smell of sugar hangs in the air, and a bright glass “lollipop” tree draws the eye upward to a grand staircase, which leads to even more dizzying displays of chocolate bars, gumballs, jelly beans, gummies and nostalgia candy. There’s even a lounge with confectionary-inspired cocktails.
Lauren was initially motivated to open her sweets shops because she loves traveling and discovering unique candies around the world. And from a business perspective, she saw a void in the marketplace.
“I knew from being a consumer that I couldn’t find some of my favorite products, and all of the candy stores I had seen weren’t that exciting,” she says.
Lauren describes Dylan’s Candy Bar as “retail-tainment” — a place where people can have fun while they shop for sugary treats. In addition to sweets of every variety, the shops are stocked with candy-themed apparel, toys and gifts.
Running a growing company with locations across the country is a bit more complicated now that Lauren is mother to 9-month-old twins. Like most new moms, she is figuring out how to juggle work and family. Lauren says it’s helpful to take a break from technology when she’s with her children.
“Everyone is so used to immediate responses, but we really have to change that way of thinking,” she says. “At end of day, I am done.”
Giving back is important to Lauren. She recently started a foundation, Dylan’s Candy Barn, which supports animal welfare organizations. Sales of pet products in her candy shops benefit the foundation, and she says she hopes to start doing pet adoption events in all of the stores.
Lauren is particularly grateful to her famous father for two valuable pieces of advice he imparted to his entrepreneur daughter: “Be nice to people, and do what you love because that is what you’re going to be passionate about.”
Indeed, Lauren followed her sweet tooth (she loves marshmallows, red licorice and gummy cherries) into the candy business. As for staying fit while constantly surrounded by tempting treats, the slender Lauren credits her five-day-a-week workout routine. She boxes with a trainer, does spin classes and goes for outdoor runs when she’s traveling for business.
So, what does the daughter of a fashion icon have in her closet? Lauren describes her style as sporty, casual and colorful. Not surprisingly, she wears a lot of Ralph Lauren clothing.
“During the day, I am usually dressed much more comfortable,” she says. “If I go to an event, I like putting on a colorful gown.”
More from Make It Better:
