Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory, a retail candy and specialty toy franchiser, has entered into a master franchise agreement with Scheels All Sports, Inc., who have positioned themselves as the world’s largest retailer of sports, fashion and footwear.

The agreement states that Fuzziwig’s will open three stores during the next year and a half, with the first franchise opening in the Springfield Scheels store on Monday, Oct. 16. Other planned Fuzziwig’s franchises include Lincoln, Nebraska, in spring 2018, and Eden Prairie, Minnesota, in early 2019.

The partnership is a natural one for the two companies, who share similar experience-based merchandising concepts. Scheels was founded in 1902 as a small hardware and general store located in Sabin, Minnesota. Sporting goods were added to the inventory of Scheels retailers in 1954, and the first Scheels superstore opened in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in 1989.

Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory was created by a small group of veterans of the retail candy industry in 1995, and expanded to include 20 locations by 2001. Says Don Grueser, chairman and CEO of Fuzziwig’s Candy Factory, “It is an honor to partner with a company with similar ethics and merchandising concepts and I am very excited for our future together.”

The two companies believe the partnership with translate to a new layer of excitement for customers of both stores. According to Jason Mack, vice president and store leader for Scheels, “Fuzziwig’s will elevate our current amazing and fun customer experience to a whole new level. Our customers are in for a real treat.”

A grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Fuzziwig’s on Friday, Oct. 27, at 4:45 p.m. The family-friendly event will feature free face painting, balloon art, prizes and grand opening promotions.