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Comment by Ruth Atkinson Kendrick on July 15, 2009 at 8:17pm

Hi. My name is Ruth from Ogden, Utah. I am an old time candymaker (emphasis on old). My mother and I wrote HPBooks Candymaking many years ago. Last year I wanted to 'up my game' and took the advanced course at Callebaut in Montreal. I have changed from making fondant based creams, hand dipped, to molded bon bons and using colored cocoa butters. I am enjoying the new challenges this presents. Every day I tell myself that if I just got my hand in there, I could get the chocolates dipped faster than with a fork, but I will learn! I also make caramels and toffee. My web site is www.sweetchocolot.com, but it is in the process of being redone. I am home-based and this works well as I have very little overhead. Utah has a law that allows this. We are inspected and insured just like the big boys but don't have to have a commercial kitchen. Not having retail space is good and bad. I would like to have my products displayed, but right now, I sell direct, or wholesale to some high-end stores. I do rent a commercial kitchen for my toffee, as I make it in larger quantities and don't want the mess at home. I co-op with some gals that make granola. Our busy seasons are opposite, so it works well. I have had a Hilliard 80# melter for 30 years, and bought 3 Savage 50# semi-automatic tempering kettles,used, last year. I do not want to move the chocolate to the commercial kitchen, as I have everything the way I want it at home. I mostly use E Guittard single-origin chocolates or Amano. It is nice to have Amano less than an hour away. I hope to learn a lot from all of you as I started this just 11 months ago.

Comment by Dove Chocolatier on June 8, 2009 at 11:05am

Hi Ever One I am Sharon and I have been A Dove Chocolate Discoveries Chocolatier for over a year, I love It,I call it "My Sweet Life".
And I Love The Chocolate Life and all the Info I have gotten from everv one.
http://www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/chocolatelovers

Comment by David Sawyer on June 7, 2009 at 1:03pm

Hello B, The SBA has been and continues to be a wealth of great resource.I was in retail for a highend hifi firm,started at the bottom and went straight up for eight years.I have good grasp of that.Getting a loan that's been difficult, no one wants to lend to a startup.Your local office is just waiting for you to drop by or call.They keep pushing me and keep my hopes up.The best of luck, you're futher along then me. regards David

Comment by MeLissa Rocco on June 7, 2009 at 2:10am

Hello everyone! I am, perhaps, in a little different vein than many of you, but I have started up a new chocolate business with Dove Chocolate Discoveries (tm). This is direct sales opportunity where I get to share products using premium Dove chocolate (like martini mix, brownies, etc.) via chocolate tasting parties. I have been doing this for about a month and am really enjoying it. I am looking forward to seeing if there is some information in this group that I can translate to my business or, at the very least, educate my customers with. If you'd like to check out my website, I welcome you www.dovechocolatediscoveries.com/Colorado

Cheers!

Comment by B on June 4, 2009 at 5:52pm

Hi, my name is Barbara, and my company is Organic Kids Candy. I make handmade organic milk chocolates called SmileyO's (www.SmileyO.com), which I have been selling for the last year at the local farmers market. I've been renting space and now am ready to take the next step to do this "for real". I am looking for guidance for efficient production/co-manufacturing, and of course, how to run a profitable business!

Comment by David Sawyer on June 4, 2009 at 12:03am

Hey,David is my name and very few clues about chocolate. Doing the SBA course,worked in retail in another life. Need to do it again,this time for myself. Found this site hope it pans out. So far good energy and heathy debate.

Comment by Keerran on June 1, 2009 at 11:02am

Hi there, I have started a very small chocolate business from home . I work with sisters & husband as the financial person!
We do wedding door gifts, chocolate fondue & confections as well. Come & visit my blog at http://sistachocolats.blogspot.com

Comment by Eve on May 28, 2009 at 12:03am

I'm part of Sweet Earth Chocolates along with my husband Tom and his sister Joanne. We're based in San Luis Obispo, CA, and make a wide variety of products using fair trade, organic chocolate. We're four years old and just outgrowing our current space. In July, we'll be opening our own retail shop for the first time.

Comment by Jeff Stern on May 20, 2009 at 10:18am

Hello, I am the owner of Aequare Chocolates based in Quito, Ecuador. We are a small artisan company dedicated to exporting fine chocolate and chocolate confections direct from Ecuador to the US. We use local ingredients whenever possible in all our products and have close relationships with cocoa farmers, cocoa processors and other local businesses in Ecuador. Our aim is to add value to the product here in country. Our website is www.aequarechocolates.com. You can also read about living and doing business in Ecuador at destination-ecuador.net. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any additional information.

Comment by Karen Neugebauer on May 19, 2009 at 11:42pm

Cheers! I am the Owner/Chocolatier for Forte Chocolates, a small artisan company near Seattle WA. Right now, I do everything but demand has grown in the past 2 years to the point of needing to build vs rent a kitchen and hire 1 or 2 employees. My kitchen is 16' x 16' and is a new construction that is unfinished on the inside. A nice clean slate! What I need mostly is info on how best to set it up, what machines to get ideally, and learning what pitfalls to avoid. Please visit my website at www.fortechocolates.com and feel free to tell me what you think of my work and offerings. So far, business is great and I have learned much in the past 2 years of operation. Right now Forte Chocolates can be found in 16 boutiques but my goal is to grow both the brand recognition and work my way into more luxury markets.My most popular item is my Sea-Salt Caramel. I am here to learn, so please tell it like it is. Thanks and I look forward to getting to know you!

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