Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Of course! Starting a chocolate company, let alone any type of company was something I never thought I could do on my own…plus, was never really part of the “plan”. Before the pandemic, my life was constantly on the go. I was a dental hygienist working 5-6 days a week, trying to find a healthy balance between work, wellness, & a social life, all without over exhausting myself. Once COVID hit, dental offices were closed, leaving me stuck at home with a lot more free time on my hands. I immediately approached this time as an opportunity to create something for myself, and nothing in the world sounded more appealing than starting a chocolate company…something I was already very passionate about!
I had been making vegan chocolate from home quite often, and during the start of the lockdown I thought it would be a nice gesture to send chocolate to my friends and family as a way to keep busy and put a smile on their faces. After some thought, I took a step back and decided the whole “fun” of the vegan chocolate is making it yourself. And that’s when I came up with Chocbox; a guilt-free, all-natural/vegan dark chocolate recipe kit that allows you to make a deeelicious melt in your mouth full on chocolate bar right from home. I immediately began working on the website and Instagram (@chocboxla) just to get a better feel of the idea. At the same time, I created prototypes and sent them to my friends to make, taste, and offer their personal feedback. Coming from a background in dental hygiene, I had no idea whatsoever on how to run a business, create a “shippable” product, or manage an e-commerce store. I would google and youtube almost everything and anything; from finding cacao distributors, to ‘how to properly seal a liquid in a plastic jar’ (which was actually a huge struggle- something you would never even think about!).
As soon as everything came together, I was ready to launch Chocbox in June. At that point, it was so amazing to see people all over the country order boxes primarily through social media exposure and word of mouth- and plus…who doesn’t love chocolate!? Once the dental offices began to reopen, I decided to reduce my office days to 2 days a week and focus the rest of my days on Chocbox. I had already put in so much hard work and didn’t want it to go to waste. A dental hygienist with a chocolate company definitely wasn’t part of the plan (and is extremely ironic) but I did always have an ‘itch’ for something more fulfilling. I truly believe that when you put aside your excuses and devote 100% of your time and energy into something you truly believe in, anything is possible. Since June, I have sold over 600 boxes and have been slowly expanding and partnering with different companies. I’m finding so many different ways Chocbox could be utilized… I’ve even participated in a gelato competition at Gelato Festival in West Hollywood, where I turned my chocolate into a gelato flavor! Something I would have NEVER imagined but obviously couldn’t turn down! This year has been very difficult for everybody including myself, but regardless, I decided to take this time as an opportunity to grow and create a passion turned business for myself!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve been taking everything one day at a time and will usually deal with issues as soon as I am faced with them. One of the largest struggles I’ve been dealing with is the transition from having the stability of a full-time dental hygienist to the uncertainty being a founder of a brand new startup. During this time, I’ve learned that having a successful business requires time, energy, and effort all day, everyday. You’re always “on”. Dental hygiene was simple, you show up to work, you’re in and out, and you have a consistent monthly income. Other than my love for health, another reason why I chose to go into the Dental field was because of the safety, stability and flexibility it promises. That’s what I was searching for in a career at the time, but as years passed, I couldn’t stop thinking of other ways to bring something more creative and fulfilling into my life. Becoming a founder of a company definitely requires a lot more time, risks, and responsibility…but it also comes with so much more freedom.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Chocbox?
My intention for Chocbox was to create a brand that offers a unique product and experience unlike any other. Our tag line ‘Not Your Average Box of Chocolate’ goes to show that we provide so much more than just a DIY chocolate box. Whether it be a fun activity with family or friends, a date night activity, a thoughtful gift, or simply to feed a chocolate craving, it’s a guaranteed experience. The concept of making chocolate from scratch is fairly new and unfamiliar to many people, and it’s incomparable taste? Well, that you’ll need to discover for yourself. What gives the chocolate it’s unique taste is primarily the simple, high quality, “straight from the source” no BS ingredients, as well as its delicious sweetener. The kit includes a unique sweetener blend of 3 all-natural ingredients that enhance the natural flavors of the Ecuadorian cacao rather than overpowering them. The concept of the kit itself is also very engaging, where you save your reusable chocolate bar mold from your ‘Starter Kit’ box, and can reorder a ‘Saver Kit’ the next time you want to make more chocolate. This way you can reuse your chocolate bar mold and try more flavors! We also offer a ‘6 flavors for six months’ subscription plan which is wonderful if you want to try all the flavors in a timely manner. Besides chocolate, another personal passion of mine is mental health and wellness, and being able to incorporate that into the company’s core values was essential. I definitely would not have started this company during the pandemic if I was not open to growth and personal development, for I am constantly learning and improving myself in order to reach my true potential. I hope Chocbox customers and audience recognize this and are inspired to discover something for themselves as well.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Fortunately, I was raised in a community where everyone is extremely supportive and available as a resource in case I ever need help or guidance. I didn’t have one specific mentor, but I’ve connected with many individuals that have offered so much valuable insight, and I definitely would not have reached this level of growth in the business if it wasn’t for them. My advice to anyone looking to network is to write a list of people they already have a solid relationship with and find ways they could be valuable and potentially help. For example, I’ve had one friend teach me all about email marketing, and another friend show me the ways of properly managing a business. At times, we oversee what’s already available to us and think the right thing to do is to find a new person to do the job, but that’s not often the case. Another bit of networking advice I would say is is to ALWAYS be open, have good energy, smile, and be willing to have conversations with just about anyone. You never know what opportunities can arise just by sharing what you’re up to and asking people what they’re up to as well. People are more generous than you think and when they see that you’re creating something amazing, they want to be involved!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: chocboxla.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/chocboxla
- Facebook: facebook.com/chocboxla
