Meet Katia Carboni of Mirelli Chocolatier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katia Carboni.

Hi Katia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
From Skincare to Sweet Creation: My Journey as a Chocolatier

Growing up in a family where creativity was the core of everything, I never thought I’d end up where I am today—leading the customer relations department of our family’s thriving chocolate business. My parents started their chocolate venture over 25 years ago, and over the years, it grew from humble beginnings into a full-fledged factory where we are slowly starting to manufacture our own chocolates. But my path to becoming a chocolatier wasn’t what you might expect.
It all began with my mother, a woman whose love for crafting was matched only by her passion for chocolate. She would spend hours creating ornate baskets, decorating chocolates for every occasion, and crafting custom favors that always made people smile. I remember how my siblings and I would watch her, amazed by how much love and care went into each piece. At the time, it felt like it was just a hobby for her, a way to share her creative side. But as time passed, with my father by her side handling logistics and operations, it became the backbone of a business that all of us would come to cherish.
I have a sister and a brother, and while we each had our own interests growing up, we all gravitated toward the family business in different ways. My sister took charge of our social media platforms, sharing the heart and soul of our chocolates with the world. She’s a whiz with visuals, capturing the essence of what we do through photos and posts. My brother, always the practical one, handled the shopping-finding the most unique boxes and baskets-and managing the accounting. As for me, I ran a makeup and skincare studio for over 20 years, but even during that time, I always kept a hand in the chocolate business. I’d help pick seasonal colors for custom chocolate boxes, brainstorm designs, and keep an eye on how we were interacting with our customers.
Running my own studio was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done. It taught me lessons in business that I still carry with me today—learning from mistakes, celebrating successes, and, most importantly, knowing the value of building strong relationships. It was a challenge, but I loved proving to myself that I could start and run a business. I’d always had the entrepreneurial spirit, but chocolate wasn’t my primary focus, at least not in the beginning.
Then, about a year ago, something clicked. I knew it was time to retire from skincare and step into the chocolate business full-time. My parents were slowly transitioning toward retirement, and it felt like the right moment for me to bring all the skills I’d developed running my own business into a new chapter. With my siblings by my side, we’d take the reins and continue to grow what they had started.
The transition wasn’t without its challenges, but in many ways, running a chocolate business is similar to skincare. It’s all about the customer experience—the delicate art of making someone feel special. In our shop, we’re known for our elaborate, customized, and decorated baskets, each designed to suit any occasion, from birthdays to weddings and corporate gifts. The creativity never stops. Every season brings new designs and new ideas to play with. Our customers are a huge part of what drives us, and ensuring they leave our store with an experience they’ll remember is my top priority.
I’ve taken the lead on customer relations, which means training and managing our team to ensure that we offer exceptional service every single day. We’re a small family-owned business, and it’s important to me that everyone who walks through our doors feels like part of our extended family. We may be growing, but we’ve always kept that personal touch, and I intend to keep it that way.
It’s hard to put into words how rewarding it is to see our factory now open, our chocolate creations moving from concept to production, and our family business expanding. But the best part? We’ve built something that connects with people in a meaningful way—through the shared love of chocolate, creativity. It’s no longer just about my parents’ dream; it’s about all of us, working together to shape the future of this business.
And as I look ahead, I’m excited for what’s to come. Because, at the end of the day, no matter how big we get, we’ll always be a family-run business at heart. And there’s nothing sweeter than that.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest challenge was shutting down my business where I felt confident and comfortable, and stepping into a larger-scale setting that even though aligned with my strengths-but required more thought and intentional effort. Taking a step for the first time can be a bit challenging. You’re making the best decision you can with the information you have. If it doesn’t go as planned, you learn from the experience, make adjustments, continue refining, and keep move forward.

We’ve been impressed with Mirelli Chocolatier , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At our charming chocolate shop, we specialize in handcrafted chocolates in a wide variety of flavors, beautifully decorated gift baskets for every occasion, and unique party favors that make events extra special.
As part of the management team, I focus on building and maintaining strong customer relationships, training and supporting our team, and ensuring our daily operations run smoothly. My goal is to create a warm and welcoming experience for every guest who walks through our doors—and to make sure our team has everything they need to deliver great service and wonderful memories.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’ve always appreciated a good book, and right now I’m revisiting “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. I’ve read it countless times, but each time I read it, it resonates differently depending on where I am in life.
I feel like everyone should read it! It’s about a young shepherd who travels from Spain to Egypt in pursuit of a treasure. Along the way, he learns to listen to his heart, recognize omens, and pursue his “Personal Legend.” It’s a powerful story about chasing dreams, self discovery, and realizing that the journey often holds more value than the destination.
At this point in my life, the book feels especially relevant. In many ways, I feel like I’m on my own journey—searching for my version of a “Personal Legend”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Mirelli.com
• Instagram: Mirellichocolatier
• Yelp: Mirelli Chocolatier