Seeking Joy with Kathy D’Agostino of Chocolatá

Show Notes

Sure, here’s a comprehensive sequence of topics covered in the text with sub-topic bullets:

Positive Work Environment at Chocolatá

  • Small shop fostering personal connections
  • Crew sharing common belief systems

Strength of Branding

  • Attracts like-minded individuals
  • Emphasis on personal connections and walk-ins for hiring

Hiring Practices

  • Importance of kitchen experience and food handling certification
  • Various tasks for new hires: mold polishing, kitchen assistance, front-of-house duties

Kathy’s Background

  • Teenage experience in a Jacksonville chocolate shop
  • Unique work wrapping 10,000 chocolate pharaoh heads for a King Tut exhibit
  • Continued working there for four years

Journey to Owning a Chocolate Shop

  • Burnout from other jobs
  • Husband’s encouragement for business plan and loan
  • Challenges and rewards of small business ownership
  • Viewing each job as a stepping stone

Initial Business Ventures

  • Making chocolate popcorn for a festival
  • Busy first season and customer interactions
  • Popularity of sipping chocolate and recipe change to dairy-free

Transition to a New Location

  • Need for a larger kitchen and retail storefront
  • Initial challenges with visibility
  • Co-habitation with businesses like interior designers and bridal gown makers
  • Use of events as a marketing strategy

Business Adjustments and Future Plans

  • Temporary closure and setup of the new shop
  • Aiming to create a destination area with chocolate, organics, and antiques
  • Mention of a coffee shop need in the neighborhood
  • Seasonality of chocolate sales

Chocolate Shipping and Packaging

  • Delicacy of chocolate and shipping challenges
  • Need for insulation and cold packs
  • Planning for holiday rush and corporate gifting

Product Development and Feedback

  • Experimentation with flavors and chocolates
  • Incorporating team feedback

Find full show notes, including links mentioned in this episode, at carrierollwagen.com.

Carrie Rollwagen

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