Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elyce Zahn, Owner of CocoTutti Chocolates, located in Brisbane, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is CocoTutti Chocolates. We have a diverse group of clients: B2C (via our website and in-person events), corporate, and wholesale.
Tell us about yourself
My mom was a caterer, so I grew up around food and parties. During college, I worked at various commercial and catering kitchens to pay for my educational and living expenses. I maintained my interest in food and food production throughout my previous career. This all led up to my husband and I attending the California State Fair in 2002. Naturally, I gravitated to the food contest area. I was fascinated, and finally, in 2004, I entered several competitions - jams, cakes, and Guittard's chocolate contest. I won awards in many of the competitions, including an Honorable Mention in the Guittard event. I was HOOKED! I immediately started thinking of what to prepare for the following summer. And I entered again in 2004 - 2010. In that last year, I won 2 Best of Shows and numerous specialty and Corporate-sponsored contests.
My husband suggested that I leave some awards for other people, and my best friend proposed that I sell some of my chocolates at a pop-up market. From that pop-up, I networked my way to other events, wholesale, and my favorite group of folks - my corporate clients. INTUIT took a special interest in my work, and now I support the commendations of their staff — when team members are promoted, I send them boxes of chocolate and wine or champagne to celebrate their new status. Other members of Intuit have made CocoTutti their "go-to" for team birthday gifts. They have kindly included me in their vendor groups so that individual staffers reach out for personal birthdays, mother's day, and holiday gifts.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
CocoTutti continues to grow, and I'm proud of that. I started as a part-time confectioner, creating products, initially updating traditional recipes, and then creating my own original concepts. I've been able to explore throughout. Not simply from a product development perspective but also from testing out different markets and using different marketing techniques - what works now might not work in the future, but I've got those skills to adapt when I need to. I've developed my management capabilities - I feel comfortable working with my part-time staff versus being a "manager." I love going to work each day. CocoTutti combines my love of culinary adventure, artistry, meeting people, and transitioning them from clients to friends.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Understanding financial reports. Working 6-7 days a week (even during the Covid shutdown!). Some 60% of our gross income is achieved during late October - mid-December - we have lots of bills during the summer that allows us to create the products that we sell at the end of the year; it's perseverance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Enjoy what you're doing because there are going to be really hard times, and the only thing to carry you through is your love of the product/service.
- Don't worry about growing a large company quickly. Quality comes first; people will recognize it and buy your product/service.
- Give yourself some slack. Play hooky and go out for a treat.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.cocotutti.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054548166291
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocotutti/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CocoTutti
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cocotutti-chocolates/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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