Learning and Changing
We started at the farmer’s markets a little over 9 years ago. It’s incredible to think we’ve been on this journey for almost a decade. The lessons learned, the sweat given, and the smiles shared are all cherished memories. As a small business with no real retail or distribution experience, we’ve navigated a tough learning curve daily. Eventually, we had to ask ourselves if what we were doing was helping or hindering our larger goals of growth, sustainability, and more.
Exiting Ballantyne
Our family has been stretched thin, and that’s costing us a lot of energy. We need to regroup and focus more fully than rotating schedules currently allow. While our footprint grows, at our core, we’re still just a family and a few great employees pushing this tasty idea forward. So, at the end of April, we’ll be closing our Ballantyne location and pulling back to our original spot on Providence. But don’t worry—Robin is working hard to find outlets for our most popular goodies, so we won’t leave that area high and dry.
Retail / Wholesale / Tradeshows
We’re planning a multi-step pivot. First, we’re aiming to maximize our existing production capacity by strengthening our presence in current accounts like Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, and more. Additionally, we’ll start traveling during the gift-giving season to regional showcases, hoping to bring more chocolate enthusiasts into our fan base. This will require careful coordination and energy, and we’re excited to channel our efforts toward these growth opportunities.
Offsite Kitchen
Our near-term goal (over the next couple of years) is to establish a larger offsite production kitchen. Chef Bill has done an amazing job maximizing every inch of our Providence kitchen, but we’re bursting at the seams. Moving production out of our retail space will benefit us in numerous ways, giving us more room to grow.
Change Can Be Bittersweet
Life is like a dance—you don’t move forward all at once. You shuffle, pivot, and swing through it. We’ve truly enjoyed what our café space has allowed us to do. Robin and I were coffee geeks long before we were chocolate ones. Hosting groups, throwing parties, and organizing chocolate dinners have been a joy for us. As we gain traction in new directions, we hope to revisit these and other concepts in the future.
Quick Thanks
I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank one of our long-standing advisors and confidants, Steve Case, along with our mentors at SCORE. Life’s lessons are tough, but they’re easier when you have support from those around you.
There are lots of exciting things to come and many miles to travel. We’re satisfied with our path forward and hope you’ll continue cheering us on along the way!