Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elisia Otavi-Makmur, Founder of Raphio Chocolate, located in Fresno, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is retail and wholesale of craft chocolates. I make chocolate from scratch from single-origin cocoa beans. My customers are those who look for real chocolate with real flavors of cocoa that taste so different than mass-produced chocolate.
Tell us about yourself
My sons are the inspiration. The name is the combination of both my sons' names: Raphael and Rio. I want to feed them only the good stuff, including their treats. Instead of sugary sweets, they ask for healthy dark chocolate. Now, each day, on top of making my customers happy by providing real chocolate to them, I am working even harder, knowing that what I do matters not only matter to my local community but also to the communities where the farmers who grow the cacao trees.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
To date, winning a Good Food Award is my biggest accomplishment. It is a national competition for the highest standard of craft foods, with thousands of entries in many different gourmet categories.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Balancing life and work, especially when my husband is part owner of the business. He is helping a lot in my business, but the line between personal and business gets blurred when you are talking business all the time, even at home.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My biggest tip is using the passion for loving what you do because when things get tough, and they will, it will carry you through to the end of the tunnel.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.raphiochocolate.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raphio.chocolate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raphio.chocolate/
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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