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Shilpa Bhatt: Ecstasy Chocolates

Introduction:
So today I have come to Ahmedabad to meet a female entrepreneur where she will tell us how she began the business from home and now she owns her own shop and her clients include many big films stars and celebrities. So, let’s ask ma’am about her success story and much more.

Manufacturers Guide:
Hello ma’am please tell our viewers about your company and your journey.
Owner:
Right from my childhood, I had it in my mind that I want to do business and not take money from my parents. I first took up a job in field and I was working in that field for 10 years. Although it had good money, I wasn’t getting satisfaction from it, I knew that working in the finance field is not my passion. My son suggested me to start a selling chocolate as I was already skilled in making them and I started my business that way. I started the business in my basement and with just 1500 rupees.

Manufacturers Guide:
Now ma’am owns her own independent shop and she supplies her product to huge film stars. Further ma’am will also tell us the basics of making the chocolate. But before that, please tell us a little bit about your portfolio.
Owner:
When I started my business, I couldn’t see the sun for one whole week because of too many orders, because of that I decided to bring home and teach specially-abled girls the process of chocolate making which created a path of employment for them and now those girls too make and sell the chocolate. As this business started growing, I used my creativity and made various creative ways to sell chocolates like special chocolate bouquets. I have provided these bouquets to people like Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone and many more celebrities. My main thing is zero waste bouquet which works as a multipurpose item even after you’re done with the chocolates.

Manufacturers Guide:
Our viewers are excited about the procedure of making and packing chocolates, so what do you have for our viewers today?
Owner:
Today I’ll teach the basic procedure of making simple chocolate and making a chocolate bouquet with things available at home.

Manufacturers Guide:
So basically, you viewers will understand the base concept, but after that it’s all about your creativity.
Owner:
First I’ll teach how to make chocolate. We get different slabs from various companies in the market, we currently use cocoa beans but, in the beginning, you can use these slabs. One is dark chocolate and the milk compound chocolate, we’re making mix dry fruit chocolate, the dry fruits we are using are roasted almonds, roasted cashews, resins and crispy rice. Then we need these plastic molds that are easily available in the market. Then we’ll need a microwave, fridge and microwave proof bowl. Then put the dark and milk chocolate in the bowl according to your requirements and heat it in the microwave for 30-40 seconds. Mix the molten chocolate thoroughly and fill the molds with it. One mold is almost 10 grams. You can now put the fillings on it and tap it properly to remove the voids. Then put it in the fridge for 10 minutes and turn it upside down on the plate and check, if it has a good texture, it is ready. If it has been properly tampered, it gives a shiny finish to the chocolate.
Owner:
Now, we’ll learn to make a chocolate bouquet, for that we will need simple chocolate foils, cable, wooden barbeque sticks, cloths, artificial flowers, base, glue gun, scissors, etc. It is a pretty simple process, first wrap the chocolate, then stick it to the barbeque stick and put a fancy cloth around it and tie it with the cable. Similarly, we can make these of different sizers using different lengths of the sticks. The start putting it creatively on the base, we have used a foam base here. Then put some artificial flowers and other stuff.

Manufacturers Guide:
How much does this bouquet sell for?
Owner:
It sells for 400 rupees in the market.

Manufacturers Guide:
What is the maximum price you have sold these bouquets?
Owner:
We had made one for 9000 rupees, it depends on material, time required and all.

Manufacturers Guide:
Most interesting people our viewers want to know is that what is your turnover?
Owner:
We have a pretty good turnover which goes up to 40 lakh rupees and that’s how we were able to set up a big shop and office.

Manufacturers Guide:
What will be the support from your side for people who want to start this business.
Owner:
We are starting online classes from April regarding chocolate making, wrapping, etc. People from all over India can join here.