We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Naomi Heckman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Naomi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
How it all began making candy. my husband’s late mother made candy. When His dad decided to go through and divide stuff for his 3 sons 20 years ago he asked me if I would like the candy molds. For remembrance of my husband’s mother I decided to try my hand at making some candy. My first two things I made were caramel and peppermint fillings, and one thing lead to another and now I have my small business. My love for being in the kitchen started at a very young age with my grandmother who raised me. I was making pies by age 5..
Naomi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
The name Chocolate Treasures was voted on by family and friends from a list I had. I make candy per season, but Christmas and Halloween are my biggest times of the year. But Halloween has really taken off in the last 6 years. I call it spooky candy. The more realistic I can make chocolate the better. I love thinking outside the box and being creative is so fun. I make femur bones, fingers, ears skulls for example. But I also make regular candy such as caramels, peanut butter cups, coconut cream, marshmallow and so much more.
Many people ask me how I come up with my chocolate works and the best I can describe how is it just comes to me.
I travel to conventions , festivals and craft shows with my chocolates. So
It g I have learned through the years is Summer time is to warm to sell chocolate so I will make baked goods, brownies, pies, cookies and my husband Mike and I will make and sell kettle corn mainly at festivals,
I definitely could not do this without the support of my family and friends!!
My daughter Cynthia helps me in the kitchen and is my right hand woman and my brain reminder. my other daughter Amanda wraps the candy, even if there is 1000 lollipops to wrap!! During busy season my grandmother who is 98 and my aunts and step mom all pitch in and help wrap candy.
I have baking all my life and candy making for about 19 years.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
My resilience comes from my family background, never give up, push for what you want believe in what you do. My love for being I. The kitchen pushed myself to make my dream come true. I am still dreaming.
Years ago I taught myself how to make marshmallow once I figured it out I had the hardest time selling it. I knew it was good and better than big stores. It took a few years before people would try it. But once someone tried it they were most likely to come back and buy more especially my s’mores. My advice if you believe in your product don’t give up it will happen when the time is right.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Consistency, be yourself be honest be kind. Most of business is by word of mouth and also taking steps that are outside your comfort zone. (Which I am still learning)
Contact Info:
- Website: ChocolateTreasuresoh.com
- Instagram: Ctcandies
- Facebook: @ctcandies