1. What was your first job? Workingatmyparents’nursery andgardencentreinSurrey, fromtheageof10yearsold, andhelpingoutatthelocalvet’s house,whichhadmany interestinganimals,birdsand petscominghomefornursing andrecovery. 2. What is the best business advice you’ve ever received? Reinvestinyourbusiness, neverborrow,andtrustyour owninstinct. 3. What do you enjoy most about business? Everydayisdifferent...fun creatingquality,delicious chocolatesandcraftingnew ranges.Thislastyearwewere veryluckytohavewonaGold awardforourdeliciousRum& RaisinDarkChocolatebar, whichthenwentontowin TasteofTheWest’s ChampionshipAward.Very pleasedasitissuitablefor vegans,gluten/wheatfreeand dairyfreetoo.Wehavewon someawardsforourshopand servicetoo,whichisvery rewarding.Ilovemeeting peopleandbuildingfriendships withoursupercustomers. 4. What technology could your business never be without? Chocolatetemperingtank,the keytohandmadechocolates. 5. Describe your business / management style Everythinghasaplace, everythingkeptcleanand hygienic,newideasarealways welcome.Customersarethe reasonwearehere,soalways giveagenuine,happywelcome. Ialsoaskstafftotrythevarious chocolateranges,sothatwhen servingtheycanspeakabout theonestheylike,thetasteand texturedifferencesandhave favourites! IN THE HOT SEAT Jeannette Cann of Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium Each issue we put a North Devon business personality in the hot seat and ask them 10 questions. This issue we asked Jeannette Cann of Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium, winner of <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Action</strong>’s Best Retailer Award 2020 6. How do you go about personal development? Wehaveafabulousongoing trainingprogrammewith Callebaut. Best Retailer Award winner 2020: Jeannette Cann of Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium Everyyearwegototheirstateof-the-artkitchenstolearn moreskillsandexperiencenew productsthatareavailablefor ourartisanbusiness. Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium’s Deluxe Dark Chocolate Rum & Raisin Bar won Champion Chocolate in the Taste of the West Awards 2020 7. Is there anything about yourself that you want to change? Iboughtthechocolateshop neverhavingbeento Ilfracombe,anditwasabig learningcurvefrommysmall kitchenbusinessinHampshire, butIhavelovedeveryminute andembracechangesasthey needtohappen. 8. Social media: yes or no? Preferred network? IlfracombeChocolate Emporiumisavailableon Facebook,Instagramand Twitter.IlikeFacebookand Instagram,andweaddmoreof ourproductsontoourown websiteeachweek. 9. How do you wind down when not working? Ilovewalking,andfeellucky livinginsuchabeautifularea. It’sawonderfulwaytomeet people,andtheareaisrichinits varietyofwalksfromopen Exmoorcountryside,thegorges ofLyntonandLynmouth,breath takingviewsasyouwalkalong thehillsofthecoastalpaths,to walkingsomeofthebestsurfing beachesinthecountry. 10. Do you have a motto or favourite quotation? Ifyoucanbeanythinginlife.. .bekind. ILFRACOMBE CHOCOLATE EMPORIUM IlfracombeChocolate Emporiumisaprettylittle seasidechocolateshopand museum,offeringhandmade chocolatesmadeonsite. Visitorscantastesamples, andoftenseechocolatesbeing madeastheywanderthe museum,thentheycanselect fromawiderangeofbarsand individualchocolates.The shopcatersforawiderangeof dietaryneedsincludingvegan, glutenandwheatfree. Theshophaswonanumber ofawardsandmostrecentlyits DeluxeDarkChocolateRum& RaisinBarwastheonlyNorth DevonchampionintheTaste oftheWestAwards2020. Theshopplaysanactiverole inthetownandalsooffers chocolate-makingworkshops. ■ Details01271867193or ilfracombechocolateemporium .co.uk 24 business action | <strong>February</strong> / <strong>March</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business-action.co.uk
HEADER @businessactionm | <strong>February</strong> / <strong>March</strong> <strong>2021</strong> | business action 25