working with chocolate Archives - The Melting Pot

Why does my chocolate cost so much?

Posted on 4 May 20244 May 2024 by Dawn Fry

You will have noticed that your favourite chocolate bars have got smaller and the price of them has gone up (almost every time you buy). Several factors are driving huge increases in the price of chocolate. Let’s explore some of the reasons behind ‘why does my chocolate cost so much?’.

chunks of white and dark chocolate on a board with a wooden spoon filled with grated chocolate

Historical chocolate prices

The price of cocoa traded broadly within the range of £600-£1300 per metric tonne until 2008 and then between £1500-£2300 until the end of 2022.

From January 2023 onwards it has been rising steadily, completely surpassing previous ranges, to around £5600 per metric tonne at the end of February this year.

It does seem that higher cocoa prices are here to stay for the time being.

Chocolate used to be a rare treat only afforded by Royalty and very wealthy, you can read more about its fascinating history here.

Reasons behind the price increases*

•Several years of small crop shortages, with talk that this year the shortage could be as high as 1-1.5m tonnes, which would be 20-30% of the world’s annual consumption. This is having a dramatic effect on world stockpiles of cocoa.

•The implications of the new EU deforestation regulations (EUDR), whose likely full impact is still unknown. Ivory Coast is said to have lost around 85% of its forest since 1960 and this is what the EUDR is designed to address, alongside other issues such as child labour.

•The mounting challenges facing the cocoa farming industry by deforestation, El Nino effects, political instability, climate change, illegal mining, and disease.

The future of chocolate prices

The cocoa price may well keep going up for the foreseeable future. If and when it does come down, it is unclear how far down it will reduce, and over what period. Much will depend on how good the main harvest is in the new season, starting October 2024.

Over the longer term, higher prices should incentivise farmers to plant more cocoa, farm more sustainably and use better techniques to increase yields, but that will likely take at least 3-5 years to materially impact the size of the crop or bring prices down.

It is also worth bearing in mind that dark chocolates (average 60% cocoa content) will go up by more than milk/white chocolates (average cocoa content 28-35%), based simply on the cocoa content of the product.

Take your time to truly savour your favourite chocolate. If you want some tips on how to properly taste chocolate, then this may be helpful.

How can chocolate businesses adapt and survive?

The most obvious thing for most businesses to do is to increase prices. You will have experienced this when shopping for your favourite chocolate treat. Once prices hit the limit of what customers will accept, then what? Some businesses have adapted their offering and added non-chocolate-related items to their shops/outlets (Hotel Chocolat sells salted caramel vodka for example).

We need to communicate more about ethics and sustainability – to help consumers understand why chocolate needs to increase in price and reduce its footprint on the planet. If, collectively, the chocolate industry can increase understanding about these issues, chocolate starts to sit alongside other goods, like a sustainable cotton t-shirt, where we consumers just start to accept chocolate that should cost more.

What about The Melting Pot?

Here at The Melting Pot, we have tried to avoid price increases as much as possible, ever conscious of the demands on the household budget. I’ve adapted the workshops to ensure that there is still a reasonable profit margin to enable me to keep in business. However, I have tried to enhance the ‘experience’ element of the workshop, ensuring that your two hours have plenty of chocolate, education, and tasting included, as well as offering a variety of different styles of workshops and price points.

I buy chocolate for my workshops in 10kg bags, at the time of writing, this has risen to almost £100 per bag. My chocolate tanks hold eight kilos of chocolate per tank (and I currently have three tanks to fill for larger events). It’s quality Belgium chocolate, and I’m enjoying hosting you at workshops as much as ever. At the time of writing this blog, I’ve been offering workshops for 15 years. Theobroma Cacao (the Latin name of the cocoa tree) means ‘food of the Gods’ and it’s my privilege to continue to enjoy sharing its delights with you.

*With thanks to Keylink for supplying much of the chocolate information contained in this blog, and for continuing to support their customers as best they can through challenging times.

10 Reasons to Book a Chocolate Workshop

Posted on 1 June 20231 June 2023 by Dawn Fry

There is one main reason that you would want to book a chocolate workshop obviously, because of the star of the show, chocolate!

There are other reasons too, and some might just inspire you.

Here are my 10 reasons to book a chocolate workshop:

The Chocolate

Of course, it’s top of the list and has already been mentioned in the intro. Chocolate at one of my workshops is not just any old chocolate, it’s quality Belgium chocolate, with a higher cocoa content. There is a whole VAT of molten Belgium chocolate too, which contains up to eight kilos. We are talking quantity as well as quality.

Variety is the Spice of Life

Not only will you be working with a VAT of delicious chocolate, but you will also be tasting lots of other couverture chocolate. What’s couverture chocolate I hear you ask, well that would be telling.

Come along and find out about a variety of different chocolates, flavours, and cocoa content, and learn what chocolatiers work with to make all the magic happen.

A Cosy Environment

Come and visit the summerhouse at the end of my garden. It’s a quiet little chocolate oasis, that is warm and welcoming as well as filled with the aroma of chocolate. We’re waiting for you.

Spend Quality Time

It’s good for you to escape from everyday life and do something creative and tasty. Whether you attend on your own, with a friend, or as part of a group, this is a shared experience where the time is just for you to focus on the job in hand, nothing else. You juggle so many balls and sometimes it really helps to put them all aside and just be able to think about one thing – making delicious chocolates to take away and enjoy. If you do attend with loved ones, it provides the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together and create memories to cherish.

De-stress

Quality time out helps you to de-stress and forget about all your other commitments for just a couple of hours. The act of dipping, making, smelling, and concentrating on your chocolate-making will ensure that the chocolate is able to work its magic and help you separate from all the worries in your life (even if just for a short time). Here are some other ideas. Workshops are really a bit of chocolate therapy and what better therapy could you think of than the chocolate variety?

Improve your Chocolate Knowledge

We pop into the shops and buy chocolate whenever we feel like it. Where is a grown? How is it processed? Learn something you didn’t know about chocolate when we cover the bean-to-bar story at your workshop. Here’s a little history for you too.

Learn a New Skill

Have you ever worked with chocolate before? Having a go at a new skill can be a little daunting, but the workshops are light, fun, and accessible for all. You will learn about tempering chocolate, dipping fillings, and finishing techniques, as well as hand-piping. Maybe you would like to take some of these skills home to use in your kitchen. Learning something is good for you, it boosts your confidence and is life-affirming.

Have Some Fun

Fun is important, and so often life gets in the way. It’s my job to ensure that all the ingredients are present for you to be able to have fun at my workshops. Whether that’s meeting new people, learning new skills, or enjoying the making, tasting, or even packaging process. Everyone is made very welcome and looked after to the best of my ability. My aim is to be your hostess with the mostess (chocolate too of course)!

Chocolate is Good for You

OK, admittedly, not all chocolate is good for you. The good people at Cocoa Runners have covered some of the research here. The darker the better (and we get to sample some of the dark side in a workshop). You also get to taste some real cacao. 100% cocoa in the form of cacao nibs. Not sure if they will replace your treats at the cinema, but I love them. Why not come and try them for yourself and see if they take your fancy too?

A Sense of Achievement

Enjoy the fruits of your labour. You took time to make lovely chocolates and now you are going to take them away, admire and enjoy them (and most likely share them with others). Many of the roles we do now, don’t result in us using our own hands to create something. We are at screens all the time. Making something from scratch gives you a sense of achievement. Now that feels so much better than buying a box of chocolates, doesn’t it?

If my 10 reasons to book a chocolate workshop has made up your mind, you can find a date to suit you here.

A Day in My Chocolate Shoes

Posted on 19 May 202319 May 2023 by Dawn Fry

I was intending to call this blog ‘A Day in the Life of a Chocolatier’ having previously penned ‘A Day in the Life of a Blacksmith’ about my hubby. That doesn’t really cut it for what I do. I am a chocolatier (how fab it feels to say that) but I don’t make chocolates to sell, I offer workshops and create experiences in chocolate.

So, instead, here’s a day in my chocolate shoes……

Daily Rituals

As a business owner, you need to have daily disciplines! Every morning, over coffee, I’ll go over emails and messages and get back to people.

I might be processing bookings (yippee), which I do for blacksmithing and chocolate, or answering questions and queries. A bit of marketing, writing, and/or social media, and any admin that needs seeing to will also be on the agenda.

I check back in throughout the day (except when I’m delivering a workshop) to ensure I maintain rapid responses. If someone has decided they are interested in what we have to offer, I try and get back to them as soon as possible, no one wants to be left hanging when they have decided on something exciting that they are interested in doing! It’s common sense of course, but the amount of time we have won business because I got back to people quicker than the competition has been mentioned many times to me. Why would anyone want to leave business on the table?

Planning, planning, planning

The chocolate tanks take a couple of days to really come up to temperature. This involves melting a few kilos of chocolate callets to a certain point so it’s ready for me to temper ahead of a workshop.

I need to keep a constant eye on the stock to ensure I have all the relevant ingredients and materials and order as necessary. Aprons need to be laundered and the summerhouse, mats, and utensils cleaned and ready for guests.

Everything has to be done and planned in advance, I quite like this element of my business, and find it fairly straightforward, if you are someone that struggles to stay on top you may need to find some tools to help and plot reminders to your calendar.

Prepping for a workshop

People will come along and enjoy a couple of hours of chocolate fun, but as mentioned above, a lot goes into the planning and preparation before you arrive.

Experience has taught me to do as much prep as you can do beforehand, this will lead to a smooth and seamless workshop! This process is now down to a fine art! I actually enjoy counting out all the goodies you are going to dip into the chocolate and ensuring everything is ready and on hand for your magical chocolate time. Prep is always done the day before a group arrives, I prefer to go to bed knowing I’m ready for you all. If something else crops up, then I know I have my workshop all ready to receive my guests, whatever else I might be called to do.

Half an hour before my group arrives, I will head to the summerhouse and start tempering the chocolate.

Delivering a workshop

This is the bit I love the most – meeting you and having fun with chocolate together. All sorts of people walk through my door and it’s an honour and privilege to work with you and enjoy your company for a couple of hours.

Instead of going through each element of what we get up to at a workshop, you can pop and see for yourself.

Have you identified your own superpower yet? What you are known for, what comes easily and naturally that you are really good at?

Well, without I hope, sounding big-headed, hosting is my superpower. I love it, whether it’s for chocolate fun at my workshops or a dinner party with friends and family, it’s my thing. Feeding, encouraging, teaching, demonstrating, sharing, and enjoying your company. It’s a sweet experience!

Clean & Re-set

When you’ve all left the cleaning begins, I pop on the music and get the job done. Usually, there is another workshop coming in, so I will clean and then prep for the next event so I’m ahead of the game!

The summerhouse is a special space for me. It’s calming and relaxing, down the end of my garden, like a little chocolate oasis.

An escape from home, but at home at the same time, heaven.

And Finally

When I return to the house, I’ll carry on with some business admin, walk the dog, play tennis, get the dinner ready (I’m always the cook in our family) go out or chill in front of the TV.

Events vary, while most are workshops at the end of my garden, I also cater for corporates and schools so I might be designing new events, or prepping for something bespoke, huge, or both.

Research might take me to a new chocolate shop, attend a chocolate event, or try some new products – the research for this job is pretty tough, but someone has to do it!

Being my own boss and in particular working with you and chocolate has been the best move I ever made.

If you are inspired by a world of chocolate, you might like to read my free e-book ‘7 Big Benefits of Running a Chocolate Business’ Please follow the link to grab your copy.

I’m off to slip off those chocolate shoes for now, see you at the chocolate tanks very soon!

Brown Thursday

Posted on 19 January 20234 April 2023 by Dawn Fry

In the week that we survived Blue Monday, I thought we might celebrate Brown Thursday!

chocolate heart in melting chocolate puddle

A PR guru I follow said that Blue Monday had been dreamt up by the travel industry to promote holiday bookings. Last year I shared how I beat the January blues by focusing on my holiday plans for the year ahead, so they must be on to something.

It got me thinking, why not promote Brown Thursday this week. Let’s celebrate all things chocolate (you must be over your Christmas chocolate indulgence by now)?

Chocolate is Good for You

“Definitely chocolate is my kind of healthy plant! If over 70 percent cacao and good quality with no more than 4 ingredients.” Tim Spector, Professor of Genetics and Author. Prof Spector studies and researches the microbiome, the large community of microbes that live in our gut, skin, and body.

A small amount of good quality dark chocolate eaten each day has been proven to be good for you. If you are not yet a fan of the dark side, why not start with something not too strong? You can build up your cocoa content over time. I now prefer chocolate over 80% cocoa. The everyday chocolate that I grew up on tastes more like a sweetie to me now. Once you get used to the dark side, there’s no going back!

Chocolate Makes you Feel Better

There are chemicals in chocolate that are mood enhancers as well as a form of caffeine. It really does feel like it ‘picks you up’ and can be just the treat you need.

The people at Cocoa Runners (a great gourmet mail-order chocolate company) have written an interesting article about whether the claims about chocolate are too good to be true. It includes an interview with Prof Tim Spector (mentioned above).

Enjoy cooking with chocolate

The smell in the kitchen, the satisfaction of creating something tasty, and the delicious treat to share with friends/family. Cooking with chocolate always feels good.

Christmas cake with chocolate icing and sprinkles topped with holly

If you want to make some chocolates at home, here are my tips on how to temper your chocolate – the key to success.

I have some of my favourite chocolate recipes to share with you too. Let us know what you made, and maybe come and share a picture on social media.

Feeling a bit chilly and not up to cooking too much? How about making yourself a hot chocolate follow the link for inspiration!

Treat yourself

Why not treat yourself to some posh chocolate and go gourmet? There may be some good stuff to buy in the sales if you are quick.

Some good sites to visit: Fortnum & Mason, Chococo, Cocoa Runners, Hotel Chocolat

Once you’ve invested in some good stuff, you may want some tips on how to taste it properly!

Chocolate Therapy

Last, but not least, why not come along and try a chocolate workshop experience here at The Melting Pot?

It really is chocolate therapy.

There’s a large vat of molten chocolate, the smell is incredible, and there are like-minded people enjoying the experience with you. Then you have the making element, dipping fillings into the tank, tasting chocolate, and taking all your creations home to share and/or enjoy.

Escape from the usual trials and tribulations of life and immerse yourself in the world of chocolate for a couple of hours.

Hope to see you at the chocolate tanks very soon.

Happy Brown Thursday.

How to deal with Doom and Gloom

Posted on 16 November 202216 November 2022 by Dawn Fry

It’s grey and pouring with rain as I sit to write this blog post……..

A rainy window with blurred lights behind

The news is awful, finances are difficult, anxiety is high, and the weather is dreary.

The perfect set of ingredients to make you believe your business is bound to suffer. Surely, no one is willing to spend on frivolous items in the current climate?

In these trying times, here are some tips on how to deal with doom and gloom:

Mindset matters

Tell yourself over and over how bad things are, how worried you are and your mindset will suffer. You will become negative and believe that the worst is about to happen. How are you going to build the strength and resilience to keep going, keep up your energy and keep focusing on your goals with such a mindset?

Whatever it takes to stop the negative chatter, do that. Whether that is escaping the work environment for a bit, taking some me-time, a walk in nature, playing with the dog, seeking out positive friends and acquaintances – make time to improve your mindset.

Positivity breeds positivity – it’s hard at times, but become a beacon in these dark times and you will reap rewards from those that are seeking some relief from the doom and gloom.

Stop listening to the news

How would a good news station fair in this world? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to tune in and listen to heart-warming, uplifting and motivating news. Since that doesn’t seem to exist, except in the odd podcast, you may wish to stop listening to the news.

For 10 years we didn’t have a TV as our kids were growing up. News was always delivered via radio and I’ve never gone back to TV news since. The radio news is not more positive at the moment sadly, but it does seem less sensational, without all the visual images that are so disturbing. If you are finding it difficult at the moment, a sabbatical from the news could be a good place to start.

People need cheering up more than ever

There is no doubt about it, many people will not be spending on extras at the moment as the cost-of-living crisis is very real. Some will still want to buy a treat, even if they treat themselves less often. There are still birthdays and special occasions, Christmas do’s etc. Providing something fun and distracting for your clients right now is just what they need. You are not just providing an experience or product, you are providing as escape, some fun, some therapy, a distraction.

If what you provide will make people feel better, be proud to shout about this as it’s just what’s needed right now.

Deliver the best experience possible

This is my mantra. When I train people on how to run their own workshops where they live, I can’t express enough the need to go above and beyond people’s expectations and deliver something to the absolute best of your ability. Focusing on the customer journey, their experience with you from the moment they interact with you to the moment that’s over. Your attitude, your willingness, your gratefulness and your understanding are key to making good relationships with your clients.

A small business owner has a unique opportunity to stand out at the moment and really make a difference. If a client is buying fewer things, then those things that they do decide to buy really matter. It’s not just a case of that will do, they want the absolute best for their money.

Don’t stop doing the important things

If you believe that people are not able to pay for what you have, and you stop talking to your clients then your business will suffer. Marketing matters, in difficult times more than ever. Keep in touch. You may receive more no’s than usual, don’t take it to heart, but understand that it’s a ‘not right now’ for some clients. They know you are still going and trying hard to make it work. They may recommend you to a friend, or when times are better, be looking forward to using your services or buying your product again.

How can you ride the storm?

Think about ways to ride the storm, could that be an additional part-time job to help with cash-flow for example?

It feels like a lot of energy after the pandemic to find even more creative ways to keep afloat. It may be time to say goodbye, but remember to focus on your reasons for starting the business, and why you became your own boss in the first instance. If that is still as strong as ever, it’s time to get creative to save your business baby and work on a strategy to ride the storm and emerge stronger and better than before.

Be Kind

Be kind to yourself and those in the world around you. People are stressed and worried and we never know their whole story. Small acts of kindness go a long way. Here’s a lovely article from The Guardian from a recent Kindness Study. The conclusion encourages all of us to do more – it will make you feel better as well as the recipient.

It’s time to simplify

Posted on 28 July 20224 April 2023 by Dawn Fry

I’ve been making some changes to how I intend to work going forward. This is my chance to say a huge thank you to those that have joined me on various projects and adventures along the way and how/where you can find me going forward!

Here’s why it’s time to simplify

Juggling too many balls means I drop them, or don’t give time and attention to my projects in the way that feels right.

Chocolate is my first love and I want time to focus on this more. Since I have been able to welcome people in person again, bookings have been brilliant.

As well as this, I’ve been doing lots more schoolwork lately. Careers fairs, enrichment activities, and enterprise days. This is such rewarding work and something I’d like the chance to develop.

My business in a chocolate box opportunity has seen a revival. This is where I train someone to run a version of The Melting Pot (under their own banner). This is a much bigger commitment of my time, involving training and then ongoing support for the first months of trading.

It’s totally exciting that people are wanting to create their own chocolate workshop businesses where they live!

If I create space and I have a clear focus on what I want the future to hold, it is more likely to be successful than holding on to everything in fear of letting things go.

What I’m saying goodbye to

New Dawn Business Start-up Training

Building Confidence Programme

Creating Magic Challenge

Thank you to everyone who took part in these, it was a privilege to see you start to fly with your new business ventures, boost your confidence to tackle obstacles, and see what magic you wanted to explore.

Facebook pages/groups/membership sites have been closed. If you need any information from me or have a question or query, please get in touch.

Newsletter – see below on where to find out more

Where you can find me

At the chocolate tanks – book a workshop, come along and have some fun on your own or with a group.

On my blog – I have decided not to continue with a newsletter and focus on my blog instead ‘From Chocolate with Love’. We cover all things chocolate of course, as well as business and lifestyle – anything from camping to relationships and more!

Please keep an eye on the website for offers or special events.

Supporting local mental health charity Tilehouse Counselling (for just a few hours each week). The work they do is very close to my heart and so vital in our community. A shameless plug – you can support them each week by buying a community lottery ticket. 50% of each ticket sold is donated to Tilehouse.

The future

To think I actually considered selling the chocolate side of my business a couple of years ago to focus on the other areas I was developing! Now I’m doing the opposite.

This has come about from listening to myself, really tuning into what I enjoy the most, and going with what flows with ease.

Change is always a little nerve-racking and I sincerely hope that creating space to pursue a simplified and more chocolatey future is the right decision. I’m excited to find out!

Only time will tell.

Do please pop back here to find out more!

If you have any stories or tips for simplifying life, please come and share on my Facebook page.

100 Ways to Unwind!

Posted on 11 May 202211 May 2022 by Dawn Fry

A list of 100 ways to unwind – because it’s all about YOU

Breathe – sit quietly, notice your breath in and out, breathe deeply
Walk barefoot on the grass
Sign up for a yoga class
Have a PJ day
Light a smelly candle and let the smell calm your senses
Take a long, hot soak in the bath
Meditate – as little as 5 mins a day can be beneficial, set a timer, get quiet and let thoughts flow, you can download guided meditations if that is helpful for you
Visit the woods – hear the rustle of the leaves, the snap of a twig, notice the light filtering through the canopy, the majesty and strength of the trees
Start the day with some yoga poses (use youtube to find out how to do them properly)
Visit the sea, listen to the sound of the waves
Watch the sunrise, notice the potential in a new day
Watch the sunset, notice the beauty at the end of the day, and be thankful for at least one good thing in your life right now
Celebrate a full moon, stand and wonder at the bright moon in a vast sky
Sign up for a Pilates class
Take a walk in nature – notice your surroundings, the sounds, the fields, the trees, the sunshine, the rain, the sky, the clouds
Read a book
Journal your feelings – find a lovely notebook and write regularly
Go for a swim
Visit the mountains, take in the view
Drink lots of water
Enjoy some peace and quiet and some alone time
Go for a jog or run – studies have recently shown and even a short run each week is beneficial
Sit by the bank of a river and watch the water flow, imagine your worries flowing by
Get baking or cooking and notice the lovely smells permeating the home
Have a cuppa
Talk to a good friend
Visit a museum
Buy a colouring book and some decent pens – do some colouring
Watch your diet, enjoy eating healthy foods and avoid too many sugary snacks
Can you break down what you are worried about? Set aside sometime each day to worry – instead of allowing worries to undermine you all the time, say to yourself, you will worry about that at ‘worry time’ and sit and think about all those things that are worrying you in detail. Some you may be able to fix, some you will not. Acknowledge each thing you are worried about and then move on until the next worry time.
Go to a fitness class
Stick on your favourite tune and dance around the kitchen
Watch something easy and light on TV
Listen to your favourite podcast
Read/watch or listen to someone inspirational – Ted Talks have lots of wonderful options to choose from
Book yourself a massage or other beauty/relaxation treatment
Eat a little dark chocolate
Declutter a cupboard, a room, or a space such as your desk
Do a crossword/quiz or sudoku
Have a laugh; listen to comedy, joke around with friends, watch a comedy show
Draw or paint something
Do your favourite sporting activity
Take up a new sporting activity
Spend time with animals – visit the zoo or a farm
Take the dog for a walk or spend time with your pet(s), join in with a friend on a dog walk if you don’t have a dog yourself
Play an instrument
Hug a tree
Watch children playing
Do some retail therapy – maybe just some window shopping will be enough
Create time in the day to think or daydream
Go for a cycle ride or a spin class
Go fishing or sit watching someone else fishing
Climb a hill (or mountain) and enjoy the view from the top
Visit an art gallery
Watch a film at the cinema
Go to the ballet/theatre
Buy yourself some flowers
Work in the garden, allotment or help someone else with their garden/allotment (even a planter or window box will suffice)
Be grateful for what you have
Try essential oils and aromatherapy
Visit a comedy club
Go to a festival/music gig
Think about your next holiday, do some research and book something to look forward to
Get organised, make action plans and lists and tick things off as you go
Visit a coffee shop, buy your favourite drink and sit and watch the world go by
Knit or crochet
Learn to play a new instrument
Do something mindless – some housework, clean the car, organise a drawer
Smell the roses – notice the aroma from your favourite blooms
Write something – a blog or some fiction
Buy yourself a little treat
Take a power nap
Look at some inspiring photos
Visit a spa
Organise your emails and sort your inbox
Write a letter to a loved one
Visit a church or cathedral and wonder at the amazing architecture and history
Visit a beautiful garden
Get an early night
Visit the library
Take up a new hobby/learn a new skill
Get up earlier and finish your ‘jobs/tasks’ earlier to create more free time
Visit a food market and marvel at the delicious wares on sale
Enjoy the sunshine on your face
Change your bedding and notice the lovely smell of fresh sheets
Skim stones across the water
Visit a beautiful lake and marvel and the view
Have a lie in or a duvet day
Go and watch your team play a sport
Plant a tree
Talk to someone – a problem is better shared
Ask for help, delegate something, you don’t have to own everything
Remind yourself that perfection is overrated – good is good enough
Put on a facemask, or an eye mask
Watch a tearjerker film and have a good cry
Ask for a hug
Support someone in need
Light some incense. Scents like Sandalwood and Sage can help calm anxieties and aid relaxation.
Avoid negativity – don’t judge others but try and separate your identity and emotions from it.
BE YOU!

The Easter Bunny recommends…

Posted on 14 April 202219 February 2023 by Dawn Fry

Whether it’s the best eggs to buy, running the best egg hunt, enjoying a special lunch, or munching on a delicious hot cross bun with a cuppa, read on for some Easter inspiration.

Easter Bunny sitting on a tablecloth with spring flowers

The Easter Bunny recommends….

The Best Easter Eggs

Good Housekeeping has done all the Easter Egg research for you this year.

Chocolate Easter egg sitting on a bed of smarties

Chocolatiers and supermarkets submitted their recommendations to the Good Housekeeping Institute. They actually tested 135 eggs (are you now thinking you need a new job?). Hot Cross Bun Egg anyone?

These are the categories they cover:

Milk chocolate Easter eggs
White and blonde chocolate Easter eggs
Dark chocolate Easter eggs
Kids Easter eggs
Vegan Easter eggs

The Best Easter Egg Hunt

Colourful eggs and a basket on the grass

If you want to try some alternative ideas for your hunt this year, Country Living Magazine has come up with 27 creative hunt ideas for indoors and out and including online options.

The Best Hot Cross Buns

I love a hot cross bun.

I’ve tried making them, they are a lot of work and mine were a bit of a disaster. Hot Cross Rocks would have been the better description! There are so many varieties to choose from these days.

Here’s a list of good supermarket buys from Olive magazine. Alternative options include dark chocolate and ginger and a white chocolate and lemon version mmm.

The Best Easter Lunch

The BBC Good Food team has come up with the ultimate Easter lunch menu. It does sound rather tasty:

Pea, mint & spring onion soup with parmesan biscuits to start
Roast lamb studded with rosemary & garlic (they also give plenty of veggie alternatives), served with dauphinoise potatoes, spring vegetables, and lemon & thyme baby carrots
Chocolate egg baked tart

I’m very pleased to see they ended the meal with chocolate. If you want more chocolate pud inspiration, try these.

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, I do hope you are able to enjoy some downtime with family and friends and of course add lots of chocolate into the mix too.

Happy Easter

Why I started my business

Posted on 24 February 202224 February 2022 by Dawn Fry

I usually tell everyone about my love of chocolate and people, I just put the two together and created The Melting Pot.

Of course, my reasons for starting run far deeper than that.

Here’s why I really started my business:

I took a job to fit around the needs of the family and it was driving me mad. It was something beneath my skill set for the part-time element and often left me unfulfilled and bored. Trying hard to turn it into something else wasn’t working, which just added to my frustration.

Life’s too short

My Dad became ill with serious cancer, followed by my husband in the same year. The next months were a blur of sitting by hospital beds and supporting them both. It was a tough time, with both seriously ill at the same time and three young children to support too. Driving around the M25 day after day, spending hours at a bedside, sitting watching loved ones suffer, and getting home and trying to be something for the kids. It took its toll.

Eventually, I went back to work but being in that environment was the final straw for me. How could I continue to work in something that didn’t serve me when life was so short and precarious?

The only way is up

After a gruelling time and against the odds, we received good news, both my dad and hubby survived and are still well to this day, touch wood.

However, I now found myself teary and upset a lot of the time. The past had taken its toll. Not only did I not want to be in my job, but I was also not coping that well at all. It was hard to believe that everyone was going to be OK, even though the news was good, and I certainly didn’t feel OK myself.

One day there was a passing comment made in the office. It typified everything about what was not going to happen for me in my current role.

I found myself in the toilet crying and knew something had to change.

The lightbulb moment

It was getting to that really low point, that kicked in some form of survival instinct and finally got me to tune into my need to reinvent myself. Time to start my own business, be my own boss, set my own agenda…..but what could I do?

I did literally have a lightbulb moment – I knew my business had to be with people and some sort of food and one day I just went, “chocolate, that’s it”. Running chocolate workshops felt right; I had created my new business idea, now to make it happen.

Redundancy Cheer

Redundancy is no joke; I’m not trying to make light of how awful it feels for some to know that they are going to lose their job and security. For me, it was a cheery and fearful moment. I was called into the office to be told that my job was being made redundant (it was the height of a recession in 2009). My response was ‘hurrah’ as it meant I could focus on my dream. I’d not been there long enough to qualify for redundancy pay, but it did give me the opportunity to start creating a chocolate workshop business as there was no job to full back on. This was the catalyst I really needed to make it a reality.

I left the job in June 2009 and launched The Melting Pot in September 2009.

Why stop at workshops

After many years since I took the plunge, I still offer chocolate workshops and now so much more….

So many courses and bespoke events have been created for clients – I say yes, then work out how I’m going to make it work.

My hubby was inspired too, and for some years has been offering ‘be a blacksmith for a day’ experiences from his forge. We’ve even collaborated and created ‘hot chocolate’ team days.

I’ve documented everything I did to create a ‘business in a chocolate box’ and sell this to others wishing to run chocolate workshops where they live.

New Dawn start-up business training came out of mentoring and supporting those starting a chocolate workshop business. Not everyone wants to work with chocolate – can you believe that?

Lack of confidence seemed to stop the people I met from starting something, they didn’t believe they could do it. If I could surely others could too? A free creating magic challenge and building confidence course were born.

Who knows what might be next…..

What I’d like to pass on

Don’t stay working in something that makes you unhappy. You can and deserve to be happier at work. If you find yourself having a cry in the toilet, please make a change.
Be brave – stretching your comfort zone will feel uncomfortable at first but the rewards are enormous.
Choose love – firstly learn to love yourself properly, this is so important if you want to support all those that are so important to you too. There is nothing like working for yourself to really explore you and your capabilities.

There it is, why I started my own business. I love being my own boss, flexible, challenging, interesting and you will be so surprised at what you will learn about yourself.

Why All Relationships Matter

Posted on 17 February 202217 February 2022 by Dawn Fry

We are talking business relationships here, but it’s personal too.

The most obvious relationships are those we have with our customers. The customer is king in every business. However, there are so many more to consider for a successful business to survive and indeed thrive, including the one you have with yourself.

Let’s explore why all relationships matter:

What relationships?

Meeting at a desk, with notebooks, drinks and laptops (you can't see their faces, just there arms writing in their books)

Sometimes we focus so much on the obvious (our customers) we overlook other opportunities.

Who do you have relationships with?

Customers, employees, contractors, suppliers, competitors, family, friends – are all key relationships within your business.

Another thing to consider is your potential relationship with someone where you are simply making an enquiry.

Maybe you are looking at a business opportunity?

How you behave will reflect on how you are perceived by the vendor.

Do you ask, realise it’s not for you (right now) and then ignore all the follow-ups? What if you later change your mind. If you didn’t go back to them explaining not right now, have you burnt your bridges for a potential transaction in different circumstances?

Send a simple reply explaining it’s not for you and why, and come across as professional and considered.

Supplying the Goods

Think about the importance of getting your supplies for example.

You are spending money with your suppliers and may think that you need do no more than hand over your hard-earned cash. What about a shortage in supplies (something that we are often facing in these difficult times). Your supplier may have to choose which customer to send limited supplies to.

What if you need a rush job and will need a supplier to go the extra mile for you?

Might your supplier recommend your services/goods to another customer if you are great to do business with?

A good relationship can reap unexpected benefits.

Money Matters

How do you pay for your supplies?

Cash flow can be an issue at times, so you may leave certain suppliers waiting for payment.

Is this something you accept personally?

Are you willing and able to wait for payment from a service or goods you have delivered?

What are your terms, and do you act with the same integrity with everyone else you do business with?

If you do hit on difficult times and you need to speak to your suppliers about extending credit for a limited time, your payment history will come into play. Have you built credibility with your supplier to afford you some leeway when it might be most be needed?

The Competition

Hide your head in the sand, feel threatened and defensive, or completely oblivious – what is your attitude to the competition?

Competition can be a good thing. If more people are offering what you do, there must be a demand for it. Always check out the competition and keep an eye on what they are doing. Is there an opportunity to work together, to collaborate?

No one can do things the way that you do them. You are what makes your business unique.

Make friends with the competition where appropriate and explore ways of potentially working together.

The team

If you employ people or use contractors, then they are representing you and your business.

Do they clearly understand and operate by your values? Have you adequately trained and equipped them to achieve their tasks properly?

If there is one big lesson I’ve taken from running my own business, it’s all my fault. If an employee/contractor makes a mistake, then the buck will stop with me. Choose good people (we need to part ways with those that are not the right fit) and train them well.

Build good strong relationships with all members of your team and it will reap rewards.

Customers are King

Without customers, we don’t have a business.

Building strong relationships with your customers and providing the best possible service matters. I like to create sticky customers (ones I cover in chocolate, but also stick around for more). Working with chocolate is a good hook for building rapport, but you don’t need to work with it to use it to your advantage! Here are 100 ways to make your customers go WOW.

You

Nothing will test you like running your own business. It is the best personal development programme you will ever encounter. You will experience highs and lows, but the benefits of being your own boss far outweigh the difficult bits!

Be YOU. People buy authentic, tell your story, be yourself.

If you do not it will be exhausting and not something that you can sustain long term.

Set boundaries for yourself and stick to them. Respect yourself and others will follow suit. Treat everyone in the way you expect to be treated yourself.

The relationship with yourself will be tested and you need to know who you are and what you stand for.

All relationships matter.