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Fresh off the launch of 15 new flavors, and bringing her boutique chocolate store’s inventory up to 45 unique tastes, Heaton is quick to say that it’s repeat business that’s kept her in business, regardless
of a down economy.
“I don’t have a life, it’s just business right now,” Heaton giggles, during a visit to Fujah studios. She then giggles louder and adds, “I have a loud laugh, It’s awful. It’s like my mom’s laugh.” Heaton shares more with her mother than just her laugh. The young entrepreneur credits Chocolat to her mother, who watched the Johnny Depp feature, Chocolat, depicting mother-daughter chocolatiers, and encouraged Heaton to join her and follow the movie heroines' lead. “Desserts have always been a passion for me,” April said. That passion is evident in her chocolates. With names like Peachy Keen, Kahlua Kiss and Enchanted, Heaton’s chocolates are as elaborate in taste as they are design. Each candy is hand-crafted by Heaton in her Branson, Mo., store.
The shells are designed in beehive, block, globe, fleur de lis, pyramid and many other creative shapes, and then painted with edible "paint" in golds, lavenders, deep reds and soft yellows. “We’ve had a lot of people say it looks like jewelry,” Heaton says of her very edible chocolate. Each sheet of intricate artisan chocolates takes about an hour or two to make, and Heaton explained her designs correspond to the flavor of the piece; and the more unusual, the better.
Chocolate with kick, Heaton’s flavors infuse savory and sweet, with combinations like “dark chocolate ganache infused with herbs and chile” or "mango and curry infused into a delicious spicy caramel.”April discovered that there are many different ways to pair chocolateswith spices. “We really encourage people to try the unusual things,”April said.
April’s favorite flavor is the Aztec Gold. “[Aztec Gold is] near to my heart because it’s the first one we did, and it’s the one that’s featured the most,” April said. Aztec Gold has a liquid center of cinnamon, honey and Ancho Chile. One of her newer flavors is called Bee Sting, which pairs honey ganache with chile.
“Every time we think of a new flavor we have to make room in the case,” April smiled. She also added that coming up with the new flavors is her favorite part of the day.
Heaton says that the tiny attention to detail is what separates Chocolat from fine chocolate stores worldwide. It starts with a molding process, and everything from the filling to the molding is made in the store. April said Chocolat is always taking people’s advice for chocolate flavors; they ask customers for suggestions and have a place online for ideas.
April said that Chocolat has reached out to a lot of the locals in her region, and nearly 75 percent of their business is repeats. The locals then tell out-of-town friends and family, which has helped to spread the word.
The main target market for Chocolat is food connoisseurs and gourmets. However, April said that nearly everyone walks away from their shop satisfied.
“Nobody’s ever in a bad mood when they’re shopping for chocolate,” April said. “Chocolate makes people happy.” Chocolat has been a very rewarding experience for the Heatons. “We’re a different kind of chocolate store, and we really want to open people’s eyes to new things,” April said.
Visit Chocolat online: handcraftedchocolat.com
