"The Chocolate Elephant, judged one of Britain’s top ten start-up businesses in the 2008 HSBC/Sky News Start Up Stars competition, was started by two sisters in March 2007".
Emma and Victoria manage the business from their respective homes near Cambridge and in London whilst looking after five young children, three horses, chickens, two dogs and two patient husbands, who have been known to be knights in shining armour whether it be fielding calls, humping stock or dealing with a puncture late at night.
All mothers have busy lives, but Emma and Victoria are lucky enough to be able to share the challenge of raising young families whilst building their business. However, they both love the fact that they can run this business from home enabling them to still have that precious time with their young children.
"The company has grown quite considerably since its inception over three years ago and although it is often quite a juggling act managing the business whilst coping with the demands of family we LOVE IT, especially when our customers fall in love with our products and want them all - then we know that all our hard work has been worth it!" said Emma Harrison.
WHO WE SELL TO
The Chocolate Elephant sells through its two London shops, online through its website and at over 150 charity fairs and country fairs per year, where it also donates a minimum of 10% of its takings to those charities supported by the respective fairs.
SOURCING PRODUCTS
""For the most part, we work with our producers directly, as opposed to going through wholesalers. This enables us to design and produce a wide range of exclusive products that are not available anywhere else. We have begun to travel widely to far flung places to source and meet small local suppliers to enable us to keep our collection fresh," said Victoria Nielson. She adds "We believe the lovely aspect of our products are that not only do they look beautiful but many have an ethical story to tell in the communities that they support; all such important concerns in today's world.
