 Both Emma and Victoria manage the business from their respective homes near Cambridge and in London whilst looking after five young children, three horses, chickens, three dogs and two patient husbands between them, 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 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 160 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 in the market. We have begun to travel widely to far flung places to source and meet cottage industry 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 work beautifully as design-led gifts but that they are also hand-made, eco friendly, sustainable and have an ethical story to tell in the communities that they support; all such important concerns in today's world. This year even our shopping bags will be ethical, being made of jute or recycled paper – we do not do plastic bags any more!”
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Previously, Emma, a graduate from Oxford University and Harvard Business School, had a career in management consultancy, investment banking and retail for over 15 years, whilst Victoria had a marketing and PR career within investment banking for over 10 years in London and Hong Kong. They felt that with their combined experience that they could potentially make their dream work.
In fact, the whole family has a retail and hospitality background, something the girls feel is in their blood. Their father, Ian Thomas, owned and ran Culpeper the Herbalists for over 30 years, whilst their two brothers are also self-employed – one owning and managing The Royal Harbour Hotel in Ramsgate, (www.royalharbourhotel.co.uk) which was recently voted “quite possibly the best B&B in the UK” by the Daily Mail – the other owning a specialist ham and delicatessen business in Suffolk, called “Emmetts” (www.emmettsham.co.uk) which held a Royal Warrant to the Queen Mother and is a Rick Stein Food Hero,.
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