Tina Buck wasn’t always a chocolatier. In fact, she started her career on a much different path.
"I worked in Chicago at one of the largest advertising agencies in the world," says Buck, who owns
The Chocolate Garden in Coloma. "My first account was Sara Lee."
With so much professional time spent discussing and executing the marketing of sweets, Buck decided to try her hand at making some of her own--batches of decadent, fresh truffles that she gave to her clients as gifts.
Fifteen years later, the hobby became her life: Buck opened The Chocolate Garden in 1998. The business began with
Internet sales only, but in a few years Buck added a small retail store.
It has continued to expand, and overall business has jumped by 40 percent over the past two years. The growth meant a retail store expansion and two more jobs in 2011, bringing The Chocolate Garden’s employee roster total from 8 to 10, including its proprietor.
Buck’s recipe for succulent success, including last year’s growth, is a focus on creating only her 23 different truffle treats. She has no plans to produce other types of confections at The Chocolate Garden.
"Truffles are the creme de la creme of chocolate and I believe in doing fewer things better," she says. "We really have a great product. I know everybody says that, but in our case it’s true."
America seems to agree. The Food Network, the Travel Channel and Midwest Living Magazine have all featured the Chocolate Garden in recent years. The Best of America by
America’s best Online calls The Chocolate Garden the best chocolatier in America.
Without revealing secrets, Buck explains why.
"We have a unique process to make truffles more creamy and luscious. They’re very fresh and definitely better than most."
Writer: Kelle Barr, Second Wave
Source: Tina Buck, The Chocolate Garden
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