Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Cook.
Hi Molly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My husband John and I have quite a background in chocolate! I grew up outside Hershey, PA, and my grandfather owned and ran his family’s 3-generation chocolate business outside Towson, MD. And after working for a renowned chocolatier in Fort Myers Fl, (myself, 7 years, and John, 15), we were part of a team of chocolatiers that produced and created millions of bonbons each year. We both competed in national competitions and took home several national wins. We also have had the pleasure of working with some of the most talented and respected chefs in our field, giving us quite the arsenal of techniques and skills that have molded us into the chocolatiers we are today. In 2017 we relocated to Asheville, NC, for my husband John’s new job as an executive pastry chef and our love of the area. After having and staying home with our daughter and then our son, the pandemic hit. We quickly found ourselves just like everyone else, stuck at home, wondering what would come next. With all of this time on our hands, we pulled out our chocolate equipment and decided to make a few things, mainly out of boredom but also to make a little extra cash around the holidays. This was during the “hot cocoa bomb” trend. We decided to make them and made about 700 in just a few weeks through our friends, family, and word of mouth! After that sort of boom from that pilot season of making bonbons and hot cocoa bombs. We both sat down and created our plan to start Marble & Steel. We specialize in making delicious, handcrafted bonbons and chocolate amenities perfect for sharing, gifting, or enjoying all to yourself!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a full-time mom of toddlers and practically teaching myself from scratch about being an entrepreneur, business owner, social media manager, etc., is quite the role! But it is one that I am so proud to be doing! We are still a fairly new business, and it mainly lies on my shoulders to get mostly everything done, so we have no lack of struggles, but each challenge has been smooth to figure out and accomplish!
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
Marble and Steel Craft Chocolates is a handmade craft chocolate online boutique south of Asheville, NC. Online orders for domestic shipping were also served locally and in the greater WNC area. We specialize in creating handcrafted chocolate bonbons, chocolate bars, custom orders, and various chocolate specialties. We are known for our beautiful, giftable boxes of bonbons that create an unforgettable experience as each person explores a box of our chocolates. We only use high-quality, premium ingredients that are responsibly sourced to create the best flavors and textures in our chocolates! Each piece is meticulously created with artistically inspired designs to take you on a journey from the moment you open our box! We carefully hand-paint and airbrush each mold, working in small batches to deliver an exquisite chocolate experience we take great pride in creating.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I have learned so far on this journey has been reminding myself, when times seem overwhelming and stressful, that every single entrepreneur and business owner has gone through endless challenges too. It is not all that you see on the surface! And it is a breath of fresh air to realize that and keep pressing on with your journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marbleandsteelcraftchocolates.com/
- Instagram: @Marbleandsteelchocolates
