Sweet Greetings

A 69-year-old retired engineer has embarked on an exciting new career journey with the launch of his confectionery company, Sweet Greetings.

 

David Hortop, who retired as a tool-maker four years ago, designed chocolate wrappers to hand out to local children who were ‘trick or treating‘ on Halloween. Orders from parents who had seen the wrappers came flooding in.

 

Following a year of market research, David then transformed the hobby into a new career and started his business in 2007. He makes personalised chocolate bars for special occasions and events such as weddings, birthdays, births, conferences, functions and graduations.

 

David already employs six staff in his premises at Holbrook Industrial Estate, Halfway, Sheffield; and is making chocolate postcards and selling them in shops, theme parks and tourist board centres. He is also sending personalised chocolate greeting cards and postcards direct to where customers wish them to be sent. David has been networking at shows and has received orders from 27 countries including Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Canada and the US and plans to take on sales agents in the near future.

 

Speaking of his business, David said: “I started out making 20 chocolate bar wrappers and it snowballed from there - I’ve recently been able to take on a school leaver to help around the office. I have no objections in advising someone to start up their own business but they should go to BiG: Make it Your Business for help if they do. They helped me get my own website for my business and I can’t speak more highly of the team who have helped me. 

 

“BiG gave me cash flow advice, helped with any problems I had. They still keep in touch now to make sure I am ok, they really help me keep my eye on the ball.”

 

David met a representative from BiG: Make it Your Business at a networking event. One of the most important business areas that BiG: Make it your Business helped David with was looking at alternative ways of addressing his potential markets. 

 

For more information about Sweet Greetings, call 0114 251 4195 or 07775 850 836, email sweet.greetings@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.sweetgreetings.co.uk