October is Women’s Small Business month!  How many business owners do we have?

I’ve owned a couple businesses myself {Mary Kay, Beauty 4 Moms, and this blog} and I love to support other small business owners! By the way, Embracing Beauty, offers discounted advertising for women-owned small businesses.

Many people choose a small business because they allow Moms {or Dads} the opportunity too stay at home with their kids while also bringing in money to help with finances.  There are so many opportunities these days that you can truly pick the company that’s best to work for depending on your style.  I was recently given the chance to review the Dove Chocolate Discoveries job opportunity and I hope to give you an adequate review of it so you can make an educated decision of whether or not this would be a good fit for you.

Dove Chocolate Discoveries was launched in February of 2007 and there are now Chocolatiers in 48 states.  Working as a Dove Chocolatier you have the freedom that comes with working for yourself.  You can set your own flexible hours, set your own goals for income, and have extra time to spend with your family.

The Dove Chocolate Discoveries Starter Kit pictured below retails for $79 {with a $200 value} and it includes enough product to get you started hosting several parties.  Here is a list of the contents of the Introductory Kit:

• 1½ Pounds of Milk Chocolate
• 1½ Pounds of Dark Chocolate
• 4 Chocolate Mousse Packets
• 1 Chocolate Martini Mix Bottle
• 6 Chai Tea Packets
• 1 Blue Heart-Shaped Fondue Set
• 1 Truffle Fudge Brownie Mix
• 1 Box Chocolate-Covered Almonds
• 1 Welcome Pack
• 1 Tasting Party DVD
• 1 Share the Sweet Life DVD
• 25 Host Coaching Guides
• 25 Tasting Party Invitations
• 25 Fall/Holiday Catalogs
• 25 Fall/Holiday Entertaining Guides
• 50 Order Forms

Dove’s website says, “Become a part of the latest direct selling company that combines the global romance with premium chocolate and the growing trend of home entertaining.”  Most people I know love chocolate so I don’t imagine it would be too hard to convince them to come to a chocolate tasting party.  Dove, along with several other direct selling companies, tell you that you don’t need selling experience, just an ability to share enthusiasm for the brand.  At the Chocolate Tasting parties that you’ll lead, your hostess will invite her friends, you’ll share yummy chocolate treats and demonstrate entertaining ideas.  Dove says that there is no need for cooking or Chocolatier experience required.

Last year, Americans spent more than $16 billion on chocolate!  That should make it an easy product to sell.  Unlike some direct selling companies that sell products that you’ll only buy once, chocolate is a consumable purchase.  Once you have a customer who loves the product you could easily have a customer for life!  They always say it’s ten times cheaper to keep a customer than it is to get a new one.

I loved, absolutely loved, the products I received in my starter kit.  The Chocolate Chai Tea was yummy and the Truffle Fudge Brownie Mix was absolutely incredible!  I hope to find a Chocolatier in my area that I can buy these from.

While I might splurge on a few of Dove’s premier items I have to admit that many of the items in the catalog are out of my price range.  While I realize that I am incredibly frugal, I can’t imagine too many people willing to pay $24 for a box of 16 chocolate covered graham crackers.  It seems to me that these are chocolate treats that many people would only treat themselves to on occasion.  That’s not to say it’s a bad business idea but just something to take into consideration.  They did have a few spatulas, parchment bags, and other bakery items with prices comparable to other well-known bakery brands.

After letting my husband sample the AMAZING Truffle Fudge brownies I asked him his opinion on them and if he thought I should continue to buy these at $14 a box.  He loved them but said that my normal brownies would do just fine most of the time but he didn’t see why I couldn’t make these for special occasions.  I do plan on purchasing Dove Chocolatiers products for any future shower or party I throw and of course to treat my family to on occasion!

Dove Chocolatiers have the opportunity to earn 25% – 40% of their sales which is lower than the 50% I’m use to with Mary Kay, although it’s still good.  Dove’s website says, “Get started quickly and you can earn even more in your first 90 days with our TREAT YOURSELF Program. Sponsor and mentor a team and the possibilities are endless.”  I would have to know more about their business plan to give further analysis but it seems like you have the possibility to make good money.

Pros:

• Work from home pros

1. Smaller wardrobe
2. No daily commute
3. Flexible hours
4. You’re your own boss
5. Set your own income
6. More time with family

• Yummy product
• Consumable product
• Respected brand
• Sales unaffected by economy
• Low start-up cost

Cons:

• Pricey product
• Direct selling (a possible con)

The only other thing that would be a problem for me is some of the items inside their product catalog.  They sell cocktail shakers,  daiquiri mixes, martini mixes, etc.  While the Chocolatiers aren’t actually selling liquor they are selling items that encourage drinking.  Please know that I’m not out to condemn everyone that drinks but I personally don’t drink and would not feel comfortable handing that literature to anyone.

All in all, the Dove Chocolatier opportunity sounds like a great one!  You get to sample yummy, exclusive, premier chocolates and share them with others.  Direct selling is a great way to meet new friends and stretch yourself out of your comfort zone making you a stronger person.  If you think this would be a good fit for you, go to the Dove Chocolatiers Facebook page for more information or sign up today to be a Chocolatier and be on your way to earning money and sharing your love of chocolate with others!

P.S. If any of you sign up please let me know…you might just have your first customer! 🙂

Oh, I almost forgot…I have a start-up kit to giveaway to one fabulous, lucky, Embracing Beauty reader! { Don’t worry, this doesn’t sign you up for a business, it’s just free chocolate and information about the business opportunity!}  Hurry and enter because it’s only a 24 hour giveaway!

Please note that while I’m offering you an extra entry in the giveaway if you tweet about the Cheap Sally contest I’m entered in I am in no way giving you an incentive to vote for me.  However, if you feel so inclined I would greatly appreciate it. 🙂

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of DOVE Chocolate Discoveries and received a Starter Kit to facilitate my review.”