Jessica Spaulding grew up in a sugar-free household, so chocolate became the exception. She went to chocolate shows with her mother and learnt about chocolate from all over the world, but she couldn’t locate any that represented her culture.
She tried making her own chocolate when she was 10 years old, and the desire to own a chocolate factory grew from there. Her job, however, became an impediment until she was laid off.
She remembered seeing advertisements for the New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition and decided to participate. After receiving a $15,000 grant from the New York Public Library, a $3,000 loan from Accion Opportunity Fund, a Community Development Financial Institute (CDFI), and free legal and accounting services from Start Small Think Big, she opened her Harlem Chocolate Factory in 2015. She also took a free business service course.
According to Forbes, Spaulding’s company has become a “game changer” in the chocolate industry by 2018. When she first launched her business, she spent weekends wrapping chocolate bars in their living room with the help of her sister, preparing for local markets and fast selling out. Later, she attracted the attention of high-profile business clients by supplying gifts for Chase, Kate Spade, and Sam Adams.
However, the Black entrepreneur’s success did not come easily. According to Forbes, one of her key hurdles was establishing her luxury chocolate brand while locals were used to paying for mass-produced chocolate at convenience stores.
Banks also refused to assist her, citing the fact that chocolates reflecting Black culture would have a limited appeal. “Prior to the epidemic, the thought of a business being supported because it was Black-owned was unheard of, especially one entrenched in African-American culture,” Spaulding told Forbes. “Harlem’s beauty is its bittersweetness: projects and brownstones, caviar and quarter juice, opportunity and poverty.”
Prior to the epidemic, Spaulding’s business was thriving. Her brand was well-known in the store, as well as in corporate gifting and retail. However, as a result of lockdown measures to restrict the virus’s spread, she lost 70% of her earnings from corporate gifting and events. “They were all canceled. Foot traffic to the store has also decreased significantly. “It was a nightmare,” she described it.
Following the upheaval caused by George Floyd’s death, there was a greater emphasis on measures to promote black enterprises. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey have praised the Harlem Chocolate Factory. Spaulding’s brand experienced an unexpected surge in demand, but the pandemic disrupted their supply chain and shipping. Nonetheless, she has used QuickBooks to pivot and ensure that they remain a destination for chocolate lovers in Harlem and beyond.