Transcript
Despina Karatzias 0:00
Hello, hello, hello. I have a sweet surprise. This has been an amazing connection and exquisite connection with Graham here Graham Stephenson’s from Exquisite Treats. Graham, please tell us a little bit more about your wonderful business Exquisite Treats.
Graham Stephenson 0:17
The background was to make the best chocolates that I could make without emulsifiers without preservatives without any artificial ingredients so the orange flavour is orange flavour it’s orange that comes from an orange light by the jeans it comes from fresh ginger it’s not ginger flavour that the vanilla is vanilla been extracted into the ganache, it’s not vanilla essence. So what was important to me was to manufacture the best chocolates I can make using no artificial extenders thickeners preservatives and to get a product that people wanted to come back and play again that had a taste profile different that was complex. That wasn’t just a piece of milk chocolate or a piece of dark chocolate that had to be something that was interesting and something that varied on your palate so first say the chilli Chai flavour you got the chai tea flavour which was quite smooth and nice. And then at the finish the chocolate I thought that was nice indicating bite on the chilli. That’s the sorts of chocolates that I want to make complex, original and unadulterated. For
Despina Karatzias 1:45
Complex, original and unadulterated food, I haven’t had an exquisite treat for you, but I devour I’m devouring just how you explain and I just I can’t wait. You’re I mean this is taking stuff just it’s not just food. It’s the food technology and science behind food is where your training comes in. And I’ve just really enjoyed this session with Graham Graham. So we’ve been on a journey and you’ve definitely had your fair share of disruption in business in your journey so far. So in these, you know, new chapter as we as we move forward, this has been an incredible program put to the small business community, what was your motivation to apply and come and join this digital program.
Graham Stephenson 2:39
Basically, being an introvert Caymus’s social media was about far out of my comfort zone as you can get. And the only way I was going to learn about it was to do a course and to get some understanding of it from people who knew what they were talking about. So that I could and basically I wanted to have a website presence so that I had a more professional front page to my business. Instagram and Facebook, were just part of that whole social media exposure in my business.
Despina Karatzias 3:23
And that with that now going on this journey, whether you’ve had an assessment and we’ve had a one on one time together, tell me what had been some key things that have come out of this or how have you found value of your time in participating
Graham Stephenson 3:40
two things happened one the one on one session has proven I get positive solid results the things that I can actually go and do and fix and change and improve my website improve my social media presence for one on one, the group sessions I don’t get as much from because you don’t have the time to ask a question about things that bother you or things that you really want to know. So the one on one sessions are brilliant, they really you only need to get one really good idea out of it to make a chase the business to make it worthwhile. I think Mali Bromley from the Shire has done a brilliant job at getting this together. And I think it’s worthwhile doing it. And if you only get one piece of information that constructively helps your business.
Despina Karatzias 4:40
Fantastic share to Mali and the team and to other businesses. What would you say to them because you’re doing a lot in your business. You’re a busy man to other businesses, and we’ve been hearing that a lot in the time that we’ve been here about the you know, a lot of people’s plates and platters some form, what would you say to them when opportunities like this, that Mali and the counterpart put out there to the community? Or would you say to them,
Graham Stephenson 5:12
I guess sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone and do things like this. And until you actually do it, you don’t really know where you’re going to get a benefit from it. You actually have to step outside your comfort zone, do the course, and see what you get from it. You don’t have to keep going if it’s not your cup of tea at all, but my suggestion is it’s really worthwhile doing even just to get one advantage over other businesses in your business’s social media presence.
Despina Karatzias 5:45
Brilliant. That is really, really good advice for getting out of your comfort zone, as I know and thank you for doing this short video. I think your message in your product needs to be shared far and wide. Thank you, Graham. Appreciate you and all the best exquisite tricks.com.au is what you need to go and check out these gorgeous products just in time for Christmas.