Truffles Newsletter

    Truffles: What’s been your biggest surprise since coming to Sweet Designs? Danielle: Prior to Sweet Designs, I never had as much direct interaction with people on the retail level. People come by for all different kinds of reasons. Some come for comfort. This is a wonderful gift shop. It’s been interesting to see how many people who come to the store want to share stories about who they’re buying for. ‘This person will like this and such and such person will like that’. They almost always leave with one or two items beyond what they’ve come for. I...

Truffles: So, what was your path from being a nurse and oncology researcher at the Cleveland Clinic to Sweet Designs?  Cathy: It’s pretty funny how it came about. Ines (the founder of Sweet Designs) is like a second-mom to my son Jon. He’s done quite a bit of work for her through the years with just about everything - electrical, plumbing, and construction.  When I retired last January from the Clinic, I must have called him too much at work.  One day when we were on the phone, he says ‘Ines needs help, mom’ and ‘you’re kind of bothering me too much here at work’.  I had just retired and wasn’t looking to go back to work.  So, after the second or third call, he handed the phone to Ines and she said ‘So when can you start?’ That’s how I came to...

Truffles: So, what’s it like to be the Chief Bunny Maker at Sweet Designs? Jizwell: It’s fun. I’m always busy making and decorating our chocolates. Right now, I really like having the chance to create designs, particularly the lovely swirls on German Chocolates. Of course, at this time of year with Easter just around the corner, it’s bunny season. Truffles: How did you learn your craft? Jizwell: Before leaving Syria to come to America, I had my own bakery - Chocolate One. Summer was the busiest time as most of our business came from weddings and events. This experience really...

Truffles:  Tell us about your job.  Elenore: I was hired to be a chocolatier and used to just make chocolate, but in the last year, I’ve become responsible for tracking inventory and making sure our retail store has what it needs. Every day I check what they have, what’s getting low and what needs to be restocked.  We might have our products on a shelf in the kitchen but so that they’re not running out or going around in the middle of the day asking, “where’s the ???". I try to stay on top of it all.  And I also I might give a heads-up on our kitchen board for Rob, our kitchen manager, so we can add what we need for our kitchen production.  Truffles: Sounds like you’re sort of Sweet Designs version of an air-traffic controller?  Elenore: I never thought of it that way, but...

Truffles:  You were previously a social worker and have your Master’s in Social Work.  A big change from your former position?  Maria:  I thank my lucky stars for Sweet Designs every night. There’s a real family atmosphere here, Ines is a great boss and it’s amazing how happy chocolate makes people.  I leave here with a smile on my face every day.  I kind of apply my social work degree here – getting to know our customers and hearing their stories is most rewarding.   Truffles: What’s the hardest part of managing the store?  Maria: Probably staying away from the candies.  I came in here a pants-size smaller and I vowed to myself...