Truffles Newsletter

  Truffles:  How did you happen to come to work at Sweet Designs?  Holly: It’s kind of funny. I moved into our apartment right across the street and every day I walked past Sweet Designs with its lovely chocolate aroma calling to me. It looked like a great environment with lots of smiling people. Then I saw an ad on Indeed, the online job site, that you were hiring for the Christmas season and thought that would be ideal seasonal work.  And the commute wasn’t too bad!  I love working here and it has turned into this full-time job.  Truffles: Tell us a bit about yourself.  Holly:  I just finished my master’s program at Kent State and received my degree in mental health counseling and I’m starting to look for a position...

Truffles: How did you come to work at Sweet Designs?  Maeve: My older sister was working here for two years before I started.  She introduced me to Sweet Designs. I interviewed with the manager at the time and my first job was in the kitchen when I was barely 16.   Truffles: What were those early days like?  Maeve: It was much different then; I feel that I didn’t understand responsibility then.  Ines really took me in and kind of mothered me and trained me a lot.  Even as busy as she was, she always took the time to make sure that I was comfortable...

    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...