|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Port Waikato’s Charmaine Bond has, perhaps, the tastiest job in the world. Her new business, Artful Edible Prints & Treats, dishes out delicious nibbles, all of which need to be thoroughly taste-tested.
While Bond has plenty of experience creating her wares, her business is relatively new and the service is, in one way, unique.
“Artful Edible Prints & Treats makes customised, sugar-based cookies, gluten-free cookies, cupcakes and mini cakes,” she explains. “We print [images and words] on edible wafers that then go on top of our cupcakes and cookies.
“It’s exactly like printing out a photo on a regular printer, except the ink that we use is water-based and edible.”
While they’re ideal for birthdays and other special occasions, Bond’s personalised goodies have tempted local businesspeople too.
“It’s the same for our corporate cookies. Businesses send us their logos and we’ll take it from there.”
A love of TV baking shows and her autistic daughter, Helen, inspired Bond to start her business.
“I wanted something I could do from home because of my daughter’s disability. She loves cookies and drawing, so I thought, why can’t we add drawings to the goods as well? That’s how it all began.”
While starting any new business can be tough, Bond says she is grateful for the support she has received from her local community as well as assistance from The Generator Project NZ, a Ministry of Social Development programme that assists start-ups.
“Without the help, my business would still be just a dream,” she adds. “And, when you have something unique, people will come!”
