Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie-Ange Anglow.
Marie-Ange, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am the owner of ChouxMuch an artisan granola and coconut yogurt company, as well as Choux Atelier an online cream puff bakery that delivers all over Houston. I moved to Houston for a job a few years ago after years of studying and living in France and Belgium.
Three years ago, for the second time in my life I was diagnosed with two polymorphic tumors in my parotid glands on both sides of my neck. One was as big as a clementine and easily accessible, the other so small and so deep under a bunch of nerves I would need to live with it for a while until it could be removed. Needless to say, getting this type of news at 35 years old makes you rethink your priorities. The day before the first surgery after getting my post-recovery medication, I went to an art supply store, bought a watercolor palette and paper thinking that painting would help me pass the time during my recovery. By the grace of God, I made it through surgery and the day after I was discharged from the hospital, I painted the graphics of the first products I ever created and sold. Three weeks later, when my doctor confirmed that the tumor had no cancerous cells I decided to start my businesses. Launching the online bakery was relatively easy, I could handle the pace and it provided me with a side income and a creative outlet while I developed the retail business I knew could grow to be successful.
I had very little money and knew nothing about how to get nutrition facts, where to get barcodes, how to design a website or take product pictures. The only thing I knew was that I could create really delicious granola. While testing my recipes, I learned how to do everything on my own; I designed my logo, my packaging, found a resource for nutrition panels, as well as for barcodes, designed a website, took every product picture with my iPhone 6(now upgraded to an iPhone 8 lol) and learned how to edit with photoshop. My first retail success came when six small grocery stores in Austin ordered boxes of every sample I brought them. I think I cried for a week I was so happy and grateful. From there, I added a few more stores, dealt with a lot of rejection, made many mistakes, and learned from them.
As my body healed, it changed. Foods I could eat with no problem before the surgery now created some discomfort and inflammation. I was told by my doctor that although I am not technically lactose intolerant, I needed to reduce my dairy intake. That was a problem for someone with a granola/baking company who ate a lot of yogurt and cream puffs everyday. Something had to give, so I searched for nondairy yogurts on the markets and was disappointed in what I found. Some brands had up to twenty-one components, and none tasted as good and as satisfying as traditional yogurt. Out of necessity, I decided to make my own and after the fifth try I had the perfect combination! A yogurt that was clean, with no gums, no artificial flavors, minimal ingredients, full of nondairy probiotics, and most importantly delicious. It had the tang of traditional cultured yogurt, it was thick and had the lusciousness of European style offerings. Once again due to a health issue, I had another business idea; there must be others like me who need or want reduce their dairy intake, who may want a clean, decadent product that satisfies a craving without it feeling too healthy-ish. I created three flavors (Plain, Mango, Citrus Blossom) designed the packaging, and again by God’s grace all three flavors were picked up by a few retail stores.
Being a “solo-preneur” is not easy, I have to handle everything and sometimes I really feel like giving up especially when things stagnate. I have to remind myself of what I have accomplished and take pride in it.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road, the main things is money. Every business owner will agree that unfortunately you need money to make money. Being able to source materials by the ton would be more profitable than buying, 50 or 100 pounds at a time. But I currently do not have a big enough demand for that, and it cuts into my profit margins. Learning to navigate and use social media is also a huge setback for me because I am not well versed in it and cannot afford to have a social media manager and I have no marketing and advertising budget. The main struggle right now is driving traffic to my online stores.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with ChouxMuch / Choux Atelier – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
What the Granola/Yogurt is known for: My granolas have an insane amount of nuts and fruits in them, they are usually the most expensive on the shelves but the flavor and ingredients are what my customers love. The Coconut yogurts are sooo satisfying and have only 4-5 ingredients that are organic and I even sourced a Vegan strain of probiotics.
The Choux Bakery is known for: Really awesome cream puffs that are actually not that sweet. That is what keeps the customers coming back, the balance of flavors, the fact that everything is made from scratch and they can get it delivered at home!
What I am most proud of: I started knowing nothing and I worked hard to build and design products that people spend their hard-earned dollars on.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Well right now I am revamping both sites they will be re-launched on December 1st, I redesigned the packaging of the yogurt from plastic to glass, I am in the final phase of testing an awesome pancake mix that can be used by everyone (carnivore, vegan, dairy-free). But mostly the plan for the upcoming year is to try to get into as many stores as I can,
Pricing:
- Granolas: $8
- Coconut Yogurt: $5-$5.99
- Cream Puffs: $3.5
Contact Info:
- Website: www.chouxmuch.com www.chouxatelier.com
- Email: info@chouxmuch.com info@chouxatelier.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chouxmuch/ https://www.instagram.com/chouxatelier/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chouxmuch/ https://www.facebook.com/chouxatelier/
Image Credit:
Marie-Ange Anglow
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