31 Degrees is growing!
AU$12,813
of $10,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 25th Nov 2015 at 5:30AM.
My name is Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick, and I am the owner and creator of 31 Degrees Custom Chocolates. Five years ago, I was working as a nanny in Paris, during which time I ate everything I could lay my hands on, especially delighting in all the amazing pastries and chocolates! It then occurred to me that making all these delightful products was an actual career, and one that I could pursue. When I returned to Brisbane, I threw myself into studying Patisserie, and worked making cakes for 18 months, before turning my hand to chocolate.
I launched 31 Degrees at the end of January 2014, and have been operating as an online chocolate shop, occasionally popping up around town at markets and festivals.
I’ve been working out of a shared commercial kitchen, Wandering Cooks, but am missing out on the biggest reason for chocolate- instant gratification! So 31 Degrees is opening a permanent, physical home. Not only can production be stepped up, but new flavours can hit the shelves, and a new vibrant and welcoming space can be a part of Brisbane’s amazing food scene. All going well, a small kitchen and shop front will be opening in the first quarter of 2016. A fantastic location has been found, and negotiations are well underway, the contract poised for signing!
One of the favourite parts of my work is hearing people's stories of the chocolate or lolly shops they went into as a child, and how much of an impact seeing the sweets being made had on them. The thought that I could give people the same experience, with large windows into the kitchen in my shop makes me so excited! That extra connection to how food is produced is so important to me.
In addition to bringing European style chocolates to Brisbane, I rely on fresh, local ingredients for the majority of my products. The raspberries are from Caboolture, the cream from Maleny, the pecans from Eltham, the passionfruit from the Sunshine Coast - with so much amazing produce on our doorstop, it makes sense to showcase it! Everything else gets made from scratch in-house- marshmallows, dulce de leche, even the fondant, all with no preservatives or added sugar.
The 'custom' in 31 Degrees Custom Chocolates isn't just for show- because every batch of chocolates is made fresh, I have a huge amount of flexibility in the creation of flavours. My favourite part is tailoring products to exactly meet customer requests, including the flavour, the inclusions and the finish. In fact, some of the favourite flavours on the standard chocolate list started out as custom requests, including peanut butter, passionfruit and port! I've been lucky enough to create products for Bucci, Maserati, Woolf Pack, along with chocolate and whiskey pairings at Shady Palms.
Being such a small business, getting a bank loan is difficult, and the repayments are another costly burden, so this way not only does my business expand, all the wonderful supporters receive delicious sweet treats- just in time for Christmas!
Rewards
Every pledger will receive a handwritten thank you note, because every little bit helps, and I want to make sure you know just how much I appreciate your support!
Each and every 31 Degrees product is made fresh, and so if you have a specific date over the coming months in mind when you would like to use your reward, please let us know! Otherwise orders will be delivered in batches during December- perfect timing for Christmas! We want you to receive your products in the best possible condition, so we will be contact to alert you of your delivery window.
Any rewards located in South East Queensland will either be couriered or hand delivered, and all other rewards will be posted or couriered. Unfortunately, we can only deliver within Australia! A small shipping cost has been added to some rewards, depending on your location- I've discounted the cost as a way of thank you! Unfortunately, shipping a fragile and heat sensitive product can get expensive, and I want your reward to arrive in the best possible condition!
If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please let us know. Products may contain gluten, dairy, cream, nuts and soy lecithin. A clear label and description is provided, but we cannot guarantee allergen free products.
For the extremely generous pledgers that choose the $500 or $2500 rewards, we will be in contact to organise when you would like to receive your products.
Each and every 31 Degrees product is made fresh, and so if you have a specific date over the coming months in mind when you would like to use your reward, please let us know! Otherwise orders will be delivered in batches during December- perfect timing for Christmas! We want you to receive your products in the best possible condition, so we will be contact to alert you of your delivery window.
Any rewards located in South East Queensland will either be couriered or hand delivered, and all other rewards will be posted or couriered. Unfortunately, we can only deliver within Australia! A small shipping cost has been added to some rewards, depending on your location- I've discounted the cost as a way of thank you! Unfortunately, shipping a fragile and heat sensitive product can get expensive, and I want your reward to arrive in the best possible condition!
If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please let us know. Products may contain gluten, dairy, cream, nuts and soy lecithin. A clear label and description is provided, but we cannot guarantee allergen free products.
For the extremely generous pledgers that choose the $500 or $2500 rewards, we will be in contact to organise when you would like to receive your products.
How The Funds Will Be Used
Most of the funds raised will go directly into fitout, fees and running costs. A bit of a breakdown is below, so you know exactly where your pledges are going!
Fitout costs
Some fitout costs are already covered, and approval has been given for the kitchen equipment to be financed, but there are always costs to pay for! This is the most important goal of this project!
$5000
Fees, fees, fees!
Opening a shop has a multitude of fees attached to it, from lawyer fees, to design fees, to council fees. Extra funds will help cover all these unexciting, but extremely necessary things!
$3000
New melting tank/s
All the chocolate is tempered manually, and melting tanks hold the chocolate at the correct temperature. The one I am using at the moment is way too small (1.5L), and so I have to temper numerous batches of chocolate. A larger melting tank (9L) means less time spent tempering, and more consistency between batches.
Each costs $830, and I would be looking at purchasing one to start off with, with 2 more further down the line.
Packaging
New labels and inserts for the packaging means a more cohesive and luxurious look to the products. This includes designing and printing costs for the inserts and labels for all the products.
I am working with a lovely Brisbane based designer to create the new brand look!
$1000
Any extra funds raised will go directly into fitout costs and fees!
Fitout costs
Some fitout costs are already covered, and approval has been given for the kitchen equipment to be financed, but there are always costs to pay for! This is the most important goal of this project!
$5000
Fees, fees, fees!
Opening a shop has a multitude of fees attached to it, from lawyer fees, to design fees, to council fees. Extra funds will help cover all these unexciting, but extremely necessary things!
$3000
New melting tank/s
All the chocolate is tempered manually, and melting tanks hold the chocolate at the correct temperature. The one I am using at the moment is way too small (1.5L), and so I have to temper numerous batches of chocolate. A larger melting tank (9L) means less time spent tempering, and more consistency between batches.
Each costs $830, and I would be looking at purchasing one to start off with, with 2 more further down the line.
Packaging
New labels and inserts for the packaging means a more cohesive and luxurious look to the products. This includes designing and printing costs for the inserts and labels for all the products.
I am working with a lovely Brisbane based designer to create the new brand look!
$1000
Any extra funds raised will go directly into fitout costs and fees!
The Challenges
The biggest challenge any business faces is dealing with working capital- that is, the money used to make money! Every dollar 31 Degrees receives goes straight back into the business to help it grow, so there’s not a lot of savings to go around. Moving from an online store to a physical shop is a huge step, and there are many risks associated with it, most of which are solved by a large pile of money! Every dollar that is pledged helps the business grow, and in turn supports the other small businesses that produce is sourced from.
Thank you!
A big, big thank you to you for helping out, and a handwritten thank you note.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 15
Sweet times ahead!
A handwritten thank you note, and a voucher for $15, redeemable when the store opens!
9 chosen
Est. delivery is Mar 16
What a sweetie!
A handwritten thank you note, a box of 12 chocolates containing a selection of popular flavours, and 6 chewy salted caramels. ($31 value.)
54 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 15
Hey there, sugar!
A handwritten thank you note, a box of 24 chocolates containing a selection of popular flavours, and 12 chewy salted caramels. ($62 value.)
21 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 15
Extra Sweet!
A handwritten thank you note, a $90 hamper, (contains a box of 24 chocolates, a box of 12 chocolates, a box of 6 chocolates, and 5 rocky road (50g) or honeycomb (40g), or a selection of each), and a $15 voucher. ($124 value)
32 chosen
Est. delivery is Dec 15
As sweet as can be!
A product of your choosing named after you, a private chocolate lesson, an invite to the grand opening party, a two tier Pinata Cake, two $90 hampers, two boxes of 24 chocolates, 4 boxes of 12 chocolates, a $500 voucher, and a whole lotta love!
1 chosen / 1 available
Est. delivery is Dec 15
Sugar Rush
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL-20 AVAILABLE A handwritten thank you note, and two boxes of 24 chocolates ($104 value)!
20 chosen / 0 available
Est. delivery is Dec 15
Sweet as sugar!
A handwritten thank you note, a two tier Piñata Cake on date of your choosing ($225) (SE QLD only- pledgers outside of this area will receive an equal value voucher), $90 hamper (a box of 24 chocolates, a box of 12 chocolates, a box of 6 chocolates, and 5 rocky road (50g) or honeycomb (40g), or a selection of each), voucher for $250. ($584 value)
2 chosen / 0 available
Est. delivery is Dec 15