Moco Choco
About the Company
Moco Choco is a bakery based in Brooklyn, NY, founded by Gaza. The bakery specializes in custom cakes, cookies, and chocolates, with a focus on high-quality ingredients and unique, colorful designs. Moco Choco aims to provide Brooklyn residents with distinctive and creatively crafted baked goods that stand out from typical local bakery offerings. The business has gained a reputation for its personalized and visually appealing products, catering to various events such as weddings and parties.
Idea Behind Company
Gaza's entrepreneurial journey began in Yemen, where he was inspired by the strong entrepreneurial spirit of his community. After fleeing Yemen due to civil war, Gaza settled in the US and sought ways to create a livelihood. An advertisement for the Chocolate Expo in Long Island sparked his interest in chocolate-making. Attending the expo, Gaza was captivated by the concept of Print-On Chocolate, which allows for edible pictures to be printed on chocolate bars, cookies, and cakes. Realizing no one in his neighborhood was offering this service, Gaza decided to explore and learn this unique technique, laying the foundation for Moco Choco.
Creating the Company
To create Moco Choco, Gaza invested in the necessary machinery and ingredients, costing him less than $2,000. He practiced the Print-On Chocolate technique extensively, refining his skills until he was confident in offering his products to others. Initially, he provided free samples to friends and local businesses, using these opportunities to improve his craft and generate word-of-mouth marketing. As his skills and confidence grew, so did the demand for his custom cakes and chocolates, allowing him to officially launch Moco Choco.
Launching the Business
Gaza officially launched Moco Choco in March 2020, a challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the difficult circumstances, he persevered, taking advantage of a free entrepreneurial course offered by a local church to learn about marketing, profit margins, and business setup. During the pandemic, Gaza focused on building his business infrastructure, including setting up a business bank account and forming an LLC. He continued to bake for friends and fulfill the few orders that came in, using the time to prepare for a post-pandemic business environment.
Earnings
Today, Moco Choco is profitable, generating over $30,000 in annual revenue. The business's success is attributed to Gaza's strategic marketing efforts on social media, participation in local community events, and a strong emphasis on customer relationships. Despite rising costs and economic challenges, Gaza has managed to maintain profitability by offering a range of products beyond just cakes, such as cake pops and custom chocolates. This diversification has helped increase profit margins and meet various customer needs. Moco Choco operates as an online bake shop, avoiding the high costs of a physical storefront while still effectively reaching its target market.
