This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A year ago, Marian Rivkind's edible ornaments were merely conceptual.
Now, thanks in part to a microenterprise loan, her upscale Yölka Chocolates have been featured in major magazines, including O and EveryDay with Rachael Ray, and the elegant hanging Christmas balls are sold in shops from coast to coast.
Rivkind, the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants, grew up in Toronto. Her mother had managed to bring ornate glass ornaments from the old country — to hang on holiday trees called yölkas — but instead of giving her young daughters free rein with the delicate antiques, she wrapped fruit and confections in fancy foil for them to hang on the tree.
Rivkind, 32, works as a hair stylist at Shear Excellence in Salt Lake City, and is also a mother to a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. In recent years, she found herself carrying on her mother's traditions, but taking them a step further.
"Last January I opened up the LLC and started working on the artwork," Rivkind said, crediting area artists Tessa Lindsay and Trent Call for the final look of the product.
"Tessa had researched Russian folk art and came up with hand-drawn designs and a mock-up of the packaging," Rivkind said. "I was totally blown away. We ran with it."
Rivkind's next task was to produce a prototype. A shop in Blaine, Wash. — Totally Chocolates — imports the 2-ounce Belgian chocolate balls, and Rivkind lined up a foil producer, ribbon maker and packaging manufacturer to prepare samples in time for New York's International Gift Fair in August.
"Oprah found us in New York," Rivkind said. That celebrity support gave her budding business a big boost, with premium online gift outlets Olive & Cocoa and Red Envelope taking notice and marketing the decorative delectables on their websites.
Rivkind returned to Utah with $30,000 in purchase orders and needed to pay production costs. A major Utah bank had stalled for several months in processing her loan request, Rivkind said, so she sought out the nonprofit Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund (UMLF), where she quickly qualified for $25,000.
According to umlf.com, a microenterprise has five or fewer employees, requires less than $35,000 in startup funding and is too small to qualify for commercial banking services.
"We've been in business for 15 years," said UMLF's Executive Director Kathy Ricci, who praised Rivkind for her simple but very marketable idea.
Upscale brick-and-mortar shops around the country carry Rivkind's product, including Trifecta Design and Jolley's Gift and Floral in Salt Lake City, and Holladay's Paisley Pomegranate.
"Business has been amazing — we've sold 12,000," Rivkind said.
With the winter holidays drawing to a close, the energetic entrepreneur already has hanging Fabergé Easter eggs in the works. Along with the black, gold and silver foil used in the holiday tree ornaments, Rivkind also plans to fabricate a teal, gold and silver egg.
"Its a luxury item to look at," Rivkind said. "And you get to eat it."
Twitter: @catmck —
Yölka Chocolates — from Russia with love
Six ornaments (unboxed) • $45
Six ornaments in a gift box • $58
Single ornament (unboxed) • $10
Single ornament in a gift box • $16
O To learn more > yolkachocolates.com