Starting a business during the pandemic can be fun, says EU senior

Scrolling through TikTok, EU senior and criminal justice major Rabia Amin came across a promotional video from a small business owner for the umpteenth time. 

On a whim, Amin, who perfected her recipe for hot chocolate bombs through trial-and-error, decided to begin selling her desserts, and “Rabia’s Chocolate” was born. To advertise, Amin set up an Instagram account (@rabiaschocolate) late last November, which has since amassed nearly 300 followers. 

“During Thanksgiving break, I was just like, ‘I’m going to try it and see how it goes,’” Amin shared about the initial idea to post her dessert creations online. 

“It is so cool and inspiring,” said Amin of small businesses that utilize social media to reach a larger market. 

The overwhelmingly positive response Amin received reinforced her passion for making handcrafted sweets. “So many of my friends and family came up and supported me,” she reminisced. 

Now, four months after opening her business, Amin sells various homemade desserts aside from hot chocolate bombs, including chocolate-covered strawberries and Oreo balls. Around Valentine’s Day, Amin introduced breakable chocolate hearts that feature a personalized message and come with a miniature wooden hammer. 

Catering to her local community allows Amin to be, “a part of so many awesome memories,” whether that be holidays, birthdays, or wedding celebrations. 

“When I do deliveries, people have the biggest smiles on their faces,” said Amin. 

Amin, in hopes of expanding her audience, intends for her products to be inclusive of people with certain dietary restrictions. 

Hot chocolate bombs are filled with marshmallows which are likely to contain porcine gelatin. This can deter potential customers, according to Amin, who avoids using pork-derived ingredients in her desserts. 

“I didn’t know anyone from the area who had zabiha-halal options,” noted Amin about local businesses selling the internet-famous hot chocolate bombs. 

As much as she would like to prevent hiccups, Amin explained that the decorating process is not always forgiving. Occasionally, “the chocolate keeps melting and it cracks, or it just doesn’t come out the way you want it to.” 

Managing her business and meeting her obligations at school has proved to be challenging; however, Amin has been able to adapt by keeping her priorities in order. 

“It’s definitely hard,” reflected Amin, noting that some days can be especially demanding or frustrating. In those instances, Amin said that it is best to, “take a deep breath.” 

Even so, Amin could not be more grateful for the opportunity she has been given. “I’m enjoying it in the moment.”

“A big pro is being a part of people’s special days,” she added, advising people that are developing small business plans to cherish the journey. 

Because Amin operates out of her home kitchen, she has similarly adapted to sharing the space with her family. “When I’m working in my kitchen, nobody else is allowed to be in there.” 

Preceding winter break, Amin noticed an increase in orders which made balancing her assignments and preparing for final exams particularly difficult. Luckily, Amin can turn to people in her life for assistance. “My mom would help me a lot,” she mentioned. 

Following her straining experience during the winter holiday season, Amin has resolved to step back from running her business as midterms approach this spring term. Though Amin has stopped taking new orders, for the time being, she will resume business as usual soon.  

With Amin graduating in May, she is not in a hurry to determine whether the business will stay open, as she will be pursuing a law degree in the upcoming fall. “I’m taking it day by day,” Amin said.