When you get an email in your inbox from a mom (who is also a friend) asking for a website design for our very own local “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, you say yes! 

Better yet, when it’s a business owned by a 4 and 6 year old, how can you pass that up?  

Ok, so maybe it isn’t a full fledged chocolate factory yet, but these two young, driven entrepreneurs sure dream of working towards that. 

After being inspired by an episode of Shark Tank, where a fellow young entrepreneur presented a business idea, Eli and Elise got some ideas of their own. Coming from a long lineage of entrepreneurs of Swedish heritage, their grandfather challenged them to start a business. He shared with them what it means to be an entrepreneur and gave each of his grandchildren a small amount of capital to invest in a business idea of their own. 

Mom and dad were all in on the idea. They understood that doing this with their kids—teaching them how to start and run a small business at a young age—were principles that would set them up for success in their futures.

What idea did they land on? Sweden’s best kept secret: Swedish Chocolate Balls!

When Eli and Elise’s mom reached out to get a small website up and going, I couldn’t help but fall in love with their idea and business. Seeing parents instill important entrepreneurial values and money management principles in the next generation is so fun to watch and be a part of.  

“Kids are our future! Instilling entrepreneurship into them from a young age will teach them essential life skills, shaping them to become strong future leaders. Not only does it teach them hard work ethics and grit but it also teaches them problem solving, communication, team work, self motivation and creativity,” says their mom, Shima Hjalmeby. 

Eli and Elise have turned their very own kitchen into a “chocolate ball factory” and deliver their chocolate balls locally themselves (with a little help from mom:). What does mom love most about it? “Besides all the extra quality time together, it has been so rewarding watching them see the results of their hard work and understanding the value of money,” says Shima. 

Although both very entrepreneurial themselves, Shima and her husband are grateful that Farfar (grandpa) was a catalyst in inspiring their kids to start their own business. “My husband and I both come from a long line of entrepreneurs. We both own and run multiple businesses but it had never crossed our minds to involve the kids until their grandfather encouraged them to pursue a business idea of their own,” she says. 

Don’t underestimate these two hardworking young entrepreneurs, as they have big plans for the future! Where are they headed? 

“We want to grow bigger locally and be part of different farmer’s markets. We want to eventually move into a commercial kitchen that will also allow us to offer shipping out of state. There has also been some talk about possibly expanding our product line with other Swedish treats as well. If you ask the kids they want to build a Chocolate Ball Factory similar to the one in the movie ‘Charlie and the Chocolate factory’!” 

I have a suspicion that they may do just that one day soon. But don’t take my word for it. Check out their website, and if you are local to Vero Beach, try some of their chocolate balls! You may just get to meet them in real life.

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