Koko Monk Chocolates Case Study
Chip Wilson, Lululemon founder, congratulates Dincer, Koko Monk Chocolates, "New Business of the Year" finalist and Probyn, ReadyGo Media, "Service Excellence" nominee at the West Side Business Awards.
ReadyGo Media recently partnered with Koko Monk Chocolates to launch their new retail shop and café located in Kitsilano.
Industry experts put the new business failure rate at 60-80% in the first year–with food services and new food products scoring as one of the worst sectors. While the figures vary, one thing is certain–ReadyGo Media understands every decision is critical for new and growing businesses.
According to Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, most restaurants fail due to a lack of :
- Marketing budget (consequently, they remain unknown)
- Poor communications with consumers (frustrating and loosing the few customers they do have)
- Negative consumer perception of value (often caused by inconsistent, undistinguished and inferior branding causing distrust), and;
- Failure to integrate a vision and mission into the operation (weak branding leading to confusion and rejection)
ReadyGo Media helped Koko Monk Chocolates define key business goals empowering them to get the most from their budget and time. They needed to build the brand and drive awareness.
Key Tactic: Exclusive Media Event
ReadyGo Media spearheaded the planning, promotion and publicity for an exclusive, sponsored media event marking the launch of their first retail store.
The results? Brand development and exposure that built trust–of consumers and affiliates–achieved through an outpouring of compelling, authentic stories…ultimately generating more and more opportunities.
Measurable results (achieved in less than two months):
- Successful, exclusive event featuring guests including The Globe and Mail and key industry influencers resulting in 14 published stories with a reach of at least 500,000+
- Secured event sponsorships from strategic partners valued at $4000+
- Built a passionate online community resulting in valuable recommendations, publicity and word-of-mouth advertising
- Strong relative growth; maintained good sales during their off-season
- Generated a 40% increase in Facebook fans
- Doubled unique website visitors
- Increased website visits 61%
- Increased Twitter fans 500%
- Increased engagement and established a Klout score of 45
Measured over a five week period before and after the campaign.
Brand Assets:
- Powerful brand messaging
- Press kit
- Photography
- Promotional media booklet
- 5 star Yelp and Urban Spoon ratings
Paul Dincer, Founder Koko Monk Chocolates and Joanne Probyn, Founder ReadyGo Media with friends at the West Side Business Awards
Consequent Success Highlights
- West Side Business Awards “New Business of the Year” finalist
- Professionally produced video valued at $10,000 by TELUS OptikTV
- Retail placement at Granville Island’s Edible Canada at the Market
- Successful new product development
- Built strong relationships resulting in invitations to participate in high-profile events including:
- BC’s largest local food evening, Taste BC at Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver
- Liberty Wine’s Port & Chocolate Night at Vancouver Rowing Club
- Suki’s Salon and Spa “Treat Yourself” evening
- City Food Magazine’s Hot Chocolate Festival
- Invitation to present at Vogue Theatre’s Pecha Kucha Night (1200 attendees)
- Vancouver Foodster Barista Competition
- Blogger interviews, video footage and articles
- Social Shopper promotion launching new classes
Partnering with ReadyGo Media has proven to be an excellent business decision. With strong signs of continued growth, recognition and profitability, Koko Monk Chocolates is looking forward to their first year anniversary just around the corner in February 2014.
“Working with ReadyGo Media was a perfect fusion
between our needs and their professional strategic implementation,”
~ Paul Dincer, Founder and Chocolatier, Koko Monk Chocolates
Advice for Entrepreneurs from Food Talks
Here’s some advice for entrepreneurs from Vancouver’s food industry experts:
- “The biggest thing you can have is a belief and sticking with it…it’s easy to be misguided by the all-mighty dollar. Don’t deviate; whatever you’re pursuing will come through.” – Preet Marwaha, Organic Lives
- “Entrepreneurs tend to think we’re good at everything but we’re not. We’re good at one thing, maybe two. Surround yourself with really good people who can fill in all the other gaps you’ll be incredibly successful at business. Don’t try to do it all yourself.” Eric Pateman, President, Edible Canada
- “Passion and desire are nice; you’ve really got to have a friendly bank manager. You’ve got to have someone who believes in you, especially in the growth years. It’s not always in the black. Be very realistic about your cash flow. – Patrick Murphy, Vista D’Oro Farms and Winery
- “Say yes a lot. Get involved in different programs…networking is what will build and open things up to you. I have a family, a fulltime job and belong to several organizations that do fundraising. It’s gives back as much as I put into it. Les Dames, Chef’s Table Society…by volunteering and networking the doors will just keep opening up for you.” – Mary Mackay, Head Baker and Co-OwnerTerra Breads
- “CBYF helped us with a mentor for two years and an interest free loan for a year. A business plan was important.” – Ryan Slater, Juice Truck
- “There’s an incredible amount of support in Vancouver if you just put it out there. If you are passionate and put it out to this city.” – Zack Berman, Juice Truck
With thanks to Robert Womak of VanFoodster.com.
Watch the entire Volume 3 Q&A session.
Koko Monk Exclusive Chocolate Tasting Night – Launch Event
ReadyGo Media is planning and promoting a special event on behalf of Koko Monk by Levni Chocolates. Our Exclusive Chocolate Tasting Night will mark the recent launch of Koko Monk’s first retail store.
Paul Dincer, owner and chocolatier of Vancouver’s Koko Monk Chocolates, will share his new direction of post-modern chocolate making in a blind tasting journey of exotic and extraordinary combinations.
The evening finishes with a taste of wine. Finally, guests will take home a special gift on behalf Kitsilano’s Yorkville neighborhood; a Koko Monk chocolate gift box, a complementary Suki’s Salon & Spa haircut (approx. value $100) and a $100 gift certificate courtesy Costen Catbalue Goldsmith & Design. The venue’s simple and modern floral designs will be provided with thanks to Hilary Miles Flowers, one of the most sought after florists in North America.
There are only twelve tickets available and they will go quickly. Guests must have an email invitation and need only receive an invitation and simply register at Event Brite to claim their complementary ticket. The email invitation is activated for one registrant only and cannot be used multiple times. Date and time are included in the invitation.
While we hope our guests simply enjoy themselves, should anyone choose to write the event, please let your readers know that this was a sponsored evening.
Lean more about Koko Monk at www.kokomonk.com.
If you choose to tweet about the event, we’d love for you to use the hashtag #kitsilano. Koko Monk can be found on Twitter @LevniKokoMonk and on Facebook at LevniChocolateKokoMonk.
Photo http://instagram.com/joanneprobyn
Sponsor Links
Get Your Invite
Sorry, our event is now full. Please email Joanne to be wait-listed. We will post here when the list is full. Thanks for all our sponsors and guests. We are looking forward to sharing this chocolate tasting adventure with you!
Hashtags
We will be using #Kitsilano as our primary hashtag for the event, should anyone choose to tweet about it.
Enter to Win Pecha Kucha Tickets
I’m a big fan of Pecha Kucha Nights. This event offers presenters a chance to share their inspirations and accomplishments in 20 slides, 20 seconds each.
It brings people together for an inspiring experience. Vancouver Art Gallery after-party included. It’s a SOLD OUT show!
I’m all about social media and building relationships online. I also appreciate the value and pleasure of taking friendships offline. Interested in the science of all this? Check out this interesting podcast by University of Chicago Professor, John Cacioppo. He says our brains actually perform differently when we are face to face. This Pecha Kucha, I’m delighted to be taking two of my new Twitter friends! I hope you’ll take a online friend, too.
For your chance to win two tickets to #PKVan just leave a comment including:
- Someone who inspires you and why
Good luck! Hope to see you there.
Vogue event information.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Doors 6pm. Starts 7pm.
TED Comes to Vancouver
This week I was thrilled to discover that the annual TED conference, something I’ve been inspired by for years online, is now being extended to communities worldwide.
As Malcolm Gladwell’s said (and has been criticized for)… creating strong ties offline is important. I agree to a large extent; and it’s events like these (and Petcha Kutcha) that create a greater sense of community and deepen relationships. They reveal opportunities, inform, facilitate dialogue, energize change, and inspire innovation. And that is good news.
172 TEDx events took place in 53 countries last month.
Find (or start one) near you!
Check out:
Photo by Kris Krug
