Amazing Artisans: Benjamin Bonetti

This week we got chatting to Benjamin Bonetti, an established self-help author & hypnotherapist, fitness, nutrition and well-being coach. He launched his Pro Raw Chocolate Bar this April, a healthy chocolate bar that is made using Whey Protein powder combined with  80% stone ground raw chocolate. The chocolate is Fair Trade and aims to promote a healthy lifestyle based on eating foods in their nutrient dense, more easily digestible raw state. We caught up with Benjamin to chat about his experience in the world of start ups.

How It All Began...

Benjamin said that he saw a clear ‘niche in the market’ for his healthy chocolate Bar. His inspiration to develop this kind of product came from his own ‘passion for health and fitness’; a combination of the three naturally drove him to the development of the chocolate bar that exists today. For him,He said that his product is ‘something that everyone wants but no one can buy’, tapping into the popular health food market and aiming to make a product that is desirable and accessible.

Why Did You Want To Start Your Own Business?

Benjamin said that having ‘been an entrepreneur for the last ten years’ the main motivator and the best thing about being an Entrepreneur and starting his own business was ‘the freedom to do as I please.’ He says that he has a ‘no nonsense approach to business’ and his products.

Spreading the Word

Spreading the word about his products came predominantly through online channels that targeted his existing customers. Benjamin said that using social media played a large role in his market strategy, with ‘80% of marketing spent using social media channels.’ He said that for his business, this was the most successful way to target his demographic, as ‘it provides geographical and consumer specific targeting, which minimises the cost-to-delivery.’

Challenges

On being asked about any challenges he faced during his product’s journey from conception to production, or if he now knew anything that he wished he knew before he started, Benjamin replied that ‘Everyday something new has to be learnt; it’s the understanding that nothing is static which produces true entrepreneurialism.’ We have to say we agree- the world of start ups is a fast-paced and ever-changing place to work!

What Do You Plan to Do Next?

‘It’s a secret…watch this space!’

We look forward to finding out more!

If you’re interested in following Benjamin’s independent foodie adventure then you can find him here on Twitter, or on his website, http://www.benjaminbonetti.com. His Pro Raw Chocolate Bar is available to purchase here.

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