Castlerock Chocolatier Backed by Global Technology Innovator
Castlerock artisan chocolatier Geri Martin features in a new documentary series from
global technology giant Lenovo which uncovers what happens when entrepreneurs
look beyond borders for support.
Geri, who runs Chocolate Manor, a chocolate making business, a short and runs
courses for people keen to learn the skill, is in the new documentary from Lenovo
which follows a group of small business founders from around the world as
“unexpected connections and technology spark fresh ideas, new approaches to
business challenges and opportunities for growth”, according to Lenovo.
Geri says: “Everything we make is hand-crafted with love. Our skill and passion
reflect the wisdom we have gained at leading chocolate education establishments.
“We love to share that passion for chocolate and run hands-on making workshops
for adults and children, chocolate tastings, and educational sessions on the origins of
chocolate and our region’s unique connection to this indulgent treat.
“Our premises in Castlerock on Ireland’s North Coast have allowed us to make more
chocolate and have given us space for our hands-on and unique Visitor Experiences
and workshops.”
The company launched its artisan chocolates in 2015. In July 2020, the company
transformed the front space of the premises into a Chocolate Shop and Artisan Food
Emporium, selling our own products alongside other produce from the Causeway
area.
The Lenovo documentary series Backing Every Business is a global initiative
designed “to connect small businesses with the people, technology and support they
need to grow and thrive”.
The series features Chocolate Manor and four other businesses from around the
globe participating in twinning initiatives. Chocolate Manor is twinned with a small
business from Mexico.
Lenovo’s innovative programme brings small business founders from around the
world together, connecting them through mentorship across shared growth goals,
access to resources including technology, AI training, funding designed to help
address real business challenges and turn new ideas into action.
The four-part series follows entrepreneurs from Japan, Mexico, the UK and the US.
as they step inside one another’s businesses, experience unfamiliar industries and
cultures and share the knowledge they have gained from building their own
businesses. A meeting between strangers evolves into relationships built around
common challenges. This is paired with complementary expertise and the
recognition that the answer to a business problem does not always come from within
the same industry or local community.
In episode 3, available October 19, Geri meets entrepreneurs from Mexico
passionate about food. Geri uses cooking to reconnect them with their roots. They
explore how technology can help Geri’s small business, exploring how the right
technology could help her address an important gap in her booking system and
create new opportunities for growth.
“When the price of your raw ingredient – the thing you have built your entire business
around – goes up by 30 percent and then another 40 percent on top of that..I
remember thinking, ‘I don’t know if we’re actually going to get through this,’ and I did
really struggle,” says Geri. “I’ve learned so much from the other entrepreneurs and
am so excited about my business again,” adds Geri.
“There is no one-size-fits-all path to growing a small business and support has to
reflect that,” says Emily Ketchen, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer,
Intelligent Devices Group and International Markets, Lenovo.
“What we’ve seen through Backing Every Business is that technology can be
incredibly powerful, but so can the knowledge and experience of another
entrepreneur who has faced a similar challenge, brings a completely different
perspective or simply understands what it takes to build a business.
“By bringing smarter technology, human experience and connection together, we
want to give entrepreneurs more ways to find the support they need to solve
problems, pursue new opportunities and grow their businesses.”
Together, the experiences of Chocolate Manor and the other businesses owes much
to the central belief behind Backing Every Business, “a problem shared is a problem
halved,” Lenovo continues.
“Despite differences in industry, culture and geography, entrepreneurs often face
similar challenges and having access to the right support, perspectives and shared
experience can help them see those challenges differently and find new ways
forward.
For Lenovo, the Twinning programme “reflects a broader approach to supporting
small businesses: combining the company’s global reach and technology expertise
with something equally important, access to people, perspectives and experiences
that entrepreneurs may not otherwise encounter.
“Despite differences in industry, culture and geography, small businesses often face
common challenges. Connecting them across those boundaries can help founders
see those challenges differently, while technology can help them put new ideas into
practice,” Lenovo adds.
Lenovo is a US$83 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #153 in
the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets.
Guided by its vision of “Smarter Technology for All”, Lenovo is executing a Hybrid AI
strategy that spans Personal AI – one personal AI, multiple devices; and Enterprise
AI – helping customers turn data into insights and value. This strategy is delivered
through the group’s commitment to world-class innovation and a full-stack AI
portfolio, including devices, infrastructure solutions, software, solutions, and
services.
