Meet Carol Malloy | Charcuterie Artisan

Coming up with CharBeauterie was developed during an online vendor event back in 2020. During the pandemic, a friend and I had decided to host an online sales forum for small businesses to highlight their goods, whether handmade or not. It fed a passion of mine to help others at a time when we all were not able to attend our normal craft fairs or other events.

One gal that wanted to participate lived in Colorado Springs and she was in the charcuterie business. As some of you may recall, having food delivered was a plus during that time and who does not love meats and cheeses! I found that she had many orders from people in the north part of Denver, and her delivery time was over an hour. Since I have always either had a side gig or run home businesses, I wondered if this was an opportunity to capitalize on.

I have always been creative at heart and with my background in Interior Decorating, I thought this might be a way to do something different. So, I consumed myself with all things’ charcuterie: tutorials, books, and internet searches. This included state guidelines for safe food handling and what the State of Colorado required of me to safely sell my boards.

My first client was a friend who needed a board for a baby shower she was supplying some food for. And not only did she love it, but the guests did as well! I got all my certifications, followed state regulations, obtained insurance and that was the beginning. It was never in my plan to be a charcuterie artisan but sometimes God nudges you to a place and you just go along for the ride.

My method of advertising was word of mouth, Facebook food posts (because don’t we all stop and look at photos of yumminess?) and supplying a few free boards here and there so that I built up somewhat of a clientele.

I would consider myself a charcuterie artisan. Most of my boards are originals, meaning many contain the same ingredients but are often arranged differently. I also listen to what the occasion is and try to tailor the boards and decor on them to tie into the decor they are using. For instance, I recently had two large boards ordered for a Paw Patrol Party. I made sure to use some figurines, incorporate colorful picks and made sure I had the right feel. The client loved the extra thought and detail added.

I am also hypersensitive by asking questions like: are there nut or gluten allergies to be aware of? Do we have any vegetarians, or vegan guests? These are important to inquire about, so all party guests feel valued and heard.

One thing I rarely add to my boards based on feedback are breads or crackers. They tend to get soggy quickly based on condensation and help our friends that are gluten free to not have those items touching other foods. My crackers and breads are offered on the side as an add on.

I have also recently offered a board that is more catered to office networking events that contain more pickup and go items, such as more picks on the board that are one bite, meat, cheese, and fruit. This makes for less mess and easier grab and get the most of your time at a connection meeting. That said, I have also started with individual lunches so that employers can treat their staff to a thank you treat on occasion.

The last thing I introduced are workshops! These are great for gals’ night in, office team building, birthday parties, bachelorette parties and more. I bring everything to the hostess’s homes and they in turn invite family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors. It is truly a fun time, and everyone takes home a small board they have created.

Has this been easy? No, but most things in life take time and there will always be ebbs and flow periods, no matter what small business someone is in. I can tell you that it is worth the tears (both happy and sad) and at this point, I am so glad I decided to take this challenge on.

I feel constantly supported by my friends and family, and of course the Polka Dot Powerhouse Community. All these people are my largest sources for referrals and my largest cheerleading squad. I feel blessed to have all these people in my life.

Thornton itself offers so many things to do, from an outing at Top Golf, shopping at the nearby outlet mall and Orchard Town Center. There are some great breweries to visit but one cannot leave Denver without visiting the iconic Casa Bonita. Overall, Colorado is a beautiful state so I would leave it up to my guests and ask them what they might be in the mood for. A trip to the mountains, a stop by some local mom and pop shops and restaurants or perhaps it’s just staying home and enjoying great company and conversation.

If we headed out to Erie, which is a beautiful small-town feel, we would certainly quickly visit Lottie Lane Boutique, or have a bite at Blakes Tavern. In my opinion, sometimes it is not what you do but who you do it with!

There are many people that certainly deserve recognition in my business growth, but overall, it is my clients that trust me with preparing boards for milestones in their lives. Whether it is an anniversary, birthday, a memorial, or something else, I am humbled and honored that they entrust me to create something beautiful for them.

Lastly, my husband is constantly encouraging me and helps in all aspects if he is needed. He is my rock and my biggest fan. Larry comes from a background in Product Development as a Director as well as Marketing, so his ideas are greatly welcomed!

I am so grateful for all of my clients. From small lunch orders to larger occasions- I am so thankful for every order received.