Alicja Confections - Alicja

Alicja Confections - Alicja


Alicja Confections
alicjaconfections.com
Instagram//Facebook

Owner: Alicja Buchowicz
Neighbourhood: The Glebe
829 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3V9
(613) 884-5864

Interview + Photography: Marianne Rothbauer, Rothbauer Studio


Photography @rothbauerphoto

Photography @rothbauerphoto

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m originally from Winnipeg, first generation immigrant from Poland! My whole family was born there, I was the only one born in Canada. Started out as a dancer, then an artist, then a graphic designer, then a sales woman, now a chocolatier! Life is so weird.

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At what point did you decide to open your own store, how did you get started.

The super long story short: I started a job in an office and after a few months, I was very bored. My background is in art and design, but I had an interest in baking and sweets, as well as business and handmade. I started Alicja Confections as a hobby to play around with in my spare time. It snowballed to the point where I quit my job, moved to Ottawa, tested the Ottawa market for 1 year, and decided to open a shop in the Glebe!

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Do you remember the first item that was purchased?

My best friend Alison bought a box of bonbons, and a box of my globe chocolates from my Etsy shop about 30 seconds after it went live, haha!

Favourite Season…Easter or Christmas?

Christmas 100%, it’s longer!

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Guilty pleasure?

Anything matcha flavoured. Tacos. Pizza. Should I keep going?

Tell us a bit about your daily work life and what you enjoy the most.

Every day is different. I’m the type of person that focuses a little too hard on a specific task that everything else takes a back seat in that moment. That’s why I have a weekly/monthly schedule of everything I need to do - some days I’m in the shop making hundreds of bonbons, some days I’m in my office answering emails and working on marketing. I like to have variety!

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What was the most exciting product you have created to date and what was it.

The one of a kind Easter Bunnies. I was shocked by the response. People loved them and the design contest for them was a huge hit. Definitely going to bring it back next year - we may even do something similar for Christmas!


What are the challenges that come with owning a store?

Time. It’s always time for me. Because I make every single product with my own two hands, having time to do literally everything else that you need to do with a business gets a little crazy. I am super thankful to Nick, my fiancé and business partner, who takes on a lot of responsibilities so I have more time to be creative and do the things I love doing most.

Most chocolate you have ever consumed in a day?:)

Any time I travel, I find as much new and different chocolate I can possibly find - we’re going to Japan next month just to try a bunch of new things and chocolates. The day after a trip, I usually end up eating an unhealthy amount of chocolate with Nick.

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Ever get tired of Chocolate? How much chocolate is too much chocolate?

The limit does not exist.

How do you unwind at the end of a day?

I watch a lot of YouTube videos. Because it’s still freezing outside, I tend to chill at home with my pup Lola and watch some videos (right now watching everything I can find on photography). In the summer, Lola, Nick, and I go on long walks!

Favourite restaurant in town?

Loving Mad Radish right now. Corazón De Maíz - best tacos in the city.
 

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