With support from the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC), entrepreneur Michelle Hill turned a taste for chocolate-covered cherries into a fruitful small business.
For Michelle Hill, founder of Barboursville-based Tibbenham Chocolates, a childhood love of chocolate-covered cherries turned into a decades-long pursuit of the perfect recipe and, eventually, a sweet business idea.
“I loved cordials as a kid; Queen Anne’s was a go-to,” Hill said. “I became a bit of a mad scientist in the kitchen, trying to make the confection myself.”
Using friends and family as taste testers, Hill spent years experimenting with recipes, trying different chocolate manufacturers, cherry suppliers, and cream brands to create the ideal confection. In 1999, she finally found the winning combination.
“Everyone told me that whatever I had used for that batch, I should stop,” Hill said. “I had it.”
The result was a delicately balanced, hand-made dark chocolate-covered cherry made with wax-free chocolate and cherries sourced from orchards in upper Michigan.
Hill named her company Tibbenham Chocolates after her mother’s maiden name. With help from a friend’s son, she purchased a domain and launched a website she still uses today: www.chocolatecoveredcherries.com.
In the early days, the business was a modest venture.
“That first year, we sold about 100 boxes at $10 each,” Hill said.
But word spread quickly.
Partnering for Growth
As Tibbenham positioned itself for significant growth, Hill turned to the West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) for guidance.
The WV SBDC provides essential coaching and support to entrepreneurs at every stage of the journey—from pre-venture ideation and startup launches to the complex scaling needs of existing businesses like Hill’s.
Her current coach, Doug Harper, has helped her navigate the unique challenges that come with managing an established company. “He has advised me on how to expertly handle some quite serious issues, which I feel has honestly saved the company,” Hill said. “I’ve been very blessed to have him, my previous coach, Amber, and the WV SBDC on my side.”
Today, Tibbenham Chocolates sells nearly 1,000 boxes a week during its peak season, which runs from late October through Easter each year. In addition to her website, Hill now sells her chocolate-covered cherries at more than two dozen specialty shops across the state.
A New Chapter in Barboursville
A key step forward came when Hill moved production from a residential-size kitchen behind her quilt shop into a leased building with a full commercial kitchen in Barboursville.
The new space allowed her to triple her workforce. After hiring six part-time workers in 2023, she added six more this year to keep pace with demand.
“This new facility allows her to overcome the limitations of her previous setup and expand her production capabilities, opening exciting new possibilities for her brand,” Harper said.
Tibbenham Chocolates does more than just sell sweets; it contributes to the local economy by providing stable jobs.
“Michelle Hill exemplifies the spirit of a thriving entrepreneur,” Harper said. “She has consistently worked to create good-paying jobs, directly contributing to the economic vitality of her area. In doing so, she not only strengthens her business but also uplifts local families and inspires community growth.”
With a loyal customer base, expanded production capacity, and continued support from the WV SBDC, Hill has built a business that stands as a sweet success story for West Virginia entrepreneurship.
The West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC) is an accredited partner program with the U.S. Small Business Administration and a division of the West Virginia Division of Economic Development. Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration, the WV SBDC assists entrepreneurs and small business owners at every stage of the business lifecycle (pre-venture, startup and existing) by providing technical assistance to help clients clarify goals, develop skills, and acquire resources to operate successful enterprises.
Become an WV SBDC client: wvsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/signup