Since then it’s gone from lotion pump Manufacturers strength to strength and provided the girls with an opportunity to make some good money and given us a fun initiative that can involve all the family. Quite simply, the more everyone puts in the more they get out! We track the sales and the agreement is that whoever makes the sale keeps the profit. In addition to any sales they generate themselves, the girls also earn a respectable and above average hourly rate for packing, wrapping and shipping the chocolate. In fact, Jess earns a much better hourly rate doing this than when she's working in a retail shop in Harpenden at the weekend! Plus they can work from home in front of the television!

The business, The Chocolate Wrapper, has turned into a successful family enterprise and is fast becoming a leading on-line store for Personalised Chocolate Bars. These are a great idea for all occasions and events: birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, special occasions, thank yous, christenings, corporate events, seasonal treats, party bags, bespoke designs, fundraising and much more. In fact, if there’s any occasion where you might send someone a card, The Chocolate Wrapper can provide a personalised chocolate bar for pretty much the same price!

Jess takes up the story “this has been a good, fun way to make money! Sophie and I are in charge of the packing, wrapping and putting together the chocolates. Our mum Kath deals with the main enquiries and our step-dad Peter sorts the web site, does the online technical stuff to help gain orders and helps with printing the wrappers. It’s really grown into an activity for the whole family. “Younger sister Sophie is equally enthusiastic. “We like the idea that we are earning money and we get excited about the success of the business. We can fit in our hours around our school work and we get lots of help in the business from mum and Peter. “

Since it began, The Chocolate Wrapper has received orders for every occasion you can imagine. Some of the more unusual requests include:

• An order from Norway for 400 chocolate Wedding Favours two weeks before the wedding. The order was completed and delivered on time.• The chocolate wrapping family made corporate chocolates for a Gay & Lesbian Travel Company exhibiting at the Gay Wedding Show.• Bespoke ‘thank you’ chocolate bars for 150 helpers of the St Albans Scout and Guide Gang Show.• Unique customised birthday chocolate bars for birthday party invitations and birthday party bags.• Just about everything else - from chocolate for Star Trek and David Bowie fans to obscure personal birthday messages and party ‘thank yous’ with hand written messages from the children whose birthday it was.