Erika Fowler is the founder of Ithaca Fine Chocolates based in Ithaca, New York. One of the most popular items produced by the company is the Art Bar. Art Bars are organic, Fair Trade chocolate bars that feature an art reproduction by a regional adult artist or an international child artist on a collectible card inside the wrapper. Ten percent of profits from sales are donated to the Kaleidoscope outreach program of the Community School of Music & Arts in Ithaca, NY, and to the International Child Art Foundation in Washington, DC. Ithaca Fine Chocolates aims to promote artists and support art education by bringing together the luxuries of fine art and exquisite chocolate for inspired enjoyment.
A former museum director and art history instructor, Fowler intended to start an art gallery in Ithaca. That plan evolved into Art Bars while she was contemplating how to provide artists with broader exposure.
Fowler received an undergraduate degree from Hamilton College and her Masters degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
People would come into the shop and look around and it was really good because of course you are in startup mode, you are really trying to sleep enough to be functional the next day and you kind of lose sight of what it is you are trying to do. And then you go into the store and the people are seei...(Full transcript available to logged in subscribers.).
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Erika Fowler-Decatur Discusses Experience in Not For Profit Sector and Decision to Settle in Ithaca
Erika Fowler-Decatur Explains How Business Idea Started As An Art Gallery and Became Art Bars
Erika Fowler-Decatur Discusses Negotiating Vendor Relationships with Swiss Chocolatiers
Erika Fowler-Decatur Discusses Similar Social Vision Between Art Bars and Chocolatier Vendor
Erika Fowler-Decatur Discusses Mission Of Fair Trade and Art Education Through Art Bar Product
Erika Fowler-Decatur Shares Story of Overnight Growth From Local to National Distribution Due to Fair Trade
Erika Fowler-Decatur States Change in Launch Timing From August to November Was Beneficial
Erika Fowler-Decatur Discusses Establishing a Gallery and Coordinating the Product Launch
Erika Fowler-Decatur Shares Importance of Sharing Social Mission With Customers First Hand
Erika Fowler-Decatur Shares Personal Thrill When Public Understands Company's Work and Mission
Erika Fowler-Decatur Shares Surprise At Growing Number of Business Students Interested in Social Responsibility
Erika Fowler-Decatur Discusses Pitching Idea to Artists And Challenge of Translating Art to Small Size
Erika Fowler-Decatur Discusses Challenge of Matching Art Bar Packaging With Overall Social Mission
Erika Fowler-Decatur Shares Example of Vendor Advocating Art Bars Based on Belief in Social Mission of Company
Erika Fowler-Decatur Shares Ethical Challenge of Selling Certified Fair Trade Chocolates
Erika Fowler-Decatur States Importance of Social Responsibility From a Longer-Term Perspective
Erika Fowler-Decatur States Personal Sense of Responsibility To Vendors, Retailers and Consumers
Erika Fowler-Decatur States Importance of Being Stubborn And Surrounding Yourself With Smart People
Erika Fowler-Decatur Shares Personal Professional Experience in Not For Profit Sector
