With a hunger for self-employment, Castlemaine local, Stefan Dannhausen is today enjoying the sweet tastes of success after digging into the Federal Government’s New Business Assistance with NEIS program at Asuria.
Initially unsure of what type of business he was interested in running, Stefan drew on fond memories of his life growing up in Germany, where, as a child, he enjoyed eating SCHO-KA-KOLA chocolates with his family.
Inspired by the opportunity to open a business that would allow him to explore his German heritage, Stefan decided he wanted to bring SCHO-KA-KOLA, a popular wedge-shaped caffeine-infused chocolate, Down Under.
To do so, he looked to Asuria’s NEIS experts to assist him in opening ‘Dimpex Import and Wholesale’, a new company that sources, imports and distributes the sweet snack, that carries a special caffeine kick.
With some qualifications already under his belt from his time spent living in Germany, Stefan was able to benefit from the financial support and collaborative classroom learning experience offered by the NEIS program with Asuria.
"It was nice to be in contact with other people and see what others were doing. It was a very friendly environment and a positive experience,” says Stefan.
As for life as a sole trader, Stefan says it's given him the ability to create the work-life balance that works for him.
"I'm very pragmatic, and I like to work for myself and not for someone else; it's just my preference. I also need to be flexible because I have a five-year-old daughter."
Stefan and SCHO-KA-KOLA are already creating a sweet buzz in the Goldfields region, as Stefan will have a stall at this year’s annual Brown Brothers’ Easter Family Festival at Northeast Marketplace on Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th April.
Thankful for the opportunity Asuria has given him to become his own boss, and to introduce a taste of his heritage to locals, Stefan hopes to eventually see SCHO-KA-KOLA on the shelves of Australia's biggest supermarket chains.
Until then, the NEIS graduate is currently delivering to Castlemaine, Maldon, Newstead, Bendigo, and Melbourne. Chocoholics can also find SCHO-KA-KOLA at the below locations.
If you would like to explore Dimpex Import and Wholesale’s range of products, visit https://dimpex.com.au/.
Asuria’s decade-long delivery of the New Business Assistance with NEIS program has helped hundreds of graduates turn passions into careers. If you have a business idea and think you might be eligible for New Business Assistance with NEIS through Asuria, click here to find out more.