ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - A sweet idea for a hobby turned into a family business for one Roanoke family.
So Unique Candy Apples ships 200 decorated apples per week in more than 70 unique flavors to customers across the country. But the family behind those delicious treats is just as delightful as flavors like Chunky Monkey and Strawberry Oreo Delight.
Owner Denitra Birkes makes good use of her few employees - her daughters - 8-year-old Zyanah and 4-year-old Aniah.
Zyanah is the creative coordinator, coming up with new flavors and following trends, which mainly follow the likes and dislikes of her classmates. Birkes credits Zyanah for coming up with two-thirds of the company's flavors.
Then there's Aniah, the social media expert.
She takes pictures of the finished apples and posts them to Instagram and Facebook, using the voice command on her mother's phone.
Birkes said plenty of people are skeptical that her kids are so involved.
"They don't believe me. They say 'really, kids can do this?' My goal is to show my kids that you don't get anywhere for free," Birkes explained.
It's a lesson that appears to be working.Â
With the help of her kids and one employee, So Unique Candy Apples has tripled its business since January.
It's impressive considering the business started as a hobby in 2010. And in 2012, Birkes officially converted her kitchen into a factory and began selling the apples full time, much to the delight of her growing customer base.
"I thought it was interesting because I had never seen a chocolate dipped apple before," said Carrie Breslin, who first tried one at a festival in Roanoke two years ago. "I thought, maybe I'll try one and I've been hooked ever since."
Birkes is also taking the business to events nationwide. She recently received an invite to operate a stand outside of the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao boxing match in Las Vegas on May 2.
To help pay for the upcoming trips, Birkes started a Kickstarter campaign to raise money. She hopes to grow the business further, eventually planning to open a factory in Roanoke.
And much further down the road, that business could end up in the hands of Zyanah and Aniah.
"This is why mom is up all night working, this is what's going on," Birkes said. "I want them to be part of it and be hands on because they wanted the business. This was their idea and they have to work, but they enjoy it."
It's a partnership unlike any other.