Cynthia Boles and her son Stephen Alexander are building an empire one chocolate truffle at a time.

The owners of recently opened Signature Confections Artisan Chocolates in Beavercreek sold 10,000 pieces of their trademark truffles in two weeks during Christmastime and are off to a strong 2013.

“We do it from our hearts and we do everything in-house,” said Boles, who worked 22 years in a papermill before becoming a chocolatier.

Click here to watch Boles discuss her business.

She has decorated cakes and catered events on the side since 1978.

Boles started making chocolate business cards for corporations about five years ago. She jumped feet first into the chocolate business after receiving training in 2009 and 2010.

The graduated of the Art Institute’s Baking and Pastry program attended Barry Callebaut’s Chocolate Academy in Chicago.

Boles and her son, a former Grismer Tire assistant manager, teamed up to open a home business in 2010.

Business was great and they wanted a store front.

Signature Confections opened in September in the U1 Commons plaza as a seller of fine Belgium chocolate.

Boles said the business brings something sweet and fresh to the area.

“When you go to a major city, you see it everywhere, ” Boles said. “To see it in Dayton, Ohio, it is very unusual.”

The shop is a wonderland with chocolate-covered wine bottles, chocolate pictures frames, printed chocolate business cards, chocolate lollipop round, chocolate apples, 2D images printed on chocolate pieces and other items.

You can’t overlook the jewel like truffles and their wide variety of flavors - amaretto, kahula, raspberry Guinness strawberry balsamic, passion fruit and so on.

Still looking for a sweet gift for Valentine’s Day?

You can grab your sweetheart (or yourself) three truffles for $3.50, six for $10.50 or 15 for $24.95.

A variety of other gift sets are also for sale.

Details

Signature Confections Artisan Chocolates

U1 Commons plaza

2495 Commons Blvd Suite A4 Beavercreek, Ohio 45431

(937) 912-5140

Store Hours:

Monday through Saturday — 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday — noon to 6 p.m.