Lake Elsinore Couple Wins Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory!

Lake Elsinore Outlets has been blessed with the delicious chocolate lovin’ that is the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The RMCF was founded in 1981 by Franklin E. Crail and is franchised throughout the U.S. and the Emirates, now spreading to Lake Elsinore.

The new owners, Rob and Danielle Schimming, won the shop through the Steven L. Craig School of Business at Missouri Western State University. Rob Schimming was one of three finalists, when he wrote and presented an apparently stellar business plan to a Business School Committee.

The Committee was comprised of retired Dean coordinating the Rocky Road Chocolate Factory project, the Dean of the Craig School of Business, Chair of the School Advisory Council, a Subway franchiser with ties to the university and two officials from the RMCF. They were very impressed with the presentation, in combination with Danielle Schimming’s retail background.

The opportunity to compete in gaining a new RMCF franchise, is unique, rarely offered by business schools. Rob’s plan was ace in quality of analysis and business strategy. Essentially it’s a partnership between the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and the Steven L. Craig School of Business at Missouri Western.

The collaboration enables the winning graduate to become one of Steve Craig’s business partners; Craig takes care of the start-up costs for the operation. Craig is the founder of Craig Realty Group, the owner of Lake Elsinore Outlets. The Schimmings have been awarded the third RMCF from the school.

As time passes, the Schimmings will pay Craig back, and assume complete sole ownership of the Chocolate Factory. Also part of the contract, is keeping a student intern in store, in order for them to gain business experience and also to benefit from the partnership.

The Schimmings met in college and married last summer, now relocated to Lake Elsinore in order to man their Factory. It seems there’s a sweet future in hand for the Schimmings!