Not many can say they got a business idea from a girls’ night with friends, but for Heather Heverly and Sarah Ehrlich, a seemingly normal do-it-yourself charcuterie board activity sparked the idea to create their own business.

Ahhmazing Graze was created to bring to-go-style charcuterie boxes and grazing tables to the State College area. Heverly, a Penn State alumna and preschool teacher, and Ehrlich, a longtime nurse at Mount Nittany Medical Center, started their hand-crafted charcuterie business in November 2021.

“After experimenting with charcuterie boards at our girls’ night, we surprised ourselves with how well they turned out and decided to give it a go,” said Ehrlich.

The name Ahhmazing Graze came from the pair wanting to incorporate “graze” into the name because the whole idea of their business came from creating grazing boxes. But they also wanted to make sure people knew how “ahh-mazing” their products were, and thus, the name “Ahhmazing Graze” was born.

The pair quickly began gauging interest around the area, and after some trial and error in designing their charcuterie boxes, they received enough positive feedback to open a small business. As their business grew, Ehrlich’s basement kitchen soon became the company’s home base after it was remodeled, inspected, and licensed by the state.

Now, after more than a year in business, Ahhmazing Graze is more successful than ever. Its charcuterie boxes and grazing tables have also grown in size and grandeur. According to Ehrlich, the best part of the design process is thinking outside of the box.

“The experience that we have gained from having a year under our belt has helped us better navigate ideas to create edible works of art,” she said. “Since Heather is a preschool teacher, she is always full of creative spark.”

To create their “ahhmazing” charcuterie boxes, Heverly and Ehrlich source their cheese, meat, vegetables, and dips from all over State College and beyond. They utilize local grocery stores and other specialty shops around the area and even pick up products in other states if they find something they like.

What sets the business apart from others is its accessibility, customer service, and family-friendly prices. Each box includes everything, from tongs and spreaders to cut and ready-to-serve cheese. Heverly says “all you need to do is pick it up and take it to your event.”

“Our grazing boxes aren’t a new concept by any means, but they are well received because they are fresh, beautiful, and ready to go,” Ehrlich said.

“This isn’t just a business for us. We are centered around making people happy,” Ehrlich added. “We enjoy putting smiles on customers’ faces for their special or everyday events without breaking the bank.”

Currently, Heverly and Ehrlich are working out of their home kitchen and have two pick-up locations: Belle Mercantile in Bellefonte and Your Cigar Den in downtown State College.

“Our favorite part about owning a charcuterie business is that we consider it as an opportunity to make somebody’s day more special,” the duo said. “It has also been a great learning opportunity, and seeing our client base grow is the most exciting thing. Also, what could be better than working with your best friend?”

To order from Ahhmazing Graze, visit its website. You can also find Heverly and Ehrlich on Facebook and Instagram or contact them through email.