LAUNCHPAD
SWEET SISTERS CAKERY Becki Foster tells unLTD how support from Launchpad helped her turn a ‘little pop-up stall’ into the sweet success of a nationwide postal service on social media by consumers – every tag is a great win for me! Secondly, I cannot wait to be back ‘on the road’. If everything goes to plan with the lifting of the lockdown, I am especially looking forward to being a regular stall holder at the ever-growing Traxx Market in Chapeltown, Sheffield. Weekly returning customers is my jam!
Tell us about your company? Sweet Sisters Cakery is an independent bakery based in South Yorkshire supplying the whole UK with baked goodies. We are now running from a little bakery unit to create, produce, cut and pack all of our treats. These are sent though the post with a ten-day shelf life. When we’re allowed, we will be heading back to food festivals and artisan markets around South Yorkshire! When did you first decide to start up on your own and what inspired you? Around ten years ago, while working in a bank, I had a huge passion for baking that stemmed back to baking
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with my Grandma at a young age. With a little planning and preparation, I booked a two-week holiday from work to bake cupcakes and sell them on a local Christmas market. That was it! I was hooked. I then convinced my sister to take a leap and we bought a little shop together! We expanded this little shop and ended up with a deli, butchers, sweet shop and the original little bakery counter. However, the bakery side was my passion and after six years we decided to sell up and drastically change the business. How has Launchpad helped you? After the sale of the shop,
it was like starting a brand-new business. I had experience of running a business, but Launchpad taught me so much more. Launchpad helped me look at the business with a better perspective on how to make it profitable and sustainable. Launchpad also gave me the knowledge, tools and confidence to adapt during the coronavirus pandemic, turning my little ‘pop-up’ stall into a nationwide postal service! What are your hopes and aims for the business? Firstly, I aim to grow my online presence and become more recognised as a brand! I love to see my products being posted
Launchpad advisor Ben Hawley said: “Making the decision to close one business down and start another isn’t easy, but Becki did the right thing by taking the element of the previous business she loved and focusing on it. “Becki has worked really hard to get the business established and it’s wonderful to follow that journey and see her reaping the rewards. “Starting and growing a business is not easy and that’s why the Launchpad programme was created. Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and our partners means there is no cost to the entrepreneur, so we can get straight to work on turning those dreams into reality. “Stop dreaming and do it. Contact us for information now on 03330 00 00 39 or email growthhub@ sheffieldcityregion.org.uk.”
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