AN ORFORD woman who has opened a cakes and confectionery shop in Padgate says she is thankful to the community for how she has been welcomed.

Stephanie Sayers, a former Birchwood High School and Priestley College pupil, has turned a side business that was online into a full-time job.

She bakes cakes, brownies and more in addition to cakes for special occasions at her shop on King Edward Street.

After starting the business in late 2018, Stephanie has now got to a position where has can have her own shop and she says she has been welcomed with open arms to the area.

“The first week of opening has been great and the welcome has been really nice,” said Stephanie.

“When I was getting the shop ready and I had all my friends and family helping me with renovations, we had loads of people knock on and ask when we are opening and wishing it well.

“It has been really nice – we’ve had loads of nice people come and see us from Padgate and as it is quite residential, we have had a lot of support.”

She feels it is her personal touch to the shop which helps her stand out from the competition.

The 29-year-old added: “Cakes are cakes and there are so many people baking. It probably sounds really cliché but I think it is me as I have such a good relationship with all my customers.

“It’s always me they see rather than someone else – unless it’s my partner and I’m in the back – so I’ve built up a really good relationship with all my customers and from the markets too.”

 

The shop has all your cakes and confectionery needs

 

Stephanie, who grew up in Orford, is now based by The Famous King & Queen pub. If you would have asked her years ago would she have expected a hobby from when she was young to turn into a full-time role, she may not have believed you.

“It’s always been a bit of an outlet for me,” added Stephanie.

“I’ve done cakes and family and friends and markets on the weekend.

“When lockdown started it just grew from there really and I turned it into a little side business for myself and then everything’s spiralled from there. It’s just grown and grown.

“I’m now able to give up what was my full-time job and this is now my job.”

 

She has received a warm welcome from the Padgate community

She has received a warm welcome from the Padgate community

 

And the best bit is that the move came about by chance.

Stephanie continued: “We were looking to sell our house and I’ve always been baking from home and I needed somewhere that I could bake from.

“It was just by chance me and my partner were driving past one day on the way to my mums and saw that it was up for let – we enquired and that was it.

“We are proud to have it. It just all came at once with moving house, getting the shop and getting it up and running. It’s all been a bit crazy but it’s great – I love it.”

Sweet Stephella is open Wednesday to Sundays.