A WOMAN'S baking business has gone from strength to strength since moving from home to the high street - and especially after the shop received a recent makeover.
Initially baking cakes alongside her job in social care, Melanie Scott had such positive feedback that she began slowly transitioning into the bakery business after working part-time in both roles.
As demand grew and more people wanted a taste of Melanie's mouth-watering cakes, the mum-of-two took the opportunity to take the business full time and later launched 'Wicked Pops' along Tyldesley's growing high street in late 2021.
With Wicked Pops one of the final businesses to receive shop front funding in Tyldesley, Melanie says that there has been a huge boost in interest since the makeover was completed.
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With a creative eye, Melanie prides herself on creating bespoke designs and bringing imaginative ideas to life, and bakes a wide selection of fresh treats such as personalised celebration cakes, cake pops, cupcakes, chocolates, and more.
Everything is baked fresh inside her Elliott Street workshop, and Melanie also passes on her skills through private baking classes at the start of the week.
Wicked Pops also provides a fresh cake counter and Fredericks ice-cream on Saturdays.
Speaking about the business, Melanie said: "I really enjoy what I do and I feel in my happy place here - sometimes wish I had a time machine so I could have started this 30 years ago!
"I've built up my clients over time and get a lot of repeat custom, and I've even had people coming to me for engagement parties, their wedding, and then their children's parties.
"That is the best part of the job, where you feel almost part of the family, and a lot of my customers trust my design process now."
Although life in the Elliott Street workshop can be stressful, especially around events like Mother's Day where Melanie often works through the night, the community support in Tyldesley is said to have been a huge boost.
Customers often pop in to make orders or have a chat throughout the week, and the bakery's eye-catching shop front has only increased this support, the Astley baker said.
"It does feel like the business is going strength to strength", Melanie added.
"There was quite a bit of interest when I first opened two-and-a-half years ago, but there has been huge interest since the makeover was completed.
"I think a lot of people used to walk past without noticing the shop, but there has been a big boost in footfall and orders recently."
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