A CUPCAKE business with a taste for expansion has been short- listed for a campaign of free advertising and mentoring backed by the South Wales Evening Post.
Once Upon A Cupcake is one of eight businesses to become finalists in the regional round of the Local Business Accelerators (LBA) competition.
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Founder, Caroline Southard, began the business in Swansea Market and recently branched out into a store in Plymouth Street in the city centre.
Mrs Southard was made redundant prior to becoming an entrepreneur and said: “After being made redundant I knew that this was my chance to do something that I was passionate about.
“I took a big risk in opening my first shop in Swansea Market during a recession.
“I used social media sites to get my shop known and once the market traders had helped spread the word my shop became a success.
“After seven months of being in the market and with the great response for my wedding cakes and cupcakes I had outgrown my market shop.
“This was when I applied for the LBA competition as I could see how this would benefit my business in growing.
“I never really had any budgets for marketing so have always tried to get free advertising with newspapers and local radio stations helping with promotions and events that they were putting on and also supporting charity events with cupcakes.
“I have now opened my vintage cupcake and tearoom in Swansea, I have been lucky that my regular customers have followed me on my journey and have given me so much encouragement and support. Advertising would really help my business to grow, we still have people coming in to the shop that didn’t know I was in the market so using local newspapers to promote my business would maximise my growth.”
The Evening Post will announce the three winners of the LBA regional award on Wednesday, February 6.
Nationally, the overall winner will receive mentoring from the campaign’s national ambassador Deborah Meaden, of Dragons’ Den.