Stacey’s Cake-Away has opened in Ashton, just one year after owner Stacey Lambert started a cake making business from home while on maternity leave.

It all started when Stacey’s son was six months old, with a Facebook post asking friends if they would be interested in buying cakes from her.

One year and 4,000 Facebook group members later, and Stacey’s Cake-Away has now opened in Water Lane.

Stacey, who lives in Ingol, said: “When I went on maternity leave I wanted to do something else with my time, and do something I love.

“My Facebook group started off with a few friends, then friends of friends, and a few months later I had 2,000 followers.

“Originally I was working from my kitchen at home but it’s very small and quite quickly I couldn’t keep up with the amount of cakes I was being asked to make.

“I applied for a business loan with Hyndburn Enterprise Trust, who are brilliant. They lent me the money to convert our garage to a kitchen. By this point I had also employed my sister as I was struggling to keep up.

“It took my Dad a couple of months to build the kitchen, then after four months we had outgrown it and needed to move again. My Dad was like, ‘Thanks for that!’. But it just went crazy.”

Stacey describes her cakes as “Easy cakes that are dead simple and packaged to take away and pig out with when you get home.”

In addition to cakes, the shop sells tray bakes, sweets, crisps and drinks. Stacey also makes celebration cakes, although this service is currently booked up until June.

Read more: Weekend treats coming to Lane Ends as new cake shop opens

Stacey puts the success of the business down to listening to her customers and taking risks.

She said: “I’ve always taken customers’ ideas on board and given them what they want. I used Facebook polls to ask what flavours people wanted, then would make whichever one won.

“I’ve always been a hard worker and for the past year I feel like I’ve been taking constant risks, but they’ve always paid off so I’m going to carry on winging it!”

Stacey’s Cake-Away is at 48 Water Lane. Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5pm. For more information visit Stacey’s Cake-Away on Facebook.

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