MJ BAKES 07389 893 279 | www.mjbakes.co.uk MJ Bakes offers personalised letterbox bakes that can include your own custom message on a biscuit or brownie, creating perfect wedding favours. The owner, Mary, tells us: “We’re here to help add a little sweetness to your special day. Whether you’re looking for personalised favours, save-the-date treats or gifts for the wedding party, we can chat through all the details and create something tailored to you and the flavour of your wedding. “Recently I've been working on some other super exciting projects, have had the opportunity to collaborate with some amazing companies and have worked on some huge orders. But how did I go from being a daydreaming hobby baker to being featured in glossy magazines? At the start of 2020, after 15 years working in the NHS, I took the leap into selfemployment, delivering exercise classes and physiotherapy within care homes. Little did I know that just a couple of months later the world would be turned upside down, and I wouldn’t be able to step foot into a care home because of the pandemic. I’m a firm believer in looking for the silver linings in a situation, and for me that was having a big kick up the bum to start my own bakery business. It may sound like a major key change, but as far back as I can remember, I have always loved baking. Although I never really imagined the dream would become anything more tangible than that. The previous summer I had a little bake stall at my son’s school fête and we sold out. From there I started taking orders from around the local area and gained a faithful group of loyal customers, who quickly spread the word. “Over the coming months, after lots of encouragement from friends and family living further afield and with nothing to lose, my hobby that had developed into a side hustle finally became my real-life job as my website launched in summer 2020 and orders started coming in from all over the UK. By November, I had taken on an order for 1,800 personalised biscuits to be shipped to the HQs of several major companies throughout the country, celebrating their good news stories from a tough old year. I have been so bowled over by how this little business of mine has developed and that's because of you beautiful biscuit-loving people, supporting me, shopping small and keeping me busier than ever." FINISHING TOUCHES 71
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