A mum-of-two from Wallasey made redundant from her marketing job during the coronavirus pandemic has used the experience to start her own mobile baking business.
After losing her job in July and overcoming breast cancer in January, Emma Vernon decided to take the leap and use a critical illness payout to start her dream business, Finella Fancies.
Emma, who named her business after her son and daughter Finley and Bella, sells freshly baked homemade cupcakes as well as locally brewed coffees and cocktails.
Emma told the Globe: “I’ve baked for about eight years just as a hobby for family and friends.
“They would always say to me that I should start selling my cakes and I’d always tell them that one day I’ll go mobile and get the trailer I’ve always wanted.”
After battling with a critical illness and the uncertainty of job loss, Emma wanted to turn her experiences into something positive.
She said: "It was scary and I knew it was going to be hard to find a job let alone a job that I loved but I would have never gotten round to following my dreams so I used the fact that I had been made redundant as the kick I needed to do something I’d always wanted to do."
In April, Emma started completing food safety and hygiene courses and registered Finella Fancies as an official business.
However, before taking the jump Emma says she was worried if her business would be successful.
“I’d always had it in my head that I wanted to do cupcakes and cocktails because who doesn’t love those two things!
“But I was worried about the logistics of it. I didn’t want to go back to working for someone in an office. I loved my business and I wanted it to work.”
She then started advertising her services on local Facebook groups in the Wirral area which helped to spiral her business on social media.
She said: “I went from 200 followers on Facebook to 1,400.
“It was amazing to go from selling to just family and friends to growing a customer base where I get to meet new people and use money to do it which had been gained through such an awful time of my life,” she added.
As well as selling cupcakes from home, Emma pitches her bespoke Finella Fancies trailer at Liscard Road, Harrison Carpark and Costal Drive in New Brighton.
She said: “As soon as the world starts spinning again, I hope to be out showcasing my trailer at lots of events.”
You can find more about Finella Fancies by clicking here.
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