Former DIY store in Cake Creation success

Katie Jones, aged 24, from Sedgley, set up Cake Creations last September in her father Ken's former workspace after he retired.

Miss Jones is completely self taught and makes cakes on request for special occasions.

"I started making cakes around 18 months ago," Miss Jones said. "I would make them for family and friends and everybody was so supportive. My friends were the worst, they would take pictures of handbags and ask me to make it in cake."

Miss Jones said she mainly makes sponge cakes in different flavours and builds models on top of that.

"I think the weirdest request I have had so far was someone who wanted me to make a cake of their dog's head," she said. "They brought in a picture. I have also made pug cupcakes.

"People will just bring in pictures of all sorts of things and ask if I can do it. Now I just look at things and think 'how can I make that into cake'?"

Miss Jones' parents Irene and Ken owned the store in Clarence Street, Upper Gornal, for 32 years, before Ken retired.

The couple retained one of the units and Mr Jones converted it for his daughter's use.

"It was really helpful with my dad being handy," Miss Jones said. "He was able to convert it all quickly. It would not have been as easy if we had had to buy somewhere and get it done properly."

Miss Jones said she already has repeat customers.

"It has been really successful so far," she said. "Christmas was very busy and we have been working hard on Valentine's Day cakes. Mother's Day is the next big event so we will get lots of requests for that."

Miss Jones' mother, Irene, said: "We are so proud of her. She has always been creative and she really enjoys doing it.

"She could have gone into doing anything but she did something she really enjoyed and I think that is important."