Real life Willy Wonka has recipe for sweet success

She can turn any chocolate into a delicious tasting tray bake, perfect as a sweet treat in the afternoon or given as a gift to brighten someone’s day.

The mum-of-two started the business just a two years ago and spent her evenings baking once her two daughters had gone to bed.

Here, in our latest Business of the Week feature, Gillian, who is 35, tells us about the bestselling cakes, her local charity work and why she serves Irish portions rather than English ones.

If you would like your business to feature as Business or Trader of the Week, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk

The Unglammy Mammy Gillian Latham

What’s the name of the business?

The Unglammy Mammy

What’s the address?

I’m an Irish mummy and professional feeder living in Windle, which is where the business is based. You can also find me at Whistles on Warmsley Road. I’ve the pleasure of being a Whistler three times a week. I love the community environment there and how everything is made with love using local suppliers. The customers and staff couldn’t be friendlier and I get to meet lovely families who have been at The Nest across the road or to the local library. I’m proud to be part of this community.

When did you open the business?

I opened the business in 2021.

Gillian can turn any chocolate bar into a tray bake

Are you local to the area? Did you grow up here?

I’ve lived here for 10 years so I may as well be local! I know and speak to more people when I’m out and about than my husband who is born and bred St Helens.

Tell me a bit about your business. What do you do? What services do you provide?

I’m an Irish tray baker ‘taking whisks and baking the world a better place’. I often feel like Willy Wonka - I can turn any chocolate bar into a traybake. My top seller is Biscoff Badboy. My favourite is Malteaser the underdog. I enjoy seeing older folk’s faces when Caramac and Gold Bar is on the menu or children’s faces with the popping candy of Cadbury’s marvellous hits.

READ MORE:

Former Team GB gymnast offers personal training and coaching at Rainhill studio

Tasty treats are for sale at Whistles on Warmsley Road

Why did you decide to open your own business? Why this type of business?

I started Unglammy Mammy in 2021 after our second daughter was born. The days are long when you’re a parent but the years fly by and I wasn’t ready to go back to work. I’ve always worked hard for others so thought I’d work even harder for myself. I’d bake in the evenings when the girls were in bed, singing my heart out. There was no mum guilt as the girls were asleep and I was just baking for family and friends, mostly my husband’s night shift work colleagues and my mum chums. Anyone who knows me knows that I’ll never be rich - I’m a cracking baker and not so much a business woman!

What makes your business different to others in the same area/field? What sets your business apart from your competitors?

I’m thankful to have met and supported so many local charities - Team 1C, Joey The Legend, Willowbrook and Teardrops – and they all mean a lot to me. Myself and a fellow mumtrepreneur Debbie Edwards at Makes Clear Scents organised local makers markets not just to raise funds for local charities but to help support other local small businesses. Shopping local does make a difference, more than shoppers realise, and we really do appreciate it. I’m far from an influencer but I was so pleased that I could use my social media pages to raise money for my daughters’ school when it was short of the outstanding balance for a whole school trip. I raffled off some bakes and, together with prizes from other small businesses, we raised the £400 needed for the children to visit Chester Zoo.

READ MORE:

Burger deals top Earlestown eatery’s birthday celebrations

Mint aero tray bake

Why do loyal customers return to your business?

I can’t thank my customers enough for keeping me busy, especially in a cost-of-living crisis. I keep my menu budget-friendly and I’m known for my Irish portion sizes - English portions are to feed you whereas Irish portions are to fatten you up! More often than not, I will throw in complimentary taste testers. My customers have turned into friends and they know my inbox is always open, not just to place an order but to have a chat too. I always appreciate last minute orders as they are usually being gifted to brighten someone’s day. I’ll always squeeze people in at the last minute - pressure makes diamonds!

What’s next? What do the next few months hold for you and your business?

I’d like to branch out and do more postal orders so that people outside the WA postcode can sample some Irish traybakes. There is a longer shelf life to brownies and cookies so they will still arrive nice and fresh. I’m currently offering 20 per cent off to St Helens Star readers to thank them for their support and their votes in the Best of 2023 awards. We were shortlisted for St Helens’ Best for Dessert and St Helens’ Best Independent Shop / Business.