AFTER years spent working in an office, a mum-of-one decided that it was time for a change after the reset of the pandemic.
While lockdowns had their obvious difficulties, they did provide space for reflection and future planning, and encouraged people to make a bold decision that they may not have previously made.
This was the case for mum-of-one Carla Agger, who after decided to leave the marketing world behind to take over a gifts, sweets, and balloon shop two years ago.
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With a long-held ambition of owning her own business, Carla had previously failed in an attempt to buy the Humbug sweets and gift shop on High Street in Newton-le-Willows, a few years previously.
However, things seemed to fall into place during the pandemic and Carla was successful in her second take-over attempt; relaunching the business in February 2022 and renaming it after her daughter Jasmine.
Although there have been struggles over the past two years, particularly with price rises in her products and electricity bills, Carla said that business has been going well along Newton's busy high street.
This success seems to be down to Jasmine's growing product range, which includes cards, sweets, and traditional pick 'n' mix, as well as a variety of bespoke gifts and customised balloons which are used to help create special memories.
The business has also been helped by the supportive nature between independent businesses along Newton's High Street, which it often provides balloons and gifts for, as well as its friendly and welcoming atmosphere for customers.
Carla, originally from Leigh, said: "After taking over the business, I've tried to introduce a wider range of gifts and cards, and we're still working on building this up.
"Balloons have been a huge thing for us and we're often booked up at the weekends delivering them for special occasions, so it is really nice to provide that.
"There are only the two of us working here but I love it [...] I had always wanted to own my own business so I'm really happy we're a part of the high street and serving people of all ages."
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